block heater

American

noun

an electrically operated immersion heater fitted either to enter the water hose or the water jacket surrounding the cylinder block of a motor to warm the coolant in cold weather.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ford is recalling almost 117,000 cars from older Focus, Escape, and MKC models due to a potential engine block heater issue.

From Barron's • Jan. 21, 2026

An engine block heater plugs directly into your vehicle to keep engine components and fluids warm when it’s not being used.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 3, 2021

GM says in documents posted Thursday by U.S. safety regulators that shorts can develop in the heater cord or terminals that connect the cable to the block heater.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 8, 2021

General Motors is recalling more than 331,000 diesel pickup trucks in the U.S. for a second time because the engine block heater cords can short circuit and cause fires.

From Washington Post • Jul. 8, 2021

The Olds diesel has a block heater and a "prechamber," where the mixture is briefly heated by a glow plug.

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023