[Vwdiesel] Block/Engine heaters?

[Erik Lane]

I've had experience with both the soft plug type and
the inline hose type block heaters. I've had good luck
with both. Twice had a soft plug type just fall out.
No idea why, and it sure caused headaches for me!
(Especially that I was driving across the country one
of the times. Luckily I noticed all the water on the
road behind me and pulled right over. Took hours to
track down a replacement plug so that I could fill the
engine with coolant and get on my way.)

But I also like the inline hose type. Because they
circulate the coolant as well. Put it inline with the
hoses to the heater core (as long as the heater valve
is open) or in the hose that goes from the water pump
to the head. I don't know how much the other type
circulates heat throughout the engine due to
convection or whatever, but truth be told have never
had a problem as long as they stay in the engine! :)

Erik


--- Chuck Carnohan <Chuck.Carnohan at itd.idaho.gov>
wrote:

> I've had experience with all but the glue-on style. 
> I agree with Val
> that the freeze plug type is most desirable.  They
> are not that tough to
> install either!  The biggest hassle is
> draining/refilling the coolant
> really.  Freeze plugs will just pop out- bump it on
> one side with a
> hammer and screwdriver, the plug rotates enough to
> get hold of it with
> pliers.  The location is a bit awkward, lying on
> your back reaching up
> behind the engine.  I did it a couple of winters ago
> in below freezing
> temps with the wind blowing.  It took about an hour.
>  Dipsticks cook the
> oil that comes in contact with the element- messy
> too.  The hose insert
> type is probably 2nd best but subject to thermostat
> constriction and
> more places to leak antifreeze and, still have to
> drain/refill coolant.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
>
vwdiesel-bounces+chuck.carnohan=itd.idaho.gov at vwfans.com
>
[mailto:vwdiesel-bounces+chuck.carnohan=itd.idaho.gov at vwfans.com]
> On
> Behalf Of Val Christian
> Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 1:18 PM
> To: Neil
> Cc: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Block/Engine heaters?
> 
> I have the block type (soft plug insert) on my
> diesel tractor.
> 20 years old, sits outside 24/7.  Works great.  Pain
> to install,
> but pretty close to permanent.  It has enough heat
> output to 
> handle frigid (10F to -5F) temps with high winds.  
> 
> My thoughts on the tank type is that they loose a
> fair amount of heat 
> through the radiator.  The dipstick type are power
> limited.  The glue
> on type I have no anecdotal experience on.
> 
> I'll have the head off my 91 NA in a couple of
> weeks.  It would be a 
> great time to install a block heater.  What are your
> price points and
> wattages for the blockheater?
> 
> Val
> 
> 
> > 
> > It's gettin chilly at night here in the desert,
> now and the old rabbit
> =
> > doesn't start so easy in the AM....  I've been
> thinking about a block
> =
> > heater for it.... it's a Calif car...  my Colorado
> car had a good, =
> > 'freeze-plug' heater, but I don't want to go
> through installing that
> on =
> > this one.
> > 
> > JCWhitney has a few; one that glues onto the pan;
> I'm afraid I would =
> > scrape it off during one of my Baja trips;
> > 
> > Another is a 'tank type', you cut it into the
> heater hose...  the ad =
> > says it 'circulates' the coolant - pretty
> interesting;
> > 
> > Last is a 'dipstick' style... a slender, flexible
> rod to be slipped
> down =
> > the dipstick tube....  ad says 'not for plastic
> pans'...  they didn't
> =
> > use plastic pans on old ('81) rabbits, did they?
> > 
> > Has anyone used any of these?  I'm kinda leaning
> to the dipstick
> first, =
> > and if that doesn't do it,then maybe the tank...
> > 
> > What do you think?
> > 
> > Neil
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Vwdiesel mailing list
> > Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
> > 
> 
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