Immersion Heater -keep warm in the ice and snow!
- Thread starter ajcb
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Willy Eckerslyke
Well-Known Member
Do you mean an engine pre-heater as commonly used in North America, etc?
There's a discussion about the Kenlowe Hotstart here:
http://ww.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=36513
There's a discussion about the Kenlowe Hotstart here:
http://ww.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=36513
cdnp6
Member
Here's mine installed in right sideplate. I'm not sure if it is an original option part or if it was installed at a later time.
This is a NADA car so I assume it's a 400 watt heater.
The engine is back in the car now, just waiting for a new reserve tap to be installed tomorrow to replace the one slowly leaking in my garage.
I'm a little hesitant to try the heater with gas leaking so close to the plug.
Roy
This is a NADA car so I assume it's a 400 watt heater.
The engine is back in the car now, just waiting for a new reserve tap to be installed tomorrow to replace the one slowly leaking in my garage.
I'm a little hesitant to try the heater with gas leaking so close to the plug.
Roy
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USBrits
New Member
Not sure anyone will really keep will keep warm with this but hey, anything's possible right?
Block heaters are normally found/available in the very cold regions & keep the block (just) warm enough to turn over in a frigid environment - my NADAs' v8s do not have 'em but I'm also not in the tundra. For those that are - apparently you just plug-in when you park & unplug'n'go when you need it - I have even heard a story from an Alaskan friend that said they have communal plugs in places for such purposes. I'm not sure if these are actually in the block or the sump though.
As for imersion heaters in the coolant? Antifreeze is supposed to do just that for your vehicle's cooling system - stop it turning to ice right? The purpose of this heater can only be to get the motor to optimal operating temperature more quickly than without. Logically there will be better fuel consumprion & performance at those temperatures. Question is, how long does a engine take to warm up to that temperature range assuming that the thermostat is doing it's job right. I've always found motors to get hot quite quickly so am a little sceptical to the claims but you have to be your own judge.
Paul
Block heaters are normally found/available in the very cold regions & keep the block (just) warm enough to turn over in a frigid environment - my NADAs' v8s do not have 'em but I'm also not in the tundra. For those that are - apparently you just plug-in when you park & unplug'n'go when you need it - I have even heard a story from an Alaskan friend that said they have communal plugs in places for such purposes. I'm not sure if these are actually in the block or the sump though.
As for imersion heaters in the coolant? Antifreeze is supposed to do just that for your vehicle's cooling system - stop it turning to ice right? The purpose of this heater can only be to get the motor to optimal operating temperature more quickly than without. Logically there will be better fuel consumprion & performance at those temperatures. Question is, how long does a engine take to warm up to that temperature range assuming that the thermostat is doing it's job right. I've always found motors to get hot quite quickly so am a little sceptical to the claims but you have to be your own judge.
Paul
ghce
Well-Known Member
USBrits said:
I suspect its more about thermal delay than heating with the engine running, it makes sense that if the carburator and heads are above ambient by a significant amount the car will start easier and not be prone to stalling and that what it is about rather than fuel efficiency. Sure an engin heats quick but the time for that heat to migrate to a cold carb and head is quite long as the whole block has to heat first, at least with the heater you have a head start.
Graeme
Of course when these were available as accessories in the UK electricity (and petrol) were a fraction of the price they are now. In the far north of Canada etc it's a much more critical discussion whether you can start the vehicle at all. I remember vividly a trip many years ago to Aviemore at New Year when we had a very seriously cold snap (-15 at least!) We had a Bedford CF diesel (we were young!). The battery was a complete non starter 
so plan B was a bump start (ice is quite sticky at that sort of temperature so no issues with slipping). Problem was we couldn't get it in gear! Finished up with one gas primus under the gearbox and another under the first one to warm it up enough for the gas to vapourise! 20 mins later and a can of easy start down the inlet maifold and it push started.
