Does anyone have the engine block heater installed? It takes miles to start getting heat in our car. My wife will warm it up for 10 minutes and the heat is barely warm with temp gauge above the 160 degree mark. She has to drive a couple of miles after a 10 minute warm up to start getting good heat. The temp was 16 degrees this morning with a steady 30+ mph wind, so it was cold. I wonder if its more cost effective to have the block heater plugged in and a 5 min. warm up and get heat faster. I had one in my Suburban and right after I unplugged it the defrost would be a little warm on start up.
Some tractors have seperate heaters which burns diesel fuel , they circulates the engine coolant and keeps it warm enough that you don't have to idle the engine that 1000rpm all nite.
They just turn off the engine and this heater keeps both cabin and engine warm and saves about 70 % from keeping the engine idling.
Your thinking of an APU on an aircraft that supplies electrical power . The maker is Wabassco heater and all it does is circulates and keeps the coolant temp at a set temp. :beer:
Colder than -18 C and my block heater doesn't seem to work. I'll have to check it with an ohm meter. Warm engine gets better fuel economy. Electricity is cheaper than gas. Once my garage is done it will be warmer so won't need it that often.
Installed mine today. Factory heater, aftermarket cable (compatible and rated to the same specs; starts at 0F, but was almost half the price of the factory cord). Installation was very easy. Reach up from underneath and snap it in to place. Literally a 5 minute job.
On the right next to the windshield fluid bottle. They tuck it somewhere around there. Are you sure you bought one with the vehicle, that is not a standard option any more. GM knows how to earn your hard cold cash.
I am NOT RECOMMENDING you try this, I'm only telling you what I did in my wild youth:
I had a problem getting my old Opel Manta started one minus 0 degree F day when I was in college in the late 1970's. Long story, but while I was home for Xmas break, I had replaced the cam shaft and decided to put 30 wt oil in it for the 1000 mi drive back to school. After I got back to school, the next morning, it wouldn't even turn over. I had some charcoal and a metal garbage can lid, so I lit the charcoal, and when it got down to coals (no open flames), I slid it under the engine. Five or ten minutes later she started right up. I then replaced the oil with a lighter weight.
Do this at your own risk.
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