what is an Engine Block Heater?

[toant103]

easy to start your engine during winter?

 

[Excelsior]

People in far nothern areas need them in the winter. If you leave the car turned off in -40 degree weather for too long...yeah..you get the picture.

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: toant103
easy to start your engine during winter?

Easier. Keeps your fluids from freezing. Also its more important on a deisel then a gas to keep the glow plugs warm it or takes FOREVER for them to get warm

 

[GasX]

It's a device that heats your engine block...

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: toant103
easy to start your engine during winter?

Yeah, you plug your car into a standard electrical outlet. It'll keep the battery charged & the engine block warm (obviously).

 

[amdskip]

We have something similar on our dragster to warm the motor up before running if it is cold out. 20w50 is very heavy oil especially when cold.

 

[sharkeeper]

When the temperature drops your car will be harder to start. The engine will require more torque to crank over. The battery will have less current at given temperature, this is why you see two temperature points given for cranking capacity. Where the climate is severe (U.P. in Michigan and Barrow AK, for example) a battery blanket with heater AND engine block heater is required on chilly January mornings or the vehicle will not start!

If the oil gets cold enough, the oil can acutally become nearly solid! You don't even want to know what this would due to your engine!

Cheers!

 

[jurzdevil]

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: toant103
easy to start your engine during winter?

Easier. Keeps your fluids from freezing. Also its more important on a deisel then a gas to keep the glow plugs warm it or takes FOREVER for them to get warm

glow plugs have electric supply to them to get thme glowing in the cold.

the problem with diesels and cold is that diesel will freeze easily. it has a high water content.

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: jurzdevil

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: toant103
easy to start your engine during winter?

Easier. Keeps your fluids from freezing. Also its more important on a deisel then a gas to keep the glow plugs warm it or takes FOREVER for them to get warm

glow plugs have electric supply to them to get thme glowing in the cold.

the problem with diesels and cold is that diesel will freeze easily. it has a high water content.

The colder it is, the longer glow plugs take to heat up. Sometimes, that can be forever.

 

[waggy]

I had a 89 VW diesel station wagon that had a block heater. If i forgot to plug it in it was a pain to start. But it was a great little car. had about 220k miles on it.