Chris
so plan B was a bump start (ice is quite sticky at that sort of temperature so no issues with slipping). Problem was we couldn't get it in gear! Finished up with one gas primus under the gearbox and another under the first one to warm it up enough for the gas to vapourise! 20 mins later and a can of easy start down the inlet maifold and it push started.Chris
Tor
Well-Known Member
My bet is that your immersion heater element will be a worthwhile feature. My *other* car has a Defa WarmUp system with a 600W immersion (I think) element. Set for two to three hours at -5C it warms the oil and (subsequently) coolant to just above "blue" on the gauge so that the diesel pre-heater doesn't come on. I love it, it returns a 10% improvement in seasonal fuel economy and cuts engine and turbo wear by, like, a lot 8) , as that has very much to do with friction from cold weather startups according to literature.
This is with a 2,5l with a bigger block and 13 litres of oil and coolant inside it. Heat travels nicely through the engine block and a steady heat source will after two hours most likely bring your carb up to well into + degrees and make a big difference with starting issues in the Canadian winter. Battery specs make a world of difference, too.
and cuts engine and turbo wear by, like, a lot 8) , as that has very much to do with friction from cold weather startups according to literature.This is with a 2,5l with a bigger block and 13 litres of oil and coolant inside it. Heat travels nicely through the engine block and a steady heat source will after two hours most likely bring your carb up to well into + degrees and make a big difference with starting issues in the Canadian winter. Battery specs make a world of difference, too.
webmaster
New Member
I actually think these are a good idea, having the block pre-heated will significantly reduce cold start engine wear and fuel consumption, in the UK you could probably get away with little or no choke once heated.
In the recent weeks I've had to leave my car idling on the drive for 10mins or so to get the screen demisted, and the engine reasonably warm (rover 820), and this has caused something like a 20% increase in my fuel consumption. I think current electricity rates are about 20p per kw/h so if you run a 250 watt heater for 4 hours that's 20p. I suspect it's cheaper than idleing the car until it warms up.
I suspect the reason we don't use them in the UK is that it just doesn't get cold enough for long enough, add to that the effort of plugging and unplugging the car, plus the cost of the system, people just can't be bothered.
In the recent weeks I've had to leave my car idling on the drive for 10mins or so to get the screen demisted, and the engine reasonably warm (rover 820), and this has caused something like a 20% increase in my fuel consumption. I think current electricity rates are about 20p per kw/h so if you run a 250 watt heater for 4 hours that's 20p. I suspect it's cheaper than idleing the car until it warms up.
I suspect the reason we don't use them in the UK is that it just doesn't get cold enough for long enough, add to that the effort of plugging and unplugging the car, plus the cost of the system, people just can't be bothered.
Tor
Well-Known Member
Sounds good cdnp6, did you get a reading on the temp gauge??
In my case I never bothered much until I first used it on a cold morning and fell instantly in love. The windscreen was defrosted enough in a minute or two to drive away. I would consider fitting one to the P6 as it also has a battery charging facility - which is great considering the rate of charge from the alternator...
In my case I never bothered much until I first used it on a cold morning and fell instantly in love. The windscreen was defrosted enough in a minute or two to drive away. I would consider fitting one to the P6 as it also has a battery charging facility - which is great considering the rate of charge from the alternator...
OrganDoctor
New Member
All the diesel schoolbusses here in New England have heaters in the block. When my wife was a school bus driver we had the heater on a timer to come on a couple of hours before she needed to start it up.
No problems while properly warmed up.
No problems while properly warmed up.
ajcb
Member
Roy
Great to read you have got it working. Sounds like a nice christmas present for you if the car started on 25th December at the second turn of the key. It's, somewhat unusually, turning pretty cold here in the UK at the moment so I guess some of the p6ers in Scotland might wish they had one and the radiator muff!
Didn't think I would generate all this interaction when I started the topic.
Cheers
Tony Bunting
Great to read you have got it working. Sounds like a nice christmas present for you if the car started on 25th December at the second turn of the key. It's, somewhat unusually, turning pretty cold here in the UK at the moment so I guess some of the p6ers in Scotland might wish they had one and the radiator muff!
Didn't think I would generate all this interaction when I started the topic.
Cheers
Tony Bunting
Dave3066
Well-Known Member
ajcb said:
My 3500S has started first time every time in this cold weather. Including when the temp got as low as -10 and my girlfriends diesel Fiesta would not run. I'm not risking taking it out on the roads though. Too many people who don't know how to drive in this sort of weather.
cheers
Dave