Best heater for engine in cold winter months, Just relocated to Minnesota..its very cold here! Options

[malecrod]

Hi everyone, I have just relocated to Minnesota and its very cold here. Starting the car in the morning or after car has been sitting for a while is hard. Battery is in good shape when I checked a month ago. I also just had oil change done here which is good to -40degrees?. I normally do my own oil change but don;t have a home yet. But what is worrying me is that after letting car warm up(10-15mins) and while driving with the heat on I see and smell smoke coming from the vents usually within the first 20-30mins of driving. I have looked under the hood on 2 occasions to see if I can spot what might be smoking or burning but to no avail.
I'm now thinking about getting engine block heater/ oil pan heater. My question is which one would work best for the celica? Just something plug and play for now. Anyone with experience with engine heaters?
By the way, I have the 3s motor.
Thanks

[Bitter]

theres oil dipstick heaters, pretty cheap and easy to use. just drop it down the oil dipstick and it keeps the oil a little warmer, but sort of a pain in the ass since you have to remember to pop the hood and swap it for your dipstick.

a block heater is what you want. it replaces a freeze plug in a water passage, just need to get one that fits right and there shouldnt be a problem.

[lagos]

no need to get any type of engine block heater. let the motor warm up on its own.

if you are seeing smoke coming from your vents, then there is a good chance that you need to replace your heater core. does the smoke smell sweet, like coolant?

[pure_dx]

wow! welcome to minnesota! how long are you staying? hit me up, lets photoshoot that 3s!

[rjbibeau]

where in mn did you move to?

[Bitter]

no need to get any type of engine block heater. let the motor warm up on its own.

if you are seeing smoke coming from your vents, then there is a good chance that you need to replace your heater core. does the smoke smell sweet, like coolant?

maybe in philly, but in MN its not uncommon for it to be -5 in the morning with a high of 10. a block heater will keep the coolant warm throughout the night and the whole engine block warm. when the car starts up in the morning it'll take less time to warm up which is better, at -5 the oil is pretty thick and at -5 you dont want to ride in a cold car for 3 miles! you want heat and you want it NOW.

[malecrod]

theres oil dipstick heaters, pretty cheap and easy to use. just drop it down the oil dipstick and it keeps the oil a little warmer, but sort of a pain in the ass since you have to remember to pop the hood and swap it for your dipstick.

a block heater is what you want. it replaces a freeze plug in a water passage, just need to get one that fits right and there shouldnt be a problem.

Agree, I saw the oil dipstick heater and it seems pretty easy enough except: 1) have to remember to remove it before driving off. and 2) I read somewhere that some of the dipstick burns the oil?.
I think I will go with the block heater, I called up toyota this morning and they have it in stock for $35. A small price to pay compared to have could go wrong without it.
Thanks

[malecrod]

no need to get any type of engine block heater. let the motor warm up on its own.

if you are seeing smoke coming from your vents, then there is a good chance that you need to replace your heater core. does the smoke smell sweet, like coolant?

I have been warming it up for 10-15mins before driving but that doesn't help at all, besides its so hard to get it started when its this cold. I see a lot of cars plugged in at night here and I think its the norm here at this freezing tempts.

[malecrod]

wow! welcome to minnesota! how long are you staying? hit me up, lets photoshoot that 3s!

Thanks. Just moved in this past weekend to...Bemidji.. a small town... wife couldn't refuse the great offer and benefits to work here. Once we are settled in I will hit you up.

where in mn did you move to?

Relocated to Bemidji, a bit up north of minneapolis, st paul etc...small town and kinda far away from the cities but it okay.

[lagos]

no need to get any type of engine block heater. let the motor warm up on its own.

if you are seeing smoke coming from your vents, then there is a good chance that you need to replace your heater core. does the smoke smell sweet, like coolant?

I have been warming it up for 10-15mins before driving but that doesn't help at all, besides its so hard to get it started when its this cold. I see a lot of cars plugged in at night here and I think its the norm here at this freezing tempts.

but what is the real problem that your having? that the car is blowing smoke through the vents, or that it takes a few cranks to start, or that it takes a long time to warm up?