Guest Gar Posted November 17, 2003 O.K. I have been wasting time on the internet. I found a website that sells block heaters for cars (http://www.kenlowe.com/pre-heaters/cars/index.html) You cut the coolant hose between the thermostat housing and fan matrix and connect the ends up to this gizmo. You have to plug it into the mains the night before a cold start and set a timer so it pre-heats the engine before using the car first thing on a cold morning. They claim it can save huge amounts of fuel, as the car is at/near it's operating temperature when you start it! What do you think? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob_the_Sparky 9 Posted November 17, 2003 Will certainly increase the engine life and reduce fuel consumption. How significant the fuel thing is I don't know but would be ideal if you only run the car short distances as it would allow the car to get warm then. Not so certain the location is correct though as on a cold engine the thermostat will be closed so no water will flow round the block. I'd have thought that it would go into one of the heater hoses as these are not cut off from the block by the thermostat. Rob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Gar Posted November 17, 2003 I might get one then, depending on price. Anything over £100 and I won't be bothering. I got the impression that the water would circulate around the block side of the coolant circuit, behind the closed thermostat, as there wouldn't be much point in heating the rad side of the circuit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fiji bob 0 Posted November 17, 2003 well if it heated the engine close to or near opertaing temp the sad would be closed and the ecu wouldnt add any fuel for cold enrichment so youd be getting near summer levels of fuel consumption which for me is about 20 miles extra to £20 maybe more Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob_the_Sparky 9 Posted November 18, 2003 If you get one let us know how you get on. If spending a lot of money tuning an engine this is probably of interest. Rob P.S. I'd hope it heats the block side of the water system... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Gar Posted November 18, 2003 I phoned them up today, and I got a quote for.................................................................£239.01! Bugger that. I will probably get one next winter as I won't be getting one now at that price! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob_the_Sparky 9 Posted November 18, 2003 Seems a touch expensive for a heater and a pump... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pugnut 9 1 Cars Posted November 18, 2003 isn't this what they use in scandanavian countries with thier -50 deg c cold starts? when your engine oil is like syrup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Gar Posted November 18, 2003 To be honest, it's not the temperature itself is the problem, it's where I live, at the bottom of two humungous hills which require big rev's first thing after a cold start, then after that it's 60mph, which can't be too good within about 3minuites of a cold start! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowman 0 Posted November 18, 2003 isn't this what they use in scandanavian countries with thier -50 deg c cold starts? when your engine oil is like syrup. yeah- these are almost standard in Scandinavia. I've worked in Sweden where they have meters that you can plug your car into. Looked very odd until I realised the purpose! Try looking at a Scandinavian site for the prices... might be better value. Chris Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dave Posted November 18, 2003 (edited) My sister used to have a volvo 360 which was imported from sweden. Anyway, It had a 3-pin plug under the front valance and a mains lead so you could plug it into the house mains or one of these points outside. Anyway, it had a heater element in the coolant and a wee pump to circulate the water. It also had an element in the sump to keep the oil warm and the best bit was a wee electric heater in the cabin to keep it warm and stop the windows icing up. It was great, the car would start no problem without the usual cold-start cranking. It was already at a good temperature so ran perfectly no matter how cold it was. Fantastic idea, which wouldnt be too hard to DIY. Sadly I have to park my car quite a distance from the house so a mains lead isnt practical. Edited November 18, 2003 by Dave Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
