The Hyundai Sonata can fall victim to freezing temperatures if it’s not given a block heater. Block heaters keep the oil and the coolant warm, usually overnight, to help the car start in the morning. There are four kinds of block heaters. One occupies a freeze plug in the side of the engine. The next takes the place of the oil pan drain plug. The third hangs onto the bottom of the oil pan with magnets and the final one substitutes for the oil dipstick. All types have an electrical cord which snakes out of through the grill and plugs into a wall outlet. Choosing the right one is important.
Install the heater style that pokes into the engine through one of the freeze plugs. The freeze plug heater heats both the oil and the coolant. Freeze plugs are holes through which the molten metal flows during engine casting. Car manufacturers put thin metal plugs in the holes after casting. A mechanic can then pull the thin metal plug off and substitute the engine heater. This type of heater is the most popular for the Sonata but requires some mechanical ability.
Consider the engine heater that takes the place of the oil pan drain plug. It’s effective and inexpensive. Put a pan under the oil pan and drain the oil. Screw the new, heated drain plug into the hole and put the oil back in. Lead the cord through the grill of the car to finish the installation.
Purchase the heater that takes the place of the dipstick. This is obviously the easiest type of engine heater to use. Simply raise the hood, remove the dipstick, replace it with the dipstick heater and plug it in. Remember to take it out before you drive the car.
Try a magnetized heater. The driver slides under the car and puts the heater on the bottom of the oil pan. The magnet keeps it in place.
