Now that winters almost over, I find this...

silver4.6 · Feb 25, 2004

Anybody have an engine block heater ? How hard
would it be to install? Maybe I could get it for next year.

merc123 · Feb 25, 2004

I thought it was just something that went on top of your engine
I've see some that just look like giant heating pads.

01'TRUE BLUE GT · Feb 25, 2004

You don't need that, they're more commonly used on diesel engines ... not gas. My car starts right up on the coldest of mornings without a problem. I warm it up for a few then just drive it easy until it's up to normal operating temperature ... that's all you have to do.

Skud · Feb 25, 2004

I still can't beleive a block heater isn't standard equipment on new vehicles. I always laugh wen I'm watching price is right and they list "Engine Block Heater" as an option..

[edit] In Canada, a block heater isn't an option, it's a necessity!! (Seriosuly) [/edit]

Riley

01'TRUE BLUE GT · Feb 25, 2004

merc123 said:
I thought it was just something that went on top of your engine
I've see some that just look like giant heating pads.

No ... A giant heating pad wouldn't cut it. A real block warmer actually has a heating element that is permanently placed inside the water jacket of your engine block that keeps the coolant warm around the cylinders. These are only needed on big diesel engines that don't have glow plugs to aid in cold starting. I drive a Peterbilt for work which has one an it works great, but you don't need them for a gas engine.

JonJon · Feb 25, 2004

01'TRUE BLUE GT said:
You don't need that, they're more commonly used on diesel engines ... not gas. My car starts right up on the coldest of mornings without a problem. I warm it up for a few then just drive it easy until it's up to normal operating temperature ... that's all you have to do.

i agree
but that page says it's new for 2002-2003 engines. lol wtf?
this MA winter we've had many many sub 10F degree days. Car starts great, even with stock 4.5 year old battery. it's just cold as crap when you sit in the frozen seats.

my dad had a heater for his old Benz diesel.

01'TRUE BLUE GT · Feb 25, 2004

JonJon said:
i agree
but that page says it's new for 2002-2003 engines. lol wtf?
this MA winter we've had many many sub 10F degree days. Car starts great, even with stock 4.5 year old battery. it's just cold as crap when you sit in the frozen seats.

my dad had a heater for his old Benz diesel.

Yeah, it's just another useless gimmick for them to try and get rich off of us, don't give them the chance! I know Pittsburgh isn't like living at the North Pole, but we've had some sub-zero days this winter and mine always fired right up ... I still have my original battery too. A block warmer sure won't do anything for your cold seats.

Your spark plugs will do a fine job of igniting the fuel/air charge even in the coldest weather. Most of you know big diesels ignite from compression alone so that's the reason a block warmer really helps alot for cold starting on diesels ... they just aren't needed for gas engines, period. When I plug my truck in overnight it fires right up and doesn't smoke much ... if I forget to plug it in the truck is harder to fire up and it fills the whole valley with smoke until it runs for a few minutes so they definately do what their designed to do. If anyone really feels they need one on their gas engine then more power to ya, but you don't need it.

mogs01gt · Feb 25, 2004

My buddy has one on his truck. If he installed it, they have to be easy.

silver4.6 · Feb 25, 2004

I'm not worried about the engine starting, I'm worried about my own
comfort. I figured this would save a few minutes on warm-up time. No
idle time for warm-up ='s less chance of theft, with or without the doors
locked.

Just jump in, start the car, let the oil circulate, and you should already have
warm (or semi warm) coolant flowing through your heater core. Or am I
missing some other purpose on the whole engine block heater thing on a gas
engine?

GTvert01 · Feb 25, 2004

I have seen some heating elements that go in to the dipstick tube.I remember my dad plugging in our 83 mustang in South Dakota, but I was too young to care how it worked.Gotta love fuel injection.

Now, standard leather seat warmers would be a Great addition

Slider · Feb 25, 2004

Those things are only need for extreme cold environements like Canada. They are needed because in the winter the temps can go sub -30 degrees F at night, and motor oil is like fudge at that temp. When you started you car you would have no oil. The block heater is used to warm up the engine and oil so you do not ruin you engine. It is only really need in extremely cold places.

Silver95Bird · Feb 25, 2004

our 95 tbird was ordered with one... we'd only use it if it went down near 0 or below... the car warmed up much faster, and it's better for the engine in terms of lubrication (getting the oil warm faster is a big help). If you live in FL you don't need it, but if it gets below 10* where you live in the winter it would make a difference. Don't think Ford is doing it to get rich either, ours cost $20 factory installed. They can't be making much profit on that.

Skud · Feb 25, 2004

Slider said:
Those things are only need for extreme cold environements like Canada. They are needed because in the winter the temps can go sub -30 degrees F at night, and motor oil is like fudge at that temp. When you started you car you would have no oil. The block heater is used to warm up the engine and oil so you do not ruin you engine. It is only really need in extremely cold places.

Thank you Slider!!

We had a couple weeks of -40F (-76F w / windchill!!! ) weather here in Saskatoon not too long ago. At those temps it's not so much a problem with the engine firing, but it's a problem to even get the engine to spin fast enough to start.

Let me put it this way, when my friend starts his truck on a -40F morning, if he has the tranny in neutral and lets out the clutch; the gear oil in the tranny is so thick it stalls the engine.

Riley

JohnyD05 · Feb 25, 2004

MY GT has an engine heater

I bought MY GT USED and it came with an engine heater, it has a bag type thing the battery goes in and a heater either in the oil or the coolant but i can hear the stuff heating up when i plugged it in. I ready somewhere it was a 26 dollar option on the GT, from the factory. I live in MA so its kind of nice to be able to warm the cars engine up before you start it. If you live somewhere really cold it might be a good idea.

Skud · Feb 25, 2004

JohnyD05 said:
I bought MY GT USED and it came with an engine heater, it has a bag type thing the battery goes in and a heater either in the oil or the coolant but i can hear the stuff heating up when i plugged it in. I ready somewhere it was a 26 dollar option on the GT, from the factory. I live in MA so its kind of nice to be able to warm the cars engine up before you start it. If you live somewhere really cold it might be a good idea.

Yeah, the bag for the battery is like a heating pad.

The block heater goes in place of one of the freeze plugs in the engine. It has a cord which you plug into the wall. The end that stays in the engine has a heating element on it just like your coffee kettle. The element heats the coolant in the block.

When you plug it in and hear that sound, then you know the heater is working. It's also the same sound most kettle's make when you heat up the water.

If you guys really want to keep your engines warm, you should get a circulating heater. They go in line with your heater core lines and have a pump and heating element. The element heats the water and the pump circulates the warm coolant through the engine. When you start your car in the morning you have instant defrost and the tempearture needle is already on it's way up!!

Riley

Slider · Feb 25, 2004

Skud said:
Thank you Slider!!

We had a couple weeks of -40F (-76F w / windchill!!! ) weather here in Saskatoon not too long ago. At those temps it's not so much a problem with the engine firing, but it's a problem to even get the engine to spin fast enough to start.

Let me put it this way, when my friend starts his truck on a -40F morning, if he has the tranny in neutral and lets out the clutch; the gear oil in the tranny is so thick it stalls the engine.

Riley

I never new about the stalling thing. That is very interesting Glad I live in FL now a days. A cold morning here is like 28 degrees F, and more like 50F in my garage

Now that winters almost over, I find this...

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