LOST JEEPS :: View topic - Block Heater Question

Is it ok to leave the block heater plugged in all the time? If I was going to let the car sit for a few weeks?

Many use a simple household lamp timer, just need one to take a grounded three prong plug.

I am very interested. I was thinking since most wear happens in heating/cooldown. If I could use it all the time summer and winter it could make the engine last longer. Now if it takes 700 watts thats a different story. A light bulb or two I can deal with.

Quote:

Many use a simple household lamp timer, just need one to take a grounded three prong plug.

Not quite true and could be dangerous. You need to use a timer rated for the wattage of the heater. There have been reports of the heater using between 750-1000 watts. I don't know myself as I don't use the heater.

However, to use an undersized lamp timer is asking for trouble (possible fire)

Just an FYI

If anybody really wants to know, I'll pull out an ammeter, and we'll all know the wattage for sure. Post if you're interested.

Goglio704 wrote:

If anybody really wants to know, I'll pull out an ammeter, and we'll all know the wattage for sure. Post if you're interested.

Sorry it took a while.
3.5 amps at 118 volts.
That comes out to 413 watts.

Goglio704 wrote:

If anybody really wants to know, I'll pull out an ammeter, and we'll all know the wattage for sure. Post if you're interested.

Sorry it took a while.
3.5 amps at 118 volts.
That comes out to 413 watts.

Thanks for the info.

I used an infra-red thermometer to find out how long it took the block heater to do its thing. I took a reading down under the oil cap, and leaving it on more than 2 hrs in a 30F garage would not increase the temp in the cylinder head over about 110F. Colder temps might need more like 3 or 4 hrs, but there's no reason to leave it on all night.

Also look at http://www.wolverineheater.com/products.shtml

It looks like there's barely enough of a flat spot on the bottom of our oil pan to fit one of these.

Those are what used to come on VW's and were 500 Watt's and about 5 x7 and would just barely warm the engine oil if it was below freezing.

oldnavy wrote:

Those are what used to come on VW's and were 500 Watt's and about 5 x7 and would just barely warm the engine oil if it was below freezing.

Um, that's exactly what they're designed to do. Ever seen a viscosity vs. temperature chart?

Author:	Bovie [ Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:07 pm ]
Post subject:	Block Heater Question
Is it ok to leave the block heater plugged in all the time? If I was going to let the car sit for a few weeks?

Author:	RFCRD [ Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:18 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Block Heater Question
Bovie wrote: Is it ok to leave the block heater plugged in all the time? If I was going to let the car sit for a few weeks? You can but its a big waste of electricity. The heater will do it's thing in a couple of hours. Many use a simple household lamp timer, just need one to take a grounded three prong plug.

Author:	vtdog [ Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:13 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Block Heater Question
Quote: Many use a simple household lamp timer, just need one to take a grounded three prong plug. Not quite true and could be dangerous. You need to use a timer rated for the wattage of the heater. There have been reports of the heater using between 750-1000 watts. I don't know myself as I don't use the heater. However, to use an undersized lamp timer is asking for trouble (possible fire) Just an FYI

Author:	Goglio704 [ Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:39 am ]
Post subject:
If anybody really wants to know, I'll pull out an ammeter, and we'll all know the wattage for sure. Post if you're interested.

Author:	CATCRD [ Mon Jan 08, 2007 10:19 pm ]
Post subject:
Interested.

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Author:	Bovie [ Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:33 am ]
Post subject:
I am very interested. I was thinking since most wear happens in heating/cooldown. If I could use it all the time summer and winter it could make the engine last longer. Now if it takes 700 watts thats a different story. A light bulb or two I can deal with.

Author:	oldnavy [ Tue Jan 09, 2007 8:49 am ]
Post subject:
Bovie wrote: I am very interested. I was thinking since most wear happens in heating/cooldown. If I could use it all the time summer and winter it could make the engine last longer. Now if it takes 700 watts thats a different story. A light bulb or two I can deal with. Smallest wattage block heater I have ever seen is 350 Watts, and I haven't seen one of those in years. Our VW had a 1000 Watt heater and did pretty good, but took about 3 hrs to have engine completely warm. At our electric rate that was about $0.30 each morning for 3 hrs useage or about $2.50 a day or over $60 a month. The small amount of wear & tear saved by having the block heated summer & winter would be big time lost in the expense of the electric bill increase, besides it would probably not keep the oil that warm anyway just the coolant. We have a special pump called a viscious heater to rapidly heat the coolant in the engine, and if you had any experience with old diesels you would know what I mean. The old diesels took forever to warm up, our CRD warms up faster then our gasser Dodge and put out hotter air. Never thought I would see that, I remember many days of driving 8 to 10 miles down the highway before engine started putting out heat. PS: If you are using the 100% synthetic diesel oil as specified by mfg then you have no worry unless you are above the artic circle.

