Engine block heater for short trip car

[mikiee]

I read on BITOG all the time how bad it is on engines to drive short trips especially in colder months because the oil never heats up properly. I have a car that I use mainly back and forth to work which is about 4 miles each way. I know it barely gets up to operating temp and then its time to shut it down. The climate here in the winter is usually 15 to 40 degrees and I am using 5w30 conventional in it and change it every 4-5000 miles. Would it be good to use an engine block heater to keep the oil relatively warm to help combat the condensation that forms?

 

[pidster]

If you're worried about keeping the oil warm an oil pan heater would be better for the job, easier to install as well.

A block heater will save you fuel on the rich start-ups, with a side effect of less fuel dilution of the oil. Plus you'll get heat out of the vents faster. An oil pan heater can't do that.

The ultimate?

Both of course.

I run a block heater on my Ranger and had one in the old Tercel as well and they are worth every penny for comfort alone. I drive a lot of short runs too and it's frustrating to reach a comfortable temp behind the wheel only to have to jump back out in the cold a couple minutes later.

 

[Drew2000]

During the week I drive my Tribute to the train station about 2.5 miles each way. I just take it on the highway for around 10 minutes or so once a week and run some errands to throughly warm it up. I do run 0w20 or 5w20 oil for fast flow, but no block heater, it's really not necessary for the temps you are seeing. (plus electric rates are pretty high around here)

When you park your car at work, can you plug it in? For the few minutes a very short commute takes, is it really worth the extra energy to get heat a bit sooner?

 

[morris]

pidster : two thumbs up

 

[mikiee]

I'm sorry, after reading the second post by Pidster, I discovered that I meant to say "oil pan heater" not "block heater". The ones that attach to the pan with adhesive. It's too late to edit the OP.

 

[mikiee]

Originally Posted By: Drew2000
During the week I drive my Tribute to the train station about 2.5 miles each way. I just take it on the highway for around 10 minutes or so once a week and run some errands to throughly warm it up. I do run 0w20 or 5w20 oil for fast flow, but no block heater, it's really not necessary for the temps you are seeing. (plus electric rates are pretty high around here)

When you park your car at work, can you plug it in? For the few minutes a very short commute takes, is it really worth the extra energy to get heat a bit sooner?

Well, I wasn't suggesting it for my comfort. I get heat out the vents after about 5 mins, so thats not a problem. I was concerned about engine "health" ie. condensation, fuel dilution, etc. I was thinking if the oil was already warm when I left, it would prevent those issues.

 

[OneEyeJack]

Years ago I worked on a job in Canada for a winter where it was seriously cold. The pickup I had there had a block heater, a pan heater, a radiator heater and a transmission heater all courtesy of the previous owner. I could plug in where I lived and at work. Although I carried survival gear I could drive to work early in the morning with just a light jacket. There was heat right away and it was wonderful beyond description. I am from Southern California and I was not prepared for this kind of cold. It was a shock when I arrived. That first day it did not get above zero until 10 o'clock in the morning. I had never experienced anything like it. My freezer at home isn't that cold on the inside. In my first week on the job I stopped to help a woman and changed her flat tire. I broke her jack. It just snapped. Mine fit okay but when I got back into my pickup I discovered I could not feel my feet, my fingers or my face and I cracked my beard when I tried to brush away the ice. I had a hard time removing my gloves, there was blood in one of them and I could not figure out why until I got a look at my thumb. The woman pulled out as smooth as could be. I ran down a stop sigh and I sign that warned that is was slippery. I say the first sign coming but did not see the second one until it was right in front of me. I was going about 2 miles per hour and I could only see about 10 to 20 feet down the road with all that snow. I'm glad I was driving a 10 year old pickup because for every dent it had when I bought it, I added two. So, my vote would be for anything to keep warm including your car or truck. I admire the people that live up north and cope with the cold.

 

[Kuato]

The heater will help with cold oil. For such a short trip to work, I'd be thinking about a longer trip once a week to make sure that the oil was brought completely up to temp.

Also, with your driving habits, synthetic oil would be a good idea.

 

[Lethal1ty17]

switch to 0w20 or 5w20 and change it a little more frequently, problem solved.

 

[OneEyeJack]

Actually, no matter what, the engine will probably out last the car with the concern you are showing for the oil.

 

[Scienceman]

I think block heaters are a great idea to have. They really help with cold starts.