Block heater question - temp? time?

[Number_35]

I start plugging in below -15C for about 2 hrs, I also have oil pan heater and trickle charger- I feel it's important to get the starting rpm up with efi rather than lugging the starter.

Block heater, oil-pan heater, and charger - that's an unbeatable combination. I assume you're running a 0W- or 5W- synthetic as well.

Did you install the oil-pan heater yourself? I need to do one for a friend in the next week or so.

 

[dfarr67]

Block heater, oil-pan heater, and charger - that's an unbeatable combination. I assume you're running a 0W- or 5W- synthetic as well.

Did you install the oil-pan heater yourself? I need to do one for a friend in the next week or so.

Honda K24 5w-30, stick on pan heater, MT6. 15 min warmup. Originally equipped for Yellowknife NWT. Honestly some days it was better to just call a cab. I remember other than square tires- a v-belt so stiff it blew apart on a Toy truck.

 

[Number_35]

Honda K24 5w-30, stick on pan heater, MT6. 15 min warmup. Originally equipped for Yellowknife NWT. Honestly some days it was better to just call a cab. I remember other than square tires- a v-belt so stiff it blew apart on a Toy truck.

I remember one very cold winter day here stalling the engine of my '79 Mazda GLC after releasing the clutch. The MT fluid was that thick.

That got me into synthetic gear oil. What a difference.

 

[twX]

Is there a general amount of time one would normally start it at before driving in the morning, or is it something you leave plugged in over night?

Here's some data from my Subaru. You'll get most of the benefit within 2 hours. In extreme cold, I would still use it for at least 4 hours. Iron block engines and larger engines would take longer to heat up.

In a gasoline engine, at what temperature would a block heater be a good option in a gasoline engine?

The engine will benefit from a block heater at pretty much any temperature but the benefits are greater the colder it is outside. Once block heater season starts, I'll use mine for a couple of hours even if it's above freezing outside. It will improve fuel economy, keep the oil in better condition, reduce fuel dilution, and reduce cold start piston ring and liner wear. Certainly use it when it's colder than -10°C.

I'd recommend controlling it with a smart plug that can automatically turn it on based on a schedule as well as the outside temperature. That way you can just keep it plugged in all the time and forget about it, and you can always just turn it on with the app on your phone if your schedule changes.

 

[Highboy]

lol good question. It is a Toyota part, and looks like this one I just snagged a pic from on Amazon.


View attachment 310760

Had one in my Scion Tc. 2.4 4 cylinder in the 20s outside, it took about 1.5 hours to get me to about 100 degrees water temp. I found that having it on longer didn’t get much hotter.