Optional Extra - Electric Immersion Heater - Has anyone had any experience of these?

G

Gary

New Member
Hi,

Has anyone ever seen the optional extra of an electric immersion heater?

I have never seen one installed or even offered for sale - it seems like a good idea for winter motoring - but what are they like in service & where I can get one?

I would be interested to hear the Forum's comments.

Regards

Gary
 
Do you mean an engine pre heater ? There were 2 types I think , one fitted in place of a core plug , the other went in a heater hose. I think you'd need a lot of electricity to raise the temperature of the block by a significant amount Useful in arctic conditions, probably less so in the UK
I think Kenlowe made them, if I can find an old car mag in my loft I'll confirm this
Dave
 
It is the one that fits in the side plate of the block (where the blanking plate is fitted on the rhs). The immersion heater, on a 240V supply is rated at 250W, North America, on 110V is rated at 400W. I would guess, without performing a calculation, that to raise the temperature of the coolant to a level that gives good heater performance & minimal choke, that pre-heating of an hour, as a minimum, would be required, on-peak electricity would be about 2.5 pence, off-peak electricity would be about 1 pence - so not expensive.

Gary
 
pretty sure you can still get something that does the job - basically from what I recall you split a radiator or heater hose and the thing plugs in there. It can get the temp upto 'normal' so the car should start with no choke,, if I recall the MGOC might sell them or if not try the accessory suppliers - I'll see waht else I can remember!
 
I think the ones on landys are a seperate deisel burning heater, and so only fitted to diesel motors, on the Freelander & Disco options list it is. I do of course stand to be corrected...

The old East European Tatra rear engine air cooled V8 saloons used a small petrol burning heater under the drivers seat as it was impractical to get warm air up front. It worked quite well unless you turn it off and on again to soon when apparently it backfires quite alarmingly. space might be a lttle tight under a P6 seat though.

The Triumph Stag owners club have a very good parts and accesory shop which might have something more practical

Matt
 
A quick web search for engine block heaters found several "kettle element" type units designed for specific cars, mostly Jeeps, and mostly for sale in Canada etc. Some were as cheap as $30 !

The kenlow warm-start or hot-start can't remember exactly, is one that installs into a water hose and heats and pumps the water around the system. I personally think this is a better system, as it fully circulates the warm coolant, and allows the interior heater to be run.

Kenlowe link

Richard
 
Had a Kenlowe "Hot Start" fitted on an old Peugeot diesel I once had. It was great (especially in the winter!) Instant starting of the engine and toasty warm air from the first instant.
 
I certainly like the idea of the Kenlowe as described. The principle of circulating the water so that you get an evenly warm system with no hotspots is definitely superior.

For those of us only using our cars once in a blue moon this idea probaly does not have much advantage. A well charged battery is probably a superior idea!

But for those of us using our cars regularely this is a good idea be it winter or summer. The vast majority of the damage done to a petrol engine is done in the first few minutes of running by petrol condensing on the cylinder walls, valve stems etc, washing away the lubricating oil and giving metal to metal contact. Anything that gets us closer to normal running conditions when the starter is pressed is a GOOD THING.

Chris York

PS Don't confuse this device with the diesel heaters and heaters for air coled engines etc described in some of the previous responses - these are aimed at getting the interior nice and warm for people - we Rover fans are made of sterner stuff; cars first, people second!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top