My block heater quit on me a couple weeks ago and I want to get it replaced before winter hits here in Wisconsin! I picked up a cord today just to make sure it wasn't just the cord and not the element. You think this would be an easy swap but of course I can't get it off. I cant get the silver part to spin off. It is not a nut so you can't get a socket on it and I can't get a good grip on vice grips and it on there tight. If theres any insight you guys could give me I'd really appreciate it! Ill attach a pic so you can see what I'm talking about.

 

Water pump pliers, or slip joint pliers. Something that can grip a lot of it to turn it off.

 

Thanks for the reply. I tried using some pliers as you had mentioned but its just to hard to turn on the angle due to the manifold and some some of fuel line or line in the way.

 

You could drain the coolant and remove the entire thing from the block. Sounds time consuming, but in the end it may be quicker than fighting that ring on the engine.

 

It was not all that easy but I was able to remove mine that way.

 

pipe wrench

 

It is a bit late but someone new might find it helpful. I found that a plumbers basin wrench worked like a charm.