I've suddenly gotten the itch to buy a block warmer for my '10 Taurus
Someone talk me down off the edge!
Someone talk me down off the edge!
Block warmer
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Buy 0w-20 instead.
Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Buy 0w-20 instead.
Huh?
I can assure you thinner oil won't take the place of a block heater when it dips to -30c
A recirculating coolant heater is the best out there. Easily plumbed in and inexpensive to buy. And instant heat once the engine starts.
Buy 0w-20 instead.
Huh?
I can assure you thinner oil won't take the place of a block heater when it dips to -30c
A recirculating coolant heater is the best out there. Easily plumbed in and inexpensive to buy. And instant heat once the engine starts.
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Buy 0w-20 instead.
Huh?
I can assure you thinner oil won't take the place of a block heater when it dips to -30c
A recirculating coolant heater is the best out there. Easily plumbed in and inexpensive to buy. And instant heat once the engine starts.
I have to agree. While 0w20 would work better than the 5w20 I currently run, nothing can beat pre-warmed oil for a cold start. I just can't decide if it's reallyyyy necessary. We regularly get down to 0-20F where I live but Amsoil has a pour point of -63F so I know it's plenty "pumpable"in the temps I live in.
Would a coolant heater really work better than a block heater? In terms of starting, it would much easier to crank an engine with warm oil than warm coolant. I don't see much advantage of a coolant warmer personally. If the engine has warm oil before it even starts, wouldn't take long at all to warm the coolant.
Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Buy 0w-20 instead.
Huh?
I can assure you thinner oil won't take the place of a block heater when it dips to -30c
A recirculating coolant heater is the best out there. Easily plumbed in and inexpensive to buy. And instant heat once the engine starts.
I have to agree. While 0w20 would work better than the 5w20 I currently run, nothing can beat pre-warmed oil for a cold start. I just can't decide if it's reallyyyy necessary. We regularly get down to 0-20F where I live but Amsoil has a pour point of -63F so I know it's plenty "pumpable"in the temps I live in.
Would a coolant heater really work better than a block heater? In terms of starting, it would much easier to crank an engine with warm oil than warm coolant. I don't see much advantage of a coolant warmer personally. If the engine has warm oil before it even starts, wouldn't take long at all to warm the coolant.
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Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Buy 0w-20 instead.
Huh?
I can assure you thinner oil won't take the place of a block heater when it dips to -30c
A recirculating coolant heater is the best out there. Easily plumbed in and inexpensive to buy. And instant heat once the engine starts.
They work really good in the trucks at work. Where do you get them for cars and pick-ups?
Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Buy 0w-20 instead.
Huh?
I can assure you thinner oil won't take the place of a block heater when it dips to -30c
A recirculating coolant heater is the best out there. Easily plumbed in and inexpensive to buy. And instant heat once the engine starts.
They work really good in the trucks at work. Where do you get them for cars and pick-ups?
how cold does it get by you?
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
how cold does it get by you?
Can get into the negatives sometimes. I'm in NW Ohio.
how cold does it get by you?
Can get into the negatives sometimes. I'm in NW Ohio.
Kats make a wide variety of engine heaters at a reasonable price. The frost plug and lower hose are the ones I prefer because the heater hose type seem to cook the hoses. Last fall, I put an oil pan heater on my car and will be using it this week to aid with starting in the cold.
The nice thing about a coolant heater is that the heater inside the car comes on right away. That's worth the price of admission.
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Buy 0w-20 instead.
Huh?
I can assure you thinner oil won't take the place of a block heater when it dips to -30c
A recirculating coolant heater is the best out there. Easily plumbed in and inexpensive to buy. And instant heat once the engine starts.
Sure, a heater is different from thinner oil. He wanted us to convince him not to buy the heater.
Anyhow, it doesn't get terribly cold in Ohio. Don't worry about it.
Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Buy 0w-20 instead.
Huh?
I can assure you thinner oil won't take the place of a block heater when it dips to -30c
A recirculating coolant heater is the best out there. Easily plumbed in and inexpensive to buy. And instant heat once the engine starts.
Sure, a heater is different from thinner oil. He wanted us to convince him not to buy the heater.
