Took the plunge and ordered one last week, just arrived today. Going to fit it to the steel sump on my 4.6, just rebuilt. Probably a bit late in the winter now but what the hell worth a try. Let's see what happens to the warm up time, if I can get the vents working properly.
My wolverine engine heater just arrived.
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bouncerdrum
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What are the benefits to fitting one of these?
Less viscous oil in the winter for starting, I use 15-40 and when its below zero it tends to struggle a bit. Not saying it will solve the problem, 0-40 would probably do it but I have a few gallons of the 15-40 plus its good quality oil.
Fitted it last night so I will give it a blast tomorrow.
Fitted it last night so I will give it a blast tomorrow.
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Have you ever considered using the correct grade of oil? Could have saved a few bob if you did.
Did consider it! When I say struggle, Its most likely just me being overly critical.
Whats the correct grade? Based upon this information and our climate (Last year being extreme) I would think it would be 10w40 as suggested above? The chart shows that 15w40 aint far off the mark either (attached). The heater was £45, I know I wont need it much but adding a little bit of heat will make me feel better (even if thats all it does) I get bored and like trying these things. 5 liters of oil is near as dam it £40 for good stuff now anyway. I change the oil regularly so wouldn't be far off this after 6 months. Each to there own hey.
Whats the correct grade? Based upon this information and our climate (Last year being extreme) I would think it would be 10w40 as suggested above? The chart shows that 15w40 aint far off the mark either (attached). The heater was £45, I know I wont need it much but adding a little bit of heat will make me feel better (even if thats all it does) I get bored and like trying these things. 5 liters of oil is near as dam it £40 for good stuff now anyway. I change the oil regularly so wouldn't be far off this after 6 months. Each to there own hey.
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jt_armstrong
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I fitted a block heater to the Cherokee that we have in Sweden. It just speeds up the time it takes to get hot air out of the vents so you can jump in and drive away rather than letting idle for 10mins. Doesn't change the fact that you need the correct grade of engine oil.
6704nathan
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i use 15-40 in my dse never noticed any problems even when freezing, i must admit i only use it as it is very good quality and free as i get it from work and if it is good enough for the cummins diesel engines in the trains i work on with oil change intervals of around 50,000miles then its good enough for 6000miles in my range rover!
Chaps you echo my thoughts too. 6704nathan I am in exactly the same situation you are, quality oil and tested. The heater I have hopefully gets the engine upto temp earlier once started, since I only do short journeys to work. It seemed to work this morning anyway. Frost on the RR and warmed up quicker in my opinion after being on for 40 mins. Not got the timer fitted yet so I got up early to put it on.
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Just a quick update, it makes the motor heat up quicker in the cold weather. No doubt.
Been under the car after its been on for an hour in -5 temps to see what the temps are like to the touch. Heater must be 60-80 degrees C. Sump hasn't heated up to much. Below 55. Can keep my hand on it, nice and warm, needs to be on longer to reach an equilibrium i reckon. Seems that it only costs about 2P an hour to run it going off the energy monitor. Going to try it for 2 hours tomorrow, doesn't get hot enough to boil the oil by any means, a good thing.
Been under the car after its been on for an hour in -5 temps to see what the temps are like to the touch. Heater must be 60-80 degrees C. Sump hasn't heated up to much. Below 55. Can keep my hand on it, nice and warm, needs to be on longer to reach an equilibrium i reckon. Seems that it only costs about 2P an hour to run it going off the energy monitor. Going to try it for 2 hours tomorrow, doesn't get hot enough to boil the oil by any means, a good thing.
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jt_armstrong
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I find it hard to envisage how warming the sump will have any effect on the reset of the engine. Clearly it works as you have noticed a difference. The one I fitted to my Jeep went into one of the core plugs and so heated the coolant thus warming the block that way. It is very effective and I have used it at temps below -25c. Definetly worthwhile if you are doing short runs.
Yes wrong choice of words really. Didn't expect it to heat the whole of the engine, just take the chill out. Some heat had passed into the lower part of the block actually, but you are quite right, engine acts as a great big heat sink. I was just going to see if leaving it on any longer warms it any more.
Was thinking of fitting an element in the coolant somewhere, but i think a pumped version would be best because of the V configuration, but they are expensive. Then with the gas conversion hoses and vapourisers room isn't a plenty. Perhaps under the dash buy the heater matrix. Over the top for this country for the majority of the time, some argue a oil heater is also!
Was thinking of fitting an element in the coolant somewhere, but i think a pumped version would be best because of the V configuration, but they are expensive. Then with the gas conversion hoses and vapourisers room isn't a plenty. Perhaps under the dash buy the heater matrix. Over the top for this country for the majority of the time, some argue a oil heater is also!
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Beats me why you even bothered. If you lived in the Arctic or Alaska i may understand more. The Wirral is hardly Penguin country.
StuckAgainSteve
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I've got fairly thick oil in my 4.6 (15W/40 + Lucas oil stabiliser), compressions look good- it's a healthy engine, it spins like a top even at -2c last night it turned over fast and started instantly. If it struggles in the cold I can't help but think there's an electrical issue somewhere.
That said I do like the idea of engine heaters, although the point of them is probably diminished in our climate. It only takes a minute or two to get warm air out of the vents in my car, even in cold weather.
That said I do like the idea of engine heaters, although the point of them is probably diminished in our climate. It only takes a minute or two to get warm air out of the vents in my car, even in cold weather.
Works ok for me anyway.
We have used the pad heaters at work as a cheap way of thawing chemicals keeping them warm, but you need time to heat up with low energy heaters like this.
We have some old pyroban fork lifts that get left outside, during winter, cold wind comes off the Mersey and they won't start. We take them to the workshop warm them up and they start. Was thinking of trying these types of heaters and leaving them on over night. So mine was a trial to see how effective they are. Mind isn't made up yet as to wether they are the best things for the situation.
We have used the pad heaters at work as a cheap way of thawing chemicals keeping them warm, but you need time to heat up with low energy heaters like this.
We have some old pyroban fork lifts that get left outside, during winter, cold wind comes off the Mersey and they won't start. We take them to the workshop warm them up and they start. Was thinking of trying these types of heaters and leaving them on over night. So mine was a trial to see how effective they are. Mind isn't made up yet as to wether they are the best things for the situation.
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sassanach
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i made my own block heater using a 3 kilowatt element and a auxilliary 12v water pump,i use mine to cut down on the petrol consumption(the sooner its on lpg the better).
Datatek
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As far as I'm aware, all vehicles in Canada come with block heaters as standard, at least all the ones I saw had one. I think they are great, save engine wear and fuel as the engine is always warm at start even in minus 50C and you can drive off in minutes with all defrosted rather than in an hour as we found out when we forgot to plug in one night.
Diehard
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