Author:	RFCRD [ Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:21 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Block Heater Question
vtdog wrote: Quote: Many use a simple household lamp timer, just need one to take a grounded three prong plug. Not quite true and could be dangerous. You need to use a timer rated for the wattage of the heater. There have been reports of the heater using between 750-1000 watts. I don't know myself as I don't use the heater. However, to use an undersized lamp timer is asking for trouble (possible fire) Just an FYI Walmart, @ $9.50. As long as you get the grounded model, it's UL rated for a 15 amp load (over 1500 watt). If it's pulling more that that, you will likely be tripping a breaker.

Author:	Goglio704 [ Thu Jan 18, 2007 10:28 pm ]
Post subject:
Goglio704 wrote: If anybody really wants to know, I'll pull out an ammeter, and we'll all know the wattage for sure. Post if you're interested. Sorry it took a while. 3.5 amps at 118 volts. That comes out to 413 watts.

Author:	onthehunt [ Thu Jan 18, 2007 10:45 pm ]
Post subject:
I figured it was low. I've been plugging mine in for over a month now and the elec bill was around 5 bucks higher than usual. It is on a timer. Well worth it imho.

Author:	CATCRD [ Thu Jan 18, 2007 11:27 pm ]
Post subject:
Goglio704 wrote: Goglio704 wrote: If anybody really wants to know, I'll pull out an ammeter, and we'll all know the wattage for sure. Post if you're interested. Sorry it took a while. 3.5 amps at 118 volts. That comes out to 413 watts. Thanks for the info. I used an infra-red thermometer to find out how long it took the block heater to do its thing. I took a reading down under the oil cap, and leaving it on more than 2 hrs in a 30F garage would not increase the temp in the cylinder head over about 110F. Colder temps might need more like 3 or 4 hrs, but there's no reason to leave it on all night.

Author:	RFCRD [ Thu Jan 18, 2007 11:45 pm ]
Post subject:
CATCRD wrote: Goglio704 wrote: Goglio704 wrote: If anybody really wants to know, I'll pull out an ammeter, and we'll all know the wattage for sure. Post if you're interested. Sorry it took a while. 3.5 amps at 118 volts. That comes out to 413 watts. Thanks for the info. I used an infra-red thermometer to find out how long it took the block heater to do its thing. I took a reading down under the oil cap, and leaving it on more than 2 hrs in a 30F garage would not increase the temp in the cylinder head over about 110F. Colder temps might need more like 3 or 4 hrs, but there's no reason to leave it on all night. I have my timer set for 4 hrs (2 am to 6 am) and it's usually unplugged and gone within 3 hrs. The block is not hot but definately warm to the touch.

Author:	Cowpie1 [ Sat Jan 20, 2007 4:42 pm ]
Post subject:
You might want to check out Industrial Diesel Products oil pan heat and filter heat pads. http://www.dieselproducts.com/proheat/proheat.html The heat pads use far and away less electricy than the block heater. There is also a filter heater pad that can be hooked up to a toggle switch on the CRD for use in really cold weather if you have a mind to. The one item that looks interesting is the thermostatically controlled plug in block they offer that only switches on when temp gets below 35F according to the sales rep. We used to use these types of heaters for diesel and gas engines in Alaska. They work really well. No chance that oil flow a problem in cold weather since they heat it. The heat radiates up thru the engine. I have never seen oil get "cooked" using this type of system. If you installed the oil pan heater and a battery warmer, the total power used would be approx 300w. The Fuel filter heater uses only 5 amps DC power.

Author:	CATCRD [ Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:58 pm ]
Post subject:
Also look at http://www.wolverineheater.com/products.shtml It looks like there's barely enough of a flat spot on the bottom of our oil pan to fit one of these.

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Author:	oldnavy [ Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:10 pm ]
Post subject:
CATCRD wrote: Also look at http://www.wolverineheater.com/products.shtml It looks like there's barely enough of a flat spot on the bottom of our oil pan to fit one of these. Those are what used to come on VW's and were 500 Watt's and about 5 x7 and would just barely warm the engine oil if it was below freezing. The best heaters ever used were the ones that were put in the radiator hose. There are several models out there and some are plug in electric, and some even run off the trucks diesel fuel. The Espar is about the best there is on the market and can be had here at LubeSpecialist

Author:	CATCRD [ Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:25 pm ]
Post subject:
oldnavy wrote: Those are what used to come on VW's and were 500 Watt's and about 5 x7 and would just barely warm the engine oil if it was below freezing. Um, that's exactly what they're designed to do. Ever seen a viscosity vs. temperature chart?

Author:	oldnavy [ Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:30 pm ]
Post subject:
CATCRD wrote: oldnavy wrote: Those are what used to come on VW's and were 500 Watt's and about 5 x7 and would just barely warm the engine oil if it was below freezing. Um, that's exactly what they're designed to do. Ever seen a viscosity vs. temperature chart? Yes that is what they are suppose to do when you run non synthetic oil and it is to cold for the oil to pump, but synthetic oil does not have that problem since it flows at -50F or lower. Beside I think the individual wanted heat from heater and the engine warm, that is what the tank heates do. I had one on both of our TDI's and it would heat the oil hotter then the stick on thing that was VW option, the tank heaters in the coolant line is really the best way to go these days.