Loving my new oil pan and transmission heater

[Yuriman]

Installed an oil pan and transmission heater earlier today, to aid my existing block (coolant) heater. 20 minutes brought the measured coolant temperature from ~18F to 100F with the engine off, and the engine and transmission blocks were warm to the touch.

Block heater = 400w
Oil pan heater = 150w
Transmission heater = 50w

Engine displacement = 0.995L

I expect you'd want larger heaters for bigger engines but these seem perfect for mine. Combined with a header with an integrated water jacket, and I have heat within about half a mile of my house when the weather is between zero and freezing.

(paper towel roll was there to hold it in place while the RTV silicone cured)

Total cost for all 3 was ~$120.

 

[DaTT]

I can't wrap my head around the engine displacement, that exhaust pipe looks awfully big for a 995cc engine.

 

[Yuriman]

67HP peak, but 97 ft-lbs of torque @ 2,000rpm - about as much as an older Miata. Quite drivable pushing around only 1,800lbs.

I love this car.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

67HP peak, but 97 ft-lbs of torque @ 2,000rpm. Quite drivable pushing around only 1,800lbs.

I love this car.

What kind of car?

 

[Yuriman]

2000 Insight, 5MT

 

[repoman0]

How does the cabling work, do you have to unplug from the wall and tuck it somewhere whenever you drive?

 

[Yuriman]

I have a smart power strip on my porch. The power strip is programmed to turn on about 2 hours before I leave or when I tap a widget on my homescreen, and turn off when my phone gets out of range of the house. Connected to it is a 25ft power cable, which runs to the car. I have a permanent 5-to-1 outlet splitter tucked away under my bumper. The end hangs out of my front grille. On it, I have my 3 engine heaters, a 12v tender (for "oops" moments) and an outlet I've run through the firewall so I can run a small electric space heater to warm up the cabin if I so choose - it's great for rapidly defrosting the windows. When I walk around the car in the morning to leave, I unplug it. When I get home, I plug it back in. Just one plug.

 

[repoman0]

Nice, that's much cleaner than I was originally picturing lol. Neat setup ... I wish I didn't have only street parking so I could do something like this, but I've gotten used to freezing in the morning for a while. It wakes me up

Then again northern Vermont is a good bit colder ...

 

[skyking]

Nice! I've kicked around the idea for the truck, but I really don't drive it enough to justify that.
Warm = instant good economy. A lot of fuel is wasted in cold engines.

 

[bruceb]

Just be sure your power strip is protected from the weather and it should be on a GFCI circuit breaker or receptacle. But I guess up in Vermont, you need those things to deal with harsh winters.

 

[Yuriman]

Just be sure your power strip is protected from the weather and it should be on a GFCI circuit breaker or receptacle. But I guess up in Vermont, you need those things to deal with harsh winters.

Yes to both already. I've been using it for close to 2 years without issue with the tender and block heater, the pad heaters are the only new part.

 

[echo4747]

where did you buy these heating pads/units (namely the 50 watt unit used on transmission)?

 

[Yuriman]

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I8TQD6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I8YPQ4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There's a similar generic for $15 but I didn't trust it.

 

[BUTCH1]

Nice! I've kicked around the idea for the truck, but I really don't drive it enough to justify that.
Warm = instant good economy. A lot of fuel is wasted in cold engines.

Plus it will add life to the engine because the warm oil will lubricate quickly once started.