engine block heaters ?
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Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Kentucky
engine block heaters ?
It is starting to cool down outside now and I am thinking of pre-warming my vehicle coolant. My aging bones dislike sitting in a cold car while the heater warms. ...
Are these 120 volt ,in line hose block heaters bad for the cars cooling system ? I am leaning toward the radiator hose type. The freeze plug type I am sure work best, but those are heck to install and they worry me about leaking later on. Is there any particular brand of hose heaters better than others ? TIA
Are these 120 volt ,in line hose block heaters bad for the cars cooling system ? I am leaning toward the radiator hose type. The freeze plug type I am sure work best, but those are heck to install and they worry me about leaking later on. Is there any particular brand of hose heaters better than others ? TIA
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Mercer County, OH
I tried on of those hose heaters on an Explorer that I had. I put it on a timer so it would come on a few hours before I'd leave but it didn't seam to heat the coolant up enough for me to notice. Maybe if I plugged it in the night before when the coolant was still hot it might have worked better.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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If you can find one of these...they are the best.
Here is the Oil heater (shown on left) I installed in my oil pan.
Those magnet heaters are a waste of energy because they try to heat exposed metal then the fluid contained inside
You can also get a car warmer for the inside of the car.
You basically put both on a timer for 3 hours before you start the car.
Coolant is warm , inside car is warm
Here is the Oil heater (shown on left) I installed in my oil pan.
Those magnet heaters are a waste of energy because they try to heat exposed metal then the fluid contained inside
You can also get a car warmer for the inside of the car.
You basically put both on a timer for 3 hours before you start the car.
Coolant is warm , inside car is warm
Last edited by Mil1ion; Nov 2, 2007 at 01:16 PM.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Frequently frozen MN
I've had tank heaters on a couple of cars. As I recall, they actually circulated the coolant. This heated the whole block. Worked pretty good, but you don't see them anymore.
Mainly I put them in to help the poor thing start. When it's -20F, the older cars used to really groan. Not as bad anymore. They'd heat up a lot faster too.
I agree that the magnetic heaters aren't worth much. The one that M1llion(sp?) showed loooked good, but I don't know how hard it is to install.
If your stuff starts OK, you could fire it up, dash in the house, and come out a couple of minutes later.
It wastes a little gas, but old bones need a little consideration.
ford2go
Mainly I put them in to help the poor thing start. When it's -20F, the older cars used to really groan. Not as bad anymore. They'd heat up a lot faster too.
I agree that the magnetic heaters aren't worth much. The one that M1llion(sp?) showed loooked good, but I don't know how hard it is to install.
If your stuff starts OK, you could fire it up, dash in the house, and come out a couple of minutes later.
It wastes a little gas, but old bones need a little consideration. ford2go
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
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From: Austin, TX
My '73 Galaxie came from South Dakota and it has a flow-type block heater on it. It's got the heater mounted on the frame, and one end tees off a heater hose and the other end goes into one of the threaded holes in the block near a freeze plug. It's got an electrical cord that runs off of it and goes through the grill under one of the headlights, just enough to hook an extension cord to. I've never used it, though.
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Postmaster
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From: Kentucky
Thanks for the replies, I am still looking for a heater like Dennis linked too..
My thoughts were that the heater would save some wear and tear on the engine also, with it not having to start with oil that was so cold and thick. ...
I remember back when I was kid back in the late 50/60's, we lived way out in the country, and it used to get 0 F and below often in the winters. The winters here are a lot milder now though....
My Dad worked for a company that didnt take kindly to people not showing up for work because of the weather. Twelve inch snows were common back then and all he ever used was concrete blocks in the trunk and studded snow tires and I never recall him not going and returning from work because of snow...
I would see my Dad on the "O " F. and minus 0 mornings go out at 5:00 am amd take wood kindling and start a small fire under the oil pan of that old 59 Chevy with the 283 c.i. engine in it. I guess he knew it had no fuel leaks or maybe with it being that cold out, he just didnt care.
The old chevy was start right up.
My thoughts were that the heater would save some wear and tear on the engine also, with it not having to start with oil that was so cold and thick. ...
I remember back when I was kid back in the late 50/60's, we lived way out in the country, and it used to get 0 F and below often in the winters. The winters here are a lot milder now though....
My Dad worked for a company that didnt take kindly to people not showing up for work because of the weather. Twelve inch snows were common back then and all he ever used was concrete blocks in the trunk and studded snow tires and I never recall him not going and returning from work because of snow...
I would see my Dad on the "O " F. and minus 0 mornings go out at 5:00 am amd take wood kindling and start a small fire under the oil pan of that old 59 Chevy with the 283 c.i. engine in it. I guess he knew it had no fuel leaks or maybe with it being that cold out, he just didnt care.
The old chevy was start right up.
Last edited by Greg 79 f150; Nov 3, 2007 at 07:27 AM.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Atlanta GA
> Is there any particular brand of hose heaters better than others
OEM Ford ones are pretty good. Go rob one from a junkyard.
They use to sell circulating aftermarket ones, you don't see those anymore for some reason, as noted. Maybe because heated coolant will eventually circulate up.
OEM Ford ones are pretty good. Go rob one from a junkyard.
They use to sell circulating aftermarket ones, you don't see those anymore for some reason, as noted. Maybe because heated coolant will eventually circulate up.
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Yes that general electric heater is a flow heater and installs into the heater hoses.
You can get them at some farm equipment places, Industrial equipment places.
http://www.tractorpartsinc.com/tank_...rs_270_ctg.htm
They are plentiful up this way
I got that one in the photo for $5.00 at a swap meet.
Brand new never used.
The old farmer just had stuff stock piled for a day in the future,.
EDIT:
Here you go.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...001648/c-10101
You can get them at some farm equipment places, Industrial equipment places.
http://www.tractorpartsinc.com/tank_...rs_270_ctg.htm
They are plentiful up this way
I got that one in the photo for $5.00 at a swap meet.
Brand new never used.
The old farmer just had stuff stock piled for a day in the future,.
EDIT:
Here you go.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...001648/c-10101
Last edited by Mil1ion; Nov 3, 2007 at 11:58 AM.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 699
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From: northern Michigan
The freeze plug style are not hard to install at all if you have a freeze plug that is readily accessible and they are not anymore apt to leak then the freeze plugs are. I have installed a few over the years, best time is after a coolant system flush before you put the new coolant in. The hose type aren't as good, you don't want to cycle water through the radiator like those do. A good alternative is what we use on some of the farm tractors, the heater goes into a heater hose line and cycles heated water through the heater core and the block.