[Vwdiesel] Anyone try this? (To have a warm, toasty car)

[Dave Cook]

I think they do make a difference.  At least, on a Vanagon TDI conversion list, more than once I've seen a couple posters talk about putting these type of plugs up front in the coolant's route to the heater core, and have a button/switch that is activated when the heating lever is slid all the way over to full hot to be able to get some heat in the cabin.  

So at least these guys think the coolant glow plugs make a difference.  I would say that they know a lot more than me about the issue.  One of the guys doing this has or had a business converting Vanagons somewhere up in Canada.

Dave Cook


--- On Sun, 12/20/09, Patrick Dolan <pmdolan at sasktel.net> wrote:

> From: Patrick Dolan <pmdolan at sasktel.net>
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Anyone try this? (To have a warm, toasty car)
> To: dieseltdi at verizon.net
> Cc: "VW diesel mail list" <vwdiesel at www.audifans.com>, "Justin Bennett" <lug1970 at yahoo.com>
> Date: Sunday, December 20, 2009, 2:54 PM
> I wouldn't expect that the coolant
> glow plugs can put enough heat into the system to make any
> real difference to interior temp, but from the land of
> REALLY cold places, here is what we do (did when I lived
> another 500 kms North).
> 
> First of all, a good circulating block heater WILL warm the
> interior when you start up (our water temp gauge is at
> halfway and the heater - same as Frost heater, only a bit
> more power - is in the heater line.
> 
> Second:  make sure your thermostat works properly
> (again, temp gauge should park about in the middle).
> 
> Third: be sure the anitfreeze isn't too thick (no more than
> 50/50 mix - it will make a big difference in heat for
> interior when cold idling).
> 
> BUT, you are concerned about a gassers first few minutes of
> interior heat.  The above will just get it warm
> sooner/better AFTER the engine is making heat.  If you
> want to enjoy a nice comfy seat in KS winter, just buy an
> electric car interior heater.  Anyone in a Northern
> state can send you one (since your local auto parts store
> won't have one).  They are just a little 600-800 watt
> resistance elements and circulating fan in a box that mounts
> out of the way (on our Variant against passengers wheel
> arch).  Plug it in on a time to turn on an hour or so
> before you leave, and the interior will be toasty warm and
> the glass will be clear.  Simple, cheap, realiable and
> effective.
> 
> Here are a couple (IGNORE the 12V idiocy) the two on the
> left are 120V AC and what you want.  Many more on the
> market.
> http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/AutoAccessories/CarHeaters.jsp
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: dieseltdi at verizon.net
> Date: Saturday, December 19, 2009 2:40 pm
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Anyone try this? (To have a warm,
> toasty car)
> 
> > Is this a TDI?  If so, your coolant glow plugs
> may be 
> > nonfunctional.   
> > At 20 degrees It takes about 2 miles to get my 04 warm
> and the 
> > same  
> > was true for my 98.  Hayden
> > On Dec 19, 2009, at 11:07 AM, Justin Bennett wrote:
> > 
> > > I wished I had a nice toasty warm car.  But
> at these 
> > temperatures my  
> > > 98 Jetta shows its VW parentage.  Even with
> the radiator blocked 
> > off  
> > > I cannot run the heater more then 1/4 above full
> cold or the 
> > engine  
> > > will not get up to operating temp.  So I
> dress warm and run the  
> > > defrost on cold.  The bonus is that when I
> park any new snow 
> > doesn't  
> > > melt and then refreeze. So no scraping a lot of
> mornings.  No it 
> > 
> > > isn't the thermostat.  Two new German
> thermostats and no change.
> > > Justin
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > 
> > " Those who are willing to sacrifice Liberty for
> Security, deserve 
> > 
> > neither Liberty nor Security."  Ben Franklin
> > 
> > 
> > Visit my website at:  
> > http://mysite.verizon.net/resosxp8/mydieselpages/Proud
> owner of:
> > 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD, K&N Filter
> > 2004 Jetta GL PD TDI, Inmotion Tuning Stage 1 Tuning,
> K&N Filter,  
> > ScanGauge II
> > 1968 Beetle, my latest project, watch for details
> > And many, many, many VWs; from a 1946 Beetle (13
> Beetles total), 
> > to  
> > Vans (5 - 3 splitties, 2 bay window (both were
> campers), 1 Vanagon 
> > 
> > Westy, Rabbits (3), Karmen Ghia (1), Jettas (7),
> Passats (2), 
> > Dasher  
> > (1), New Beetle (1), and Rabbit Pickups (3) most now
> gone but not  
> > forgotten.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
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