GMC Sierra 1500 Block Heater Guide
2007–2026
Find the part for your engine
Check the engine size on your vehicle documents or under-hood label. Choose it explicitly even when only one option appears.
Already have a factory heater? A missing power cord may be all you need. Match the connector before ordering.
View the full engine and installation tableMechanically identical to the Silverado — same engines, same heater fitment. The Duramax 3.0L diesel variant gets a higher-wattage element and rewards a battery blanket in real cold.
Factory availability
Factory option in Canada
Cord location
Factory cord typically tucked behind the grille or bumper, driver's side.
GMC Sierra 1500 engines & block heater part numbers
Engine list built from Natural Resources Canada model-year data. Part numbers are catalog candidates unless a source review is shown for that application. Confirm the exact engine code, model year and installation port before ordering; an Amazon listing match does not confirm vehicle fitment.
| Engine | Years | Zerostart kit | Cord | Kat's heater | Install location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 2007–2021 | 3100109Engine-family lead — confirm exact engine code and model year.(28 MM bore) | 3600082 | 11626Catalog candidate — confirm exact engine code and model year.+ cord 28510 | LC(N/A N/A THD N/A position) |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 2007–2013 | — | — | 11484Catalog candidate — confirm exact engine code and model year.400 W+ cord 28510 | — |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 2007–2026 | 3100109Engine-family lead — confirm exact engine code and model year.(28 MM bore) | 3600082 | 11484Catalog candidate — confirm exact engine code and model year.400 W+ cord 28510 | RF(N/A THD N/A position) |
| 6L 8-cyl | 2007–2013 | — | — | 11484Catalog candidate — confirm exact engine code and model year.400 W+ cord 28510 | — |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 2007–2026 | 3100109Engine-family lead — confirm exact engine code and model year.(28 MM bore) | 3600082 | 11484Catalog candidate — confirm exact engine code and model year.400 W+ cord 28510 | LF(N/A N/A THD N/A 15 Camaro ZL1) position) |
| 2.7L 4-cyl | 2019–2026 | No aftermarket listing — use the genuine GMC dealer kit | |||
| 3L 6-cyl diesel | 2020–2026 | No aftermarket listing — use the genuine GMC dealer kit | |||
Reading the numbers: Zerostart 31/35- is the heater kit, 36- the detachable cordset ("lit" glows when the outlet is live). Kat's 11xxx is an element, 28xxx a cordset, 24xxx a pad. Location codes are the manufacturer's (LF = left front of block).
Find the heater or replacement cord
Match the exact part, engine and connector before buying. Search links are discovery links, not confirmed fits.
Amazon buying options
Zerostart 3100109
Catalog starting point: confirm exact engine code, year and installation with the manufacturer.
Choose your Amazon store
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Amazon buying options
Zerostart 3600082
Manufacturer catalog cord chart identifies thermostatic GM connector J cord. Confirm connector and application; not a heater element.
Cord / harness only — no heating element.
Choose your Amazon store
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Part reference
Kat's 11626
Catalog starting point: confirm exact engine code, year and installation with the manufacturer.
No exact purchase listing verified yet. These links search Amazon; confirm the part before buying.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon buying options
Kat's 11484 engine block heater
Catalog starting point: confirm exact engine code, year and installation with the manufacturer.
Choose your Amazon store
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What it costs to plug in a GMC Sierra 1500 — and what it saves
The catalogued element for the Sierra 1500 draws 400 W. Natural Resources Canada recommends a timer that runs the heater two hours before you drive rather than all night — that is what the numbers below assume.
| Province | ¢/kWh | Cost per 2 h plug-in | Full winter (120 nights) | Net per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec | 7.0 | $0.06 | $6.72 | +$0.44 |
| Manitoba | 10.2 | $0.08 | $9.79 | +$0.41 |
| Ontario (avg TOU) | 12.8 | $0.10 | $12.29 | +$0.39 |
| Alberta | 14.0 | $0.11 | $13.44 | +$0.38 |
| Saskatchewan | 15.5 | $0.12 | $14.88 | +$0.37 |
| Nova Scotia | 17.9 | $0.14 | $17.18 | +$0.35 |
Natural Resources Canada rates the GMC Sierra 1500 at 15.9 L/100 km in city driving (median across 2007–2026 model years). On a 20 km winter commute that is about 3.2 L a day. NRCan measured that at −20 °C a block heater improves overall fuel economy by as much as 10% — roughly 0.32 L, or $0.49 of gasoline at $1.55/L. On a single short trip at −25 °C the saving can reach 25%. In most provinces the electricity costs less than the fuel it saves; in the priciest it roughly breaks even, and you still get the wear, defrost and cabin-heat benefits.
