[Vwdiesel] Block/Engine heaters?

Wed Nov 3 17:48:26 EST 2004

Living in New Brunswick Canada I would say almost every car I've had, has
had a block heater save one.  My 94 3.0L (gas) Nissan Pathfinder does not.
Last year I borrowed an inline one from a guy @ work when I was having
trouble starting it on cold January mornings.  It turned out to be a bad
starter and not just a "cold engine" afterall, but I digress.

The inline one only heated up the short pipes connected to it, and some of
the head.....not the heater core (well, not much of it anyways), not the
rad, and not the block.  (It was a 1kW or so heater....really drew a gob of
current). Got searing hot.

Yes, I'm sure I had it installed correctly.  When I was questioning my
installation, I actually installed it in 2 other places in the lines, and
also turned it 180' on all 3 installations.  This sucker got REAL hot.
Actually I heard tell of folks doing damage to their engine heads.....not
sure about the validity...it's just what I've been told.  They sell
virtually NO inline heaters here.  90% block heaters, a few dipstick heaters
and not sure about "glue on", though I guess it's possible.  Only nice thing
is I could defrost the windshield instantly when I started the truck in the
morning.  I'd want this baby on a timer, to come on 1 hour before I went out
to start it.  I'd be scared to leave it on all night and even more scared at
what it would do to my power bill !

I am no authority on VW's so I won't even attempt to guess whether or not an
inline one is best or not for you application or whether or not the
water/collant will circulate properly.

I know on my 88 Jetta TD 1.6 a block heater would allow that car to start
in -35'C weather.  that's darn cold !

Course the cats meow would be an automated diesel fired ESPAR heater.  God,
who wouldn't want one of those?
http://www.espar.com/htm/Specs/water/wterheat.htm

My 2 CDN cents worth :-)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Erik Lane" <erikjlane at yahoo.com>
To: <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 6:34 PM
Subject: RE: [Vwdiesel] Block/Engine heaters?

> 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
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > >
> >
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