Ram 2500 / 3500 Block Heater Guide
2010–2026
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 tableThe 6.7L Cummins uses an intake grid heater instead of glow plugs — which leans hard on the batteries. The factory block heater plus battery blankets is the reliable stack; serious cold-country operators step up to a circulating heater.
Factory availability
Standard on Canadian Cummins builds
Recommended heater
Circulating (Pump) Coolant Heater
Typical wattage: 750 W factory element; 1,500 W circulating upgrade
Cord location
Factory cord low on the driver's side, near the bumper.
Ram 2500 / 3500 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 2010–2023 | 3100131Engine-family lead — confirm exact engine code and model year.(Cartridge bore) | 3600121 | — | LR |
| 6.7L 6-cyl diesel | 2010–2026 | 3500022Engine-family lead — confirm exact engine code and model year.(3/4" NPT bore) | 3600008 | — | —(N/A cooler position) |
| 6.4L 8-cyl | 2014–2026 | No aftermarket listing — use the genuine Ram 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.
Part reference
Zerostart 3100131
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.
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Part reference
Zerostart 3600121
Legacy fitment associations are not independently verified vehicle-specific purchase recommendations.
Cord / harness only — no heating element.
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
Zerostart 3500022
Catalog starting point: confirm exact engine code, year and installation with the manufacturer.
Choose your Amazon store
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Part reference
Zerostart 3600008
Industrial replacement cord, 15 A, 16/3 HPN, silicone connector K in PTI catalog. Cord only; not a heating element.
Cord / harness only — no heating element.
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.
What it costs to plug in a Ram 2500 / 3500 — and what it saves
No supplier lists a wattage for every 2500 / 3500 element, so this uses the 1000 W figure typical of this body style. 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec | 7.0 | $0.14 | $16.80 |
| Manitoba | 10.2 | $0.20 | $24.48 |
| Ontario (avg TOU) | 12.8 | $0.26 | $30.72 |
| Alberta | 14.0 | $0.28 | $33.60 |
| Saskatchewan | 15.5 | $0.31 | $37.20 |
| Nova Scotia | 17.9 | $0.36 | $42.96 |
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.
Cold-weather recalls on the Ram 2500 / 3500
No block-heater recall is on file for the 2500 / 3500, but Transport Canada has recorded cold-weather and cooling-system recalls worth checking before you install anything.
On certain vehicles equipped with 6.7 litre diesel engines, the water pump could fail. This could result in an underhood fire causing injury and/or property damage. Correction: Dealers will replace the water pump with a new one.
Source: Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database. Look up your VIN in the official recall search — this list is filtered to block-heater and cold-weather items and is not the vehicle's full recall history.
Canadian buyer checklist
Three checks before spending money
1. Check for a cord
Factory cord low on the driver's side, near the bumper.
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 Ram 2500 / 3500 block heater cord
Factory cord low on the driver's side, near the bumper. 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 2500 / 3500'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.
Choose your Amazon store
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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 $120–$400 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 Ram 2500 / 3500 come with a block heater?
Standard on Canadian Cummins builds. 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 Ram 2500 / 3500?
The recommended setup is a circulating (pump) coolant heater (typically 750 W factory element; 1,500 W circulating upgrade). The 6.7L Cummins uses an intake grid heater instead of glow plugs — which leans hard on the batteries. The factory block heater plus battery blankets is the reliable stack; serious cold-country operators step up to a circulating heater.
What is the block heater part number for a Ram 2500 / 3500?
5.7L 8-cyl: Zerostart kit 3100131 with cord 3600121; 6.7L 6-cyl diesel: Zerostart kit 3500022 with cord 3600008. Confirm displacement and model year against the fitment table before ordering.
Where is the block heater cord on a Ram 2500 / 3500?
Factory cord low on the driver's side, near the bumper.
How much does it cost to plug in a Ram 2500 / 3500?
At 1000 W on a two-hour timer the heater uses about 2.00 kWh a night — roughly 26¢ in Ontario, 28¢ in Alberta and 14¢ in Quebec. Over a 120-night winter that is about $33.60 at Alberta rates.
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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