Anyhow, it doesn't get terribly cold in Ohio. Don't worry about it.
Does the engine block heater help when temperature in my unheated garage drops to around 50-55F ? When do you really need an engine block heater ?
Just do it. I cut out an old post of mine:
"Ok, my five öre, as we say here:
2. In my experience, at actual -30 to -40 celsius, fresh good 5w or even 10w will pump. But it will take longer to reach all spaces. So pick an oil with lowest pour point possible like an extreme 0w. Check the data sheets, since there is no lower tag than 0w you will see some variance within that class.
3. Does your engine reach normal operating temps in the cold? If it does, you don't have to lower the hot visc. If it doesn't you may want to lower the hot viscosity a snap or two. Or, as I do here, put a winter cardboard sheet over like 2/3 of the radiator to reach temp and get warm quicker.
4. Get a block heater with an outlet and heater inside the vehicle for heat there too. We use http://www.defa.com/en/html/fp/
5. In temps like -30 celsius, everything starts to act differently, plastics snap easier, mechanical parts rattle more, part fit deteriorates, so generally things break more frequently in the cold. Nothing to do, but keep it in mind and take it easy with the cars.
As a secondary point, you will also freeze. Keep something warm in the car, like blankets, for the event of a breakdown or accident that may keep you out longer than the car will run. Stay safe.
"Ok, my five öre, as we say here:
2. In my experience, at actual -30 to -40 celsius, fresh good 5w or even 10w will pump. But it will take longer to reach all spaces. So pick an oil with lowest pour point possible like an extreme 0w. Check the data sheets, since there is no lower tag than 0w you will see some variance within that class.
3. Does your engine reach normal operating temps in the cold? If it does, you don't have to lower the hot visc. If it doesn't you may want to lower the hot viscosity a snap or two. Or, as I do here, put a winter cardboard sheet over like 2/3 of the radiator to reach temp and get warm quicker.
4. Get a block heater with an outlet and heater inside the vehicle for heat there too. We use http://www.defa.com/en/html/fp/
5. In temps like -30 celsius, everything starts to act differently, plastics snap easier, mechanical parts rattle more, part fit deteriorates, so generally things break more frequently in the cold. Nothing to do, but keep it in mind and take it easy with the cars.
As a secondary point, you will also freeze. Keep something warm in the car, like blankets, for the event of a breakdown or accident that may keep you out longer than the car will run. Stay safe.
Originally Posted By: Clevy
A recirculating coolant heater is the best out there. Easily plumbed in and inexpensive to buy. And instant heat once the engine starts.
...Wait, what?
If you have to pick one thing to be warm first (the oil or the engine), it should be the oil...
A recirculating coolant heater is the best out there. Easily plumbed in and inexpensive to buy. And instant heat once the engine starts.
...Wait, what?
If you have to pick one thing to be warm first (the oil or the engine), it should be the oil...
Originally Posted By: Throt
I've suddenly gotten the itch to buy a block warmer for my '10 Taurus
Someone talk me down off the edge!
Calix block heater element in my old Audi was toast and noticed this just when the temperatures dropped down to -20 degrees Celsius. It started but it was not very easy to turn over despite of new battery and Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40.
We changed the element two days ago and difference is like day and night - as usual.
We tend to use block heaters over here when it drops below 0 degrees Celsius.
Mine is equipped with extension kit which allows use of an electric interior heater.
Defa or Calix - both are good old brands.
I've suddenly gotten the itch to buy a block warmer for my '10 Taurus
Someone talk me down off the edge!
Calix block heater element in my old Audi was toast and noticed this just when the temperatures dropped down to -20 degrees Celsius. It started but it was not very easy to turn over despite of new battery and Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40.
We changed the element two days ago and difference is like day and night - as usual.
We tend to use block heaters over here when it drops below 0 degrees Celsius.
Mine is equipped with extension kit which allows use of an electric interior heater.
Defa or Calix - both are good old brands.
Block heaters and oil pan heaters will drastically reduce engine wear, even when used on mild winter days, even +10C is a good time to use them.
Block heaters (coolant heaters) are a small (fits in your palm) heater plug that threads into your engine block, about 250-350 watts for a car, more with trucks. Makes start ups much easier, reduces startup wear, use less fuel. Watts of heat limited by size.
