When to plug the truck in

[painthorsemom]

Thanks, Dmax. I hadn't thought about the need to replace the heater sooner. I had my 96 for 10 years and never had to replace the heater.

[DmaxMaverick]

It's hard to say when or why they fail. I've never replaced one because it quit (pre-Duramax). Usually, they begin leaking before they actually fail to heat, or the cord/connector fails, leading to unnecessary replacement. I suspect longevity has as much to do with cooling system maintenance (regular/timely flushing and replacement of coolant) as anything. I've removed them looking like anything from a shiny new penny to something you might find on the ocean floor. Properly used and maintained Dex-Cool has offered the best looking of the bunch, regardless of heater usage. This leads to more efficient heat and longer life (less leaking, etc.), according to my observations. They aren't difficult to replace, just inconvenient unless a cooling system service is already in the plan.