Engine block heater

I was curious about what the engine block heater option on the wagons is like. Maybe those of you in colder climes may have a car with a factory one installed. The Olds Diesels all had one, I remember what that one was like. Is it the same? A heater in a soft plug?

Also, where is it? There's not much room to route wires around the block.

The one thats in my 1A2 takes the place of one of the freeze plugs.

Which plug does it replace on the 1A2?

No clue. It runs on the passenger side and gets lost under the manifolds and emissions junk. Never paid that much attention to it. Don't even know if it works.

You won't need one in Seattle.  The 600W block heater (RPO K05) is located on the drivers side of the block just in front of the oil filter. It is a freeze plug type heater. I just put one in the caprice after moving away from BC to Quebec.   It wasn't that hard, but I don't have an oil cooler.  I think it might have been a tight fit if the cooler lines had been in the way.

I run castrol syntec 0W-30 year round. It was more than enough for the BC "winters."

Ah, I figured it was in the back plug. I don't think I need it here, but I might throw one in just for fun if I can find one. Quebec, though, makes sense. I've been there in December.

Don't think it would be a big deal if you put it in the aft plug. If you're set on doing it, Do it while you're rebuilding your engine. The gm part was pretty cheap in Canada.

I noticed that some of them are made in Canada, too.

I have one (factory) installed on my wagon....engine came from a SD parts wagon.  You can kinda see the heater cord wire coming from above (and forward) of the oil filter in this pic. Goes up behind the engine and you can see the rest of the wire/plug coiled on the top.  

I unplugged the plug and the freeze plug is still there...I'll never use it here in SC.