Oil pan &/or block heater. I sirched.

[TXLUGNUT]

Just brings up alot of heater, overheating and coolant probs...

I moved up here to WI from TX where I would have never thought about putting some sort of heating device...

My question is with it being SO COLD up here in winter, would it be a good idea to install one or the other so when I go to crank her up it the mornings it is almost already warmed up due to such heaters?

will keeping it plugged in for extended periods of time hinder anything? I don't plan on driving it that often but when I do, I would assume a warm start would be better than a frigid start...

:thanks:

 

[4-Ripcord]

Block heaters are teh awesomesauce.

I use mine quite a bit in the winter. (I dont live in ABQ in the winter, lol) I live in mountain ski towns and it gets hella cold.

When I don't use it, it can take a lot of turning over before it starts. and when it does it needs some skinny pedal to keep from dying.

When I do use it, it starts right up and I have heat from the vents in seconds.


As far as keeping it on for extended periods of time, IDK about that. Google and let me know what it says.

 

[Stick Figure]

On a similar topic ... does the block heater produce enough heat to actually keep the temp inside the cabin reasonable for say overnight sleeping, assuming you could keep the voltage up to run the blower motor and keep the block heater happy.

I found a couple of block heaters from GM's recently and wondered about using them in some capacity for either overnight heating or maybe even shower water heating depending on their current draw and ability to warm the water.

 

[4-Ripcord]

On a similar topic ... does the block heater produce enough heat to actually keep the temp inside the cabin reasonable for say overnight sleeping, assuming you could keep the voltage up to run the blower motor and keep the block heater happy.

I found a couple of block heaters from GM's recently and wondered about using them in some capacity for either overnight heating or maybe even shower water heating depending on their current draw and ability to warm the water.

Just use a power strip on an extension cord.

One plug for the block heater and another for a trickle charger on the battery! lol

 

[Stick Figure]

I was thinking more for a trip situation than parked outside the house overnight. I have read about the Espar units in the current Overland Journal which I was excited about until I saw the price. Then while tearing down a couple of GM engines for a work project I got a couple block heaters and wondered how well they would work. My current method is sleep with the keys near me and every hour or so when wake up freezing I hit the remote start which keeps me toasty for 15 min or so. lol

 

[Singtoe]

I don't think that a block heater will be necessary. Just make sure that you are running lighter viscosity (5w-30) oil for the cold climate.

The only trucks that need block heaters are the diesels. They need heat as part of their combustion process.

 

[Saved]

Any cold start is harder on the engine and causes extra wear. The debate is how much. The colder it is the more wear involved no matter what oil is used. Just remember the rule of thumb is thicker the oil the less lubcication you are getting.