[s-cars] Block Heater Question

[mlp qwest]

Yes.  I guess I should have guessed or known they'd go into the water
cooling system.  I didn't have occasion to use the one that came on my 84
4000Q for the dealer in Wyoming, but on the few occasions (ski trip's to
Jackson Hole etc.) when I can recall that I did I was always surprised at
how I could unplug, get in the car & pull out of the Motel parking lot with
the heater already blowing warm, if not hot air.  Pretty nice on a -20 below
morning.  Most of the "other" block heaters I'd grown up with had been
either (1) something in, or on the oil pans of my Grandfathers pick up; or
(b) of the "hang a 100 watt light bulb" in the engine bay hopefully near
enough the battery to help variety.  The light bulb (b) wasn't as bad as you
think as long as it snowed hard enough to fill in, seal off and insulate
around the engine bay.  I also think I recall JC Whitney once offered a
thin, round iron on the end of a dip stick version.  I was pretty skeptical
of that one.

If one doesn't have a garage to keep a car in the winter or did a lot of
traveling & overnight stays in cold climates, a block heater like the one
VW/Audi offers for the cooling system, and particularly if its $50, sounds
like it would be a pretty nice option to have on a car.

mlp

~-----Original Message-----
~From: tblack [mailto:Tblack5 at cogeco.ca]
~Sent: Friday, November 08, 2002 9:38 AM
~To: mlp qwest; Paul Friedenberg
~Cc: s-car-list at audifans.com
~Subject: Re: [s-cars] Block Heater Question
~
~
~Mine is installed where the passenger side frost plug towards the front of
~the engine is located. It is plugged into a timer which activates at
~0400hrs. and by 0700hrs. it is warm and ready to go. Reduced cold starting
~wear and gas consumption and not forgetting an easier life for the battery.
~My OEM battery lasted 9 years, '92 car changed last year.
~Tom Black.
~
~----- Original Message -----
~From: "mlp qwest" <mlped at qwest.net>
~To: "Paul Friedenberg" <paulunm at msn.com>
~Cc: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
~Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2002 5:13 PM
~Subject: RE: [s-cars] Block Heater Question
~
~
~> A plug in electrical heater, sometimes located in the oil pan, used in
~very,
~> very cold climates (i.e., places like West Yellowstone, Wyoming, Alaska
~> etc.) In the winter, when or if you parked your car outside, you could
~plug
~> it in to keep the block at least lukewarm.  Some rest stop / restaurants
~and
~> motels in some of these places even offer a sort of electrical hitching
~post
~> you can pull your car (pickup truck) up to and plug in to keep
~things warm
~> while you'd have dinner etc.
~>
~> My first Audi purchased out of Sheridan, Wyoming came with one as a
~> "standard" dealer item add-on (kind of like that extra rust coating, or
~> paint sealant, the dealers all want to sell you as an extra cost
~item......
~>
~> JC Whitney used to offer a variety of them, some far better than others.
~If
~> you've ever noticed what looks like an electrical socket hanging or
~peaking
~> out the front grill of (usually) the ranch pick ups in your area, it's
~> probably equipped with a block heater.
~>
~> ~-----Original Message-----
~> ~From: s-car-list On Behalf Of Paul Friedenberg
~> ~
~> ~What's a block heater? :)
~> ~
~> ~(I use 15w50 Mobil 1 year round)
~> ~
~> ~Paul
~> ~New Mexico
~> ~
~>
~>
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