Circulating or Block Heater

[Grenvilleter]

Just thought I'd seek opinions regarding what type of heater to install.

I think I'm going to go with a 750 watt circulating heater and I might consider the 1000 watt model.

This morning with the thermometer clocking -35C, my '97 3.4 would not go.


It would fire and sputter enough that the starter would disengage but it could not manage to get firing on all cylinders and run on it's own.

I've put a 2A charger on the battery to replenish and warm and hung a 60 watt spotlight on the throttle body and it should go in a few hours but if this cold keeps up, I'm going to need something.

I decided that the circulating heater would be the easiest to install and if I go with the 1000 watt model, I would only need about an hour before I try to start it with it plugged in. I believe they work much faster than block heaters given watt for watt comparisons.

I use a 1200 watt circ heater on the diesel tractor and usually it will fire up within the hour of needing it.

Others experiences with either type ?

 

[02SE]

The kind that install in a radiator hose, are easier to install, but I don't think they are quite as effective as a block heater.

That's why the kind that install in a radiator hose generally have high wattage, to help compensate for their inefficiency. They radiate more heat into the atmosphere than a block heater, hence their inefficiency.

But the kind you're considering, is definitely better than nothing.