To see if this custom-fit item will work for you please tell us what vehicle you'll use it with.
Subzero mornings can make starting tough. This threaded Zerostart heater warms coolant before startup, and its thermostat-equipped cord works with certain GM onboard diagnostic systems without triggering a check-engine light.
When your vehicle sits outside in subzero weather, its engine can be harder to start. This 400-watt Zerostart heater warms the coolant inside your engine block before you turn the key. With the engine already warmer when it starts, there's less cold-start strain, and it can reach operating temperature sooner. That's useful when your truck or SUV needs to be ready for another freezing morning.
There's a reason this heater uses a thermostatically controlled power cord. On GM applications, the thermostat switches the heater on when the temperature drops to around 0F (-18C). If you plug it in on a milder day and the engine doesn't seem to be warming up, the thermostat may simply be keeping the heater off. That's normal operation, not necessarily a problem with the heater.
The thermostat also matters to your vehicle's electronics. GM uses it to maintain compatibility with the onboard diagnostic system, and replacing it with an ordinary cord can trigger a check-engine light. If your cord ever needs replacing, use the Zerostart replacement cord with built-in thermostat (ZE32SR) rather than a standard block heater cord.
This heater has a 28 mm threaded connection that screws into a designated opening in your engine block. Although it's listed as frost-plug style, it doesn't press into a smooth core-plug hole or slide into a dry cartridge cavity. Fit and installation location vary by engine, so use the vehicle fit information to confirm compatibility and the Zerostart application catalog (see instruction link B below) to find the correct location. The manufacturer's installation instructions linked below explain how to install it.
Plan on draining the coolant and removing the specified threaded plug. Follow the instructions for sealing the heater threads and tightening it securely. Once it's installed, refill the cooling system, check for leaks, and remove trapped air before applying power. The heating element must be submerged in coolant whenever the heater is plugged in.
The included 5' silicone cord detaches from the heater and can be routed toward the front grille, where it's accessible when you need it. Secure the cord away from hot engine parts, sharp edges, and anything that moves. Check your routing before installation, since some engine compartments make it difficult to reach the grille with the available cord length. Remember to unplug the heater before starting your engine.
Zerostart is a Phillips & Temro brand. You might recognize Phillips & Temro from factory-installed engine heaters even if Zerostart is a new name to you. The company develops engine-specific heaters and supplies both original-equipment and aftermarket applications. That experience matters when you're choosing something that needs to fit a particular opening in your engine.
Use a 50/50 mixture of ethylene glycol antifreeze and water. Never use straight antifreeze or a mixture containing more than 65% antifreeze, as this can cause the heating element to fail prematurely. Avoid stop-leak additives. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for sealing and tightening the threaded heater. Overtightening can damage the threads or compromise the seal.
Never plug in the heater before installation to see if it works. Without coolant surrounding the heating element, it can quickly overheat and cause serious burns. Instead, disconnect the cord and use a multimeter to check resistance directly across the heater pins. The manufacturer's general testing guidance specifies a reading between 5 and 100 ohms.
The included thermostat-controlled cord switches the heater on at approximately 0F (-18C). On warmer days, the heater may not operate even when the cord is plugged in. Do not replace this cord with a standard, non-thermostatic cord. Certain GM vehicles require the thermostat for compatibility with their onboard diagnostic system, and using the wrong cord can trigger a check-engine light. If you need a new cord, use the Zerostart replacement cord with built-in thermostat (ZE32SR) .
Always make sure the heating element is fully submerged in coolant and any trapped air has been removed before plugging it in. Unplug the heater before starting your engine. Running the engine while the heater is plugged in can create an air pocket around the element, causing it to overheat and fail prematurely.
When disconnecting the heater from your extension cord, firmly grasp each plug and pull them apart. Never yank on the cords themselves. This can damage the connections, potentially causing the heater to malfunction or creating an electrical short.
Alternate Instructions
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Hi everybody. Andy here with etrailer.com. Let's take a quick look at this zero start custom fit frost plug style engine block heater. Now this part is going to fit a wide range of GM vehicles, including select Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Suzu, and Pontiac models, typically equipped with four, five, six or eight cylinder gas engines from the early 2000s through the mid 2020s, such as the Silverado Sierra pickups, the Tahoe, Suburban, SUVs, the Camaro and Corvette performance cars and midsize sedans, and crossovers like your Malibu's, Equinox and Acadia. All that to say, it's vital that you use our vehicle fit guide here at etrailer.com, since this fits a wide range of vehicles. So on our vehicle fit guide, all you have to do is select the year, make and model of your particular vehicle, answer any other questions that it might ask you, and our fit guide will confirm if this will work for you or if we have something comparable that will work for you.
Now, cold mornings don't have to slow you down. With this custom fit block heater, you can say goodbye to sluggish starts and long warmups. This is gonna preheat your engine's coolant so your vehicle fires up smoothly and reaches operating temperature faster. So what that means for you is no more waiting around for things to thaw out before you hit the road. Even on the coldest mornings, your engine will turn over easily by warming things up before ignition.
This is gonna prevent the wear and tear that comes from dry or cold starts. And as we mentioned, this is designed specifically for your vehicle's engine. It's going to install cleanly in the frost plug. So no guesswork or modifications are gonna be needed. This is gonna give you up to 400 watts of heating power at 120 volts.
So it's gonna keep your coolant warm and your starts consistent. And this plug is removable. It's a five foot long silicone cord, so this is gonna stand up to heavy duty use. And the reason it detaches is, if for some reason this cord gets damaged, you're not gonna have to replace the whole heater. All you have to do is replace the cord and you'll be good to go.
I wanted to point out too, I don't see this on a lot of other block heaters from other manufacturers, but this does have a protective cap for those prongs. So when this is not in use, that cap is gonna keep this nice and clean and keep it from getting damaged easily. So that's a really nice touch. The bore diameter is 28 millimeter THD. If you happen to have any other additional questions, whether it's about this heater or anything else that we carry here at etrailer.com, don't hesitate to reach back out to us. We do want to make sure that you're getting exactly what you want and need. Well, again, my name's Andy. Thank you for joining me.
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