Fuel figures: Natural Resources Canada Fuel Consumption Ratings and Block Heaters Save Fuel and Help the Environment. Electricity rates are approximate 2026 residential averages — run your own numbers in the cost calculator.
Canadian buyer checklist
Three checks before spending money
1. Check for a cord
Factory cord typically tucked behind the grille or bumper, driver's side.
2. Match the engine
Confirm displacement, fuel and model year against the table. OEM accessory numbers can vary by VIN and market.
3. Check recalls
Search the VIN in the Transport Canada database before using an unfamiliar factory heater or cord.
No exact-fit listing? Use the three-question heater selector for a safe fallback.
Where to look for the GMC Sierra 1500 block heater cord
Factory cord typically tucked behind the grille or bumper, driver's side. Use a flashlight from above and through the lower grille, then check behind the bumper cover without pulling on an unidentified wire. A factory cord may be capped and clipped or zip-tied out of sight.
Found damage? Use the cord identifier before choosing between a plug-end repair and a complete cordset.
No tools? The stick-on option
If you'd rather skip the install entirely, a magnetic heater grips any flat steel surface — oil pan, block, transmission pan — and moves between vehicles. Check that the Sierra 1500's oil pan is steel first: a magnet won't hold on aluminum or composite pans.
Amazon buying options
Zerostart 3400017 magnetic heater, 200 W
A magnetic surface heater from Zerostart. Grips any flat steel surface — oil pan, transmission pan, small-engine sump. CSA certified.
Match the surface material, size and manufacturer limits. This is not vehicle-specific fitment.
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Part reference
Digital multimeter with resistance and continuity
The definitive block-heater test tool. Any meter with an ohms range and audible continuity can isolate a dead cord from a failed element.
Confirm the exact specification and application in the listing before ordering.
No exact purchase listing verified yet. These links search Amazon; confirm the part before buying.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
First: check whether you already have one
Canadian-market vehicles are often fitted at the port or dealer and then forgotten by the next owner, so check the cord location above before you buy anything. If a cord is there, test it — a dead element and a dead cord look identical from the outside.
If you need one installed
Budget $40–$120 CAD for the part plus about an hour of labour, and book in October — Prairie shop calendars fill after the first cold snap.
FAQ
Does the GMC Sierra 1500 come with a block heater?
Factory option in Canada. Check behind the grille for a coiled cord before buying anything — many Canadian-market vehicles have a heater installed that the owner never knew about.
What block heater fits a GMC Sierra 1500?
The recommended setup is a frost plug (cartridge) block heater (typically 400 W). Mechanically identical to the Silverado — same engines, same heater fitment. The Duramax 3.0L diesel variant gets a higher-wattage element and rewards a battery blanket in real cold.
What is the block heater part number for a GMC Sierra 1500?
4.3L 6-cyl: Zerostart kit 3100109 with cord 3600082 (Kat's 11626); 4.8L 8-cyl: Kat's heater 11484 with cord 28510; 5.3L 8-cyl: Zerostart kit 3100109 with cord 3600082 (Kat's 11484); 6L 8-cyl: Kat's heater 11484 with cord 28510; 6.2L 8-cyl: Zerostart kit 3100109 with cord 3600082 (Kat's 11484). Confirm displacement and model year against the fitment table before ordering.
Where is the block heater cord on a GMC Sierra 1500?
Factory cord typically tucked behind the grille or bumper, driver's side.
How much does it cost to plug in a GMC Sierra 1500?
At 400 W on a two-hour timer the heater uses about 0.80 kWh a night — roughly 10¢ in Ontario, 11¢ in Alberta and 6¢ in Quebec. Over a 120-night winter that is about $13.44 at Alberta rates.
Does a block heater save fuel on a GMC Sierra 1500?
Yes. Natural Resources Canada rates the Sierra 1500 at 15.9 L/100 km in city driving, and found that at −20 °C a block heater improves overall fuel economy by as much as 10% — about 0.32 L on a 20 km winter commute. On a single short trip at −25 °C the saving can reach 25%. In most provinces that is worth more than the electricity it costs.
Should you plug in tonight?
Enter your city — we check tonight's forecast and give you a straight answer based on the temperature thresholds that matter.
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