Engine Block Heater

wstar · 06-19-2012, 09:30 AM

I've never really lived in a cold climate, so I'm not familiar with these block heaters. The Infiniti parts sites also don't show any pics. How big are these things, where do they install? Are they easy to completely remove from the vehicle when not in use? They require wall-outlet AC power to operate right? What kind of temps do they run at?

Just curious about how viable an option it would be, in a warmer climate, to use this to pre-heat the engine and reduce oil warmup time with a big oil cooler setup

falconfixer · 06-19-2012, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

I've never really lived in a cold climate, so I'm not familiar with these block heaters. The Infiniti parts sites also don't show any pics. How big are these things, where do they install? Are they easy to completely remove from the vehicle when not in use? They require wall-outlet AC power to operate right? What kind of temps do they run at?

Just curious about how viable an option it would be, in a warmer climate, to use this to pre-heat the engine and reduce oil warmup time with a big oil cooler setup

IMHO it's overkill to install a block heater even with an oil cooler for warm climates. I had one on my Jeep installed when I built it and it was a $50 add-on. I believe this was something built into the block and I know a lot of the after market ones are magnetic and just stick to the oil pan.

As far as power, yep you plug them into an outside outlet. I had mine on a timer to come one a few hours before I had to leave for work. And for gee-whiz I never plugged in until less than 0 degrees out or colder. Oh did I mention this is when I lived in Alaska and saw temps in the -50s? That is when a block heater is needed.

wstar · 06-19-2012, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falconfixer

IMHO it's overkill to install a block heater even with an oil cooler for warm climates. I had one on my Jeep installed when I built it and it was a $50 add-on. I believe this was something built into the block and I know a lot of the after market ones are magnetic and just stick to the oil pan.

As far as power, yep you plug them into an outside outlet. I had mine on a timer to come one a few hours before I had to leave for work. And for gee-whiz I never plugged in until less than 0 degrees out or colder. Oh did I mention this is when I lived in Alaska and saw temps in the -50s? That is when a block heater is needed.

Well what I'm getting at is that with all the oil cooling work I've done (which is great when driving the car), my warm-up times are substantial. I typically leave the car idling in the driveway for 10 minutes straight before I even move the thing, and I still have to take it easy a while after that to let the temps get up. And that's in the summer, in our mild winter it can be 15 minutes. It's not ideal to add all that extra idle time to the car, not to mention the wasted fuel and fumes and whatnot. Being able to pre-heat the block/oil before I even start could possibly cut down on some of that idling, maybe...

falconfixer · 06-19-2012, 01:02 PM

I can see your point....let me do some digging but for a quick cheap oil heater you can get a universal from JCWhitney or the sort. Hell, even Amazon might have them. It won't be factory but it will be one of the ones that stick on the oil pan. The caveat to that is clearance issues underneath it. Something to think about.

06-19-2012, 09:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3595	I've never really lived in a cold climate, so I'm not familiar with these block heaters. The Infiniti parts sites also don't show any pics. How big are these things, where do they install? Are they easy to completely remove from the vehicle when not in use? They require wall-outlet AC power to operate right? What kind of temps do they run at? Just curious about how viable an option it would be, in a warmer climate, to use this to pre-heat the engine and reduce oil warmup time with a big oil cooler setup __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

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06-19-2012, 01:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
falconfixer Track Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: 10aC Posts: 978 Drives: Taco Rep Power: 77	I can see your point....let me do some digging but for a quick cheap oil heater you can get a universal from JCWhitney or the sort. Hell, even Amazon might have them. It won't be factory but it will be one of the ones that stick on the oil pan. The caveat to that is clearance issues underneath it. Something to think about.