Block Heater Cord Placement
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 2
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From: Winnipeg
Block Heater Cord Placement
Hello everyone!
Just picked up a 2017 RX350 Fsport and looking to get a block heater installed. For those who have one installed on their f sport where are you keeping the cord?
The dealership said they can leave it hanging on the grill or tuck it into the engine bay. I don’t think hanging it on the grill is aesthetically pleasing and could also damage the paint. Tucking it into the engine bay seems like a hassle every time you need to plug the Rx 350 in.
Is there a place to hide the cord where it is convenient to get at and also not dangling in the wind?
Just picked up a 2017 RX350 Fsport and looking to get a block heater installed. For those who have one installed on their f sport where are you keeping the cord?
The dealership said they can leave it hanging on the grill or tuck it into the engine bay. I don’t think hanging it on the grill is aesthetically pleasing and could also damage the paint. Tucking it into the engine bay seems like a hassle every time you need to plug the Rx 350 in.
Is there a place to hide the cord where it is convenient to get at and also not dangling in the wind?
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 613
Likes: 86
From: Quebec, Canada
Hello everyone!
Just picked up a 2017 RX350 Fsport and looking to get a block heater installed. For those who have one installed on their f sport where are you keeping the cord?
The dealership said they can leave it hanging on the grill or tuck it into the engine bay. I don’t think hanging it on the grill is aesthetically pleasing and could also damage the paint. Tucking it into the engine bay seems like a hassle every time you need to plug the Rx 350 in.
Is there a place to hide the cord where it is convenient to get at and also not dangling in the wind?
Just picked up a 2017 RX350 Fsport and looking to get a block heater installed. For those who have one installed on their f sport where are you keeping the cord?
The dealership said they can leave it hanging on the grill or tuck it into the engine bay. I don’t think hanging it on the grill is aesthetically pleasing and could also damage the paint. Tucking it into the engine bay seems like a hassle every time you need to plug the Rx 350 in.
Is there a place to hide the cord where it is convenient to get at and also not dangling in the wind?
There must not be many people with a block heater.
Personnaly mine stays in the garage during winter, and when away, I use my remote starter.
I used to have one on my second cars that stay outside. But the plug of the cord could be passed through the gill when not used in the summer.
I guess if I had to have one, I would not put the cord through the grill, could cause damage. I would leave it to be laying somewhere close to the radiator, hooked to some part of the body and open the hood every time I would like to plug it.
I guess that Winnipeg's winter nights are colder than the one in southern Quebec! You would use it often!
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 642
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From: Alberta
The dealer routed mine into the engine compartment and tied it near the battery. I was told ~80% of Lexus owners don't plug it in and that doesn't surprise me given the typical Lexus buyer. I have free power at work though and plug it whenever it's below -10C. It helps the engine turn over and warm up slightly faster and reduces wear, so why not. Unfortunately, the hood will not close with cord sticking out so I have to leave the hood open a crack.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 2
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From: Winnipeg
It’s not unusual to see consistent temperatures of -30 to -40 here. Unfortunately where I work the RX is parked in a place exposed to these temperatures during the winter time. By the sounds and looks of it, the best place is to have the cord left in the engine bay and to pull it out every time you need to plug it in.
Is it possible that a lot of RX don’t have block heaters as of result of the synthetic 0W20 oil it runs? Ideally I like to go without a block heater because of the inconvenience of pulling it out every time but because of the temperatures here I would be afraid of the wear and tear as well as it not starting.
Is it possible that a lot of RX don’t have block heaters as of result of the synthetic 0W20 oil it runs? Ideally I like to go without a block heater because of the inconvenience of pulling it out every time but because of the temperatures here I would be afraid of the wear and tear as well as it not starting.
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 642
Likes: 52
From: Alberta
I think Toyota/Lexus dealers in the Prairies are required to install block heaters in their vehicles. It's just too darn cold here. Now, the actual number of people that use them.. probably very few. I've had the RX sit for a full day outside in -30 and it still started up fine. The engine didn't sound so happy for the first few seconds, but it didn't struggle to start whatsoever.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1
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From: British Columbia
Confused why not being used?
I have a 2018 RXHL and live in central Saskatchewan so yeah its about to get real darn cold here. I’m confused as to why those that have a block heater would not use them - see above ~80% don’t use them. Is that just cuz all rich with heated garages?? In my situation no heated/insulated garage (and not rich haha) so the dealer had the block heater cord installed and tucked away nicely under the hood but wouldn’t run it through the grill (not the big front grill - the little grill just under the fog light) unless I signed the work order authorizing it. It’s my first full winter with this beaut so don’t want to screw anything up so just wondering why 80% aren’t using them??
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Driver
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 114
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From: PA
Interesting... our dealer didn’t sell them since first bunch for 2016’s & 17’s were recalled.
I would think you would use one in the cold. Rich or not really rich. It’s just so much easier on your engine especially if it’s a hybrid. Hybrids range gets cut down exponentially as it gets colder.
I would think you would use one in the cold. Rich or not really rich. It’s just so much easier on your engine especially if it’s a hybrid. Hybrids range gets cut down exponentially as it gets colder.
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
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From: New York
I have a 2018 RXHL and live in central Saskatchewan so yeah its about to get real darn cold here. I’m confused as to why those that have a block heater would not use them - see above ~80% don’t use them. Is that just cuz all rich with heated garages?? In my situation no heated/insulated garage (and not rich haha) so the dealer had the block heater cord installed and tucked away nicely under the hood but wouldn’t run it through the grill (not the big front grill - the little grill just under the fog light) unless I signed the work order authorizing it. It’s my first full winter with this beaut so don’t want to screw anything up so just wondering why 80% aren’t using them??
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