Engine Heater for 98 Dodge Dakota

[motley man]

What type heater would be best for 98 Dodge Dakota with 318 ? Arizona truck that doesn't have heater just don't like cold weather.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Just a normal block heater is the way to go, IMO.

The last vehicle I owned with a block heater was a 1985 Buick Century. Back in the mid nineties and even then I never plugged it in.

[BobT]

Block heaters, while maybe the most costly to install, will be the least costly and most efficient to use. Because the heating element is located inside the engine cooling system, it is putting the heat where you need it most with no excess heat loss. This increases the efficiency and allows the block heater to use lower wattage elements to accomplish the same task and this reduces power consumption (cost).

[jeffreyd]

we have heaters in out trucks for the 4 1/2 days that it is cold enough to use one. I run my A/C year round, wife had A/C on in the house a few days ago. Just not ready for 300 dollar power bill.

[deadeye]

The engine block heater is the best bet for sure. As mentioned it is the most effective and the biggest pain to install.

I have put a couple of radiator hose heaters in a couple cars I have owned and they work pretty darn well too. Its a lot simpler to install and while they don't work quite as well as a block heater they still do pretty good. For what its worth I put one in a car that I owned and my brother now has it, 4 years later it still works good with no leaks.