Originally Posted By: Robertslowpoke
thank you all!!
sciphi: which exactly block heater would i buy?
also, to all; i would rather use a bit of gas warming up the car, if it saves the car long term!!!!
best
bob
The best types are the Circulation type heaters. They heat and circulate the coolant in the system. The Freeze-plug type only heat up the coolant in the block, which is fine, and these are used all the time by people. They're usually a bit cheaper too. But the circulation type heat the coolant in the block AND the radiator, so that it takes even less time to get up to operating temperature.
I think you can get a Kat's block heater at Advance. They will take coolant from the block, heat it, and then pump it into the heater core hose. That's in most cases. I had to use a T at the Lower radiator hose, which still takes coolant from the block, and do it that way.
I used my Circulation type heater during winter. It is awesome! You can even get a timer for it (these are plentiful during the winter because people use them all the time to turn the Christmas lights on at dusk and turn off at the break of dawn.) so that it only runs at a certain time before you wake up in the morning. Usually about 1-2 before you need to drive it will work.
The Kats circulation type heaters are thermostatically controlled, so after it heats to it's thermostatic limit, you will just waste electricity keeping the coolant warm for the rest of the night. So instead of heating it for 8 hours, get a timer and have it turn on for 2 hours or so before you wake up, and you will have warm coolant for the morning.
They're awesome because in about 30 second to one minute down the road your blowing nice hot air in the wintertime. Your Fuel Economy is also improved because it takes much less time to reach closed loop. But you really forget about it when you realize, you have hot air blowing quick!
I've had mine in the Jeep for about 3 years now. Still works. Don't use it right now because the apartment complex won't let me run an extension cable out to it!
THAT, and it's also like 95 degrees outside. Not real need for it
thank you all!!
sciphi: which exactly block heater would i buy?
also, to all; i would rather use a bit of gas warming up the car, if it saves the car long term!!!!
best
bob
The best types are the Circulation type heaters. They heat and circulate the coolant in the system. The Freeze-plug type only heat up the coolant in the block, which is fine, and these are used all the time by people. They're usually a bit cheaper too. But the circulation type heat the coolant in the block AND the radiator, so that it takes even less time to get up to operating temperature.
I think you can get a Kat's block heater at Advance. They will take coolant from the block, heat it, and then pump it into the heater core hose. That's in most cases. I had to use a T at the Lower radiator hose, which still takes coolant from the block, and do it that way.
I used my Circulation type heater during winter. It is awesome! You can even get a timer for it (these are plentiful during the winter because people use them all the time to turn the Christmas lights on at dusk and turn off at the break of dawn.) so that it only runs at a certain time before you wake up in the morning. Usually about 1-2 before you need to drive it will work.
The Kats circulation type heaters are thermostatically controlled, so after it heats to it's thermostatic limit, you will just waste electricity keeping the coolant warm for the rest of the night. So instead of heating it for 8 hours, get a timer and have it turn on for 2 hours or so before you wake up, and you will have warm coolant for the morning.
They're awesome because in about 30 second to one minute down the road your blowing nice hot air in the wintertime. Your Fuel Economy is also improved because it takes much less time to reach closed loop. But you really forget about it when you realize, you have hot air blowing quick!
I've had mine in the Jeep for about 3 years now. Still works. Don't use it right now because the apartment complex won't let me run an extension cable out to it!
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