6v92 block heater installation

homermandy · January 27, 2007, 03:35:41 PM

Trying to find the best location to drain block coolant to install the heater. There is a petcock below the exhaust manifold. How many gallons do you think would come out of the petcock? I'd rather not do the quick switcheroo method as the instructions say to put gasket sealer on the outside of the rubber gasket already provided with the Zerostart. Thanks

Happycampersrus · January 27, 2007, 03:50:40 PM

Be ready to catch around 8 gallons. That's how much I got when I did mine, but mine is a V-drive 6V92 with the engine tilted. The side of the block I had to use was of course the lowest side.

If yours is a T-drive I would guess it would still be about 5 gallons or better.

The "quick switcheroo" method is a pain if it is the 4 bolt plate block heater.

HTH,
Dale

homermandy · January 27, 2007, 04:42:52 PM

If I drained from the radiator petcock, would the block level drop? Just trying to find an easier access.

gumpy · January 27, 2007, 08:35:54 PM

It will if your radiator petcock is below the level of the block.

There are usually a couple drain cocks on the engine block. One on the side above the starter, and sometimes one on the front (rear of bus) behind the engine mount.

Not sure on the 6v cause mine was already in, but I helped a guy do his 8v a couple weeks ago, and the hole behind the plate was huge! You definitely don't want to try the quickie swicheroo thingy with that.

Oh, don't forget about the little gasket that goes over the plug end. He missed his until it was all done. Wouldn't have mattered, though, as the gasket was so dry and brittle that when we picked it up from the box, it broke into pieces.

bigtim44 · January 28, 2007, 12:09:56 AM

Just undo the 4 bolts pop the plate off and let the engine drain down to the bottom side of the hole,then goop up the block heater with RTV and bolt it up

trailblazer2 · January 28, 2007, 01:27:32 PM

I have a 6-v92 t In a MCI-9 and I think it was about (11) gallons drained. I shut off the (2) valves to the heaters,and took a plug out of the tube under the front side of the engine. I then disconnected the fuel filter mounts and took the (4) bolt plate off,and installed the unit. I was told by a Detroit Diesel Mechanic that these engines are very sensitive to the Coolant ,so I used their brand,(after flushing the complete system with a mild dish detergent) You will need to'BURP' your system afterwards,by using the petcock valve in the front part of the engine. These block heaters are definitely the way to go!
Bill

homermandy · January 28, 2007, 03:49:47 PM

Well, an update. I finally got the block heater installed. It is a Zerostart plate type part# 8601712. I have a 6v92DDEC2 in a 1991 Eagle15. Engine is a reliabilt year 2001. A tip: I just loosened the lower bolts on the plate and slowly let the coolant drain into 1gallon buckets. Got about 12 gallons out before it got below the hole. RTVed the new plate and gasket in and refilled. Took about 3 hours, most of that slowly draining. I also removed the oil dispstick and fill tube.