Ford Explorer Quiz
Starting and Stopping the Engine

Engine Block Heater (If Equipped)

In this manual: Starting and Stopping the Engine
Introduction — 10At a Glance — 3Child Safety — 11Seat Belts — 10Personal Safety System™ — 1Supplemental Restraint System — 10Pedestrian Protection — 1911 Assist — 3Keys and Remote Controls — 10MyKey™ — 8Doors & Locks — 9Liftgate — 7Safety — 3Steering Wheel — 11Wipers and Washers — 5Lighting — 13Automatic High Beam Control — 3Windows and Mirrors — 6Instrument Cluster — 4Information Displays — 4Climate Control — 6Cabin Air Quality — 2Seats — 9Garage Door Opener — 2Auxiliary Power Points — 3Storage Compartments — 2Starting and Stopping the Engine — 5Unique Driving Characteristics — 4Fuel and Refueling — 8Engine Emission Control — 3High-Voltage Battery — 1Infection Transmission — 8All-Wheel Drive Vehicle — 1Brakes — 5Reverse Brake Assist — 4Traction Control — 1Stability Control — 3Hill Descent Control — 3Park Aid — 8Cruise Control — 4Adaptive Cruise Control — 19Driver Assistance — 12Drive Mode Control — 4Loading — 6Tow/Haul — 6Driving Tips — 5Roadside Emergencies — 8Customer Assistance — 9Fuses — 3Maintenance — 21Vehicle Care — 12Wheels and Tires — 8Capacities and Specifications — 16Connectivity — 3Wi-Fi Hotspot — 3Audio System — 6SYNC™ 3 — 14Accessories — 1Ford Protect — 1Scheduled Maintenance — 5Appendices — 4
~2min read

The heater acts as a starting aid by warming the engine coolant. This allows the climate control system to respond quickly. The unit consists of a heating element installed in the engine block and a wiring harness. You can connect the system to a grounded 120 volt AC power source.

We recommend that you do the following for safe and proper operation:

  • Use an outdoor 16 gauge extension cord certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). The cord must be suitable for outdoor use at low temperatures and be clearly marked Suitable for Outdoor Use. Do not use an indoor extension cord outdoors. This may cause electrical shock or start a fire.
  • Use the shortest possible extension cord.
  • Do not use multiple extension cords.
  • Make sure the extension cord plug and the heater cord plug connections are free of water during operation. This may cause electrical shock or fire.
  • If the block heater cord is under the hood, do NOT move the wiring from its original location. Do not cover the enclosure on the extension cord wiring.
  • Make sure your vehicle is parked in a clean area free of flammable materials.
  • Make sure the heater, heater cord, and extension cord are securely connected.
  • Check for heat at any electrical connection after the system has been running for about 30 minutes.
  • Before starting and driving your vehicle, make sure the protective cover covers the prongs of the heater cord plug when it is not in use.
  • Before the winter season, make sure the heating system operates correctly.

Using the Engine Block Heater

Before use, make sure the outlet terminals are clean and dry. Clean them with a dry cloth if necessary.

The heater consumes 0.4 to 1.0 kilowatt-hours of energy per hour of use. The system does not have a thermostat. Maximum temperature is reached in approximately three hours of operation. Using the heater for more than three hours does not improve system performance and wastes electrical energy.

Test yourself

A quick Ford Explorer quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.