Circulation coolant heaters are an external coolant heater that you plumb into the coolant lines on the engine, same as block heaters, just more powerful, but less effective per watt than block heaters... no limit of how much watts you can have.
Oil pan heaters are a pad (or an element) than attaches to the bottom of oil pan and heats the engine oil, fantastic for very cold weather startups, more effective than block heaters PER WATT. Doesn't make it easier to start compared to block heaters, but your engine will LOVE it, nice warm oil, easy to pump and protect. Best when used in CONJUNCTION with a block heater or circulation heater.
On my 1999 Honda Civic, I have a block heater and oil pan heater, 350 watt block heater and 250 watt oil pan heater, the engine starts up and warms up like a HOT summer day, in fact, less startup wear than on a HOT summers day.
Going to install an oil pan heater on my CRV soon.
Block heaters (coolant heaters) are a small (fits in your palm) heater plug that threads into your engine block, about 250-350 watts for a car, more with trucks. Makes start ups much easier, reduces startup wear, use less fuel. Watts of heat limited by size.
Circulation coolant heaters are an external coolant heater that you plumb into the coolant lines on the engine, same as block heaters, just more powerful, but less effective per watt than block heaters... no limit of how much watts you can have.
Oil pan heaters are a pad (or an element) than attaches to the bottom of oil pan and heats the engine oil, fantastic for very cold weather startups, more effective than block heaters PER WATT. Doesn't make it easier to start compared to block heaters, but your engine will LOVE it, nice warm oil, easy to pump and protect. Best when used in CONJUNCTION with a block heater or circulation heater.
On my 1999 Honda Civic, I have a block heater and oil pan heater, 350 watt block heater and 250 watt oil pan heater, the engine starts up and warms up like a HOT summer day, in fact, less startup wear than on a HOT summers day.
Going to install an oil pan heater on my CRV soon.
Hello, I for all of this but I have three questions.
1) Attaching anything to the bottom of an oil pan seems a folly to me. Don't they get torn off?
2) How would they be fastened to an aluminum oil pan in the first place?
3) Regarding the link posted earlier in the thread. The company said for European use only being the units are all 240 volts. Am I correct in assuming they'd work, perhaps less well, at 208 volts?
It's slightly disappointing that the heater the company has for my car is surface mounted on the engine. Kira
1) Attaching anything to the bottom of an oil pan seems a folly to me. Don't they get torn off?
2) How would they be fastened to an aluminum oil pan in the first place?
3) Regarding the link posted earlier in the thread. The company said for European use only being the units are all 240 volts. Am I correct in assuming they'd work, perhaps less well, at 208 volts?
It's slightly disappointing that the heater the company has for my car is surface mounted on the engine. Kira
Originally Posted By: 285south
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
When do you really need an engine block heater ?
You will never need one since you live on the west coast. Block heaters are a must in COLD (below zero fahrenheit) climates like the midwest.
Wow, another "must" along with 0W oils.
How do the majority of cars on the road survive without your "musts"?
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
When do you really need an engine block heater ?
You will never need one since you live on the west coast. Block heaters are a must in COLD (below zero fahrenheit) climates like the midwest.
Wow, another "must" along with 0W oils.
How do the majority of cars on the road survive without your "musts"?
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: Clevy
A recirculating coolant heater is the best out there. Easily plumbed in and inexpensive to buy. And instant heat once the engine starts.
...Wait, what?
If you have to pick one thing to be warm first (the oil or the engine), it should be the oil...
I know I would pick my comfort over the car, but anyway, block heaters do warm up the oil a bit, by how much IDK, but it's quite significant as the engine will crank much faster when it was plugged in.
Originally Posted By: Clevy
A recirculating coolant heater is the best out there. Easily plumbed in and inexpensive to buy. And instant heat once the engine starts.
...Wait, what?
If you have to pick one thing to be warm first (the oil or the engine), it should be the oil...
I know I would pick my comfort over the car, but anyway, block heaters do warm up the oil a bit, by how much IDK, but it's quite significant as the engine will crank much faster when it was plugged in.
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