oil pan 4

This one is easy.
Install a second stock engine block heater or find your vehicles stock heater, get 2 of them and install.

What does that do?
You might think it wastes double the power.
It actually saves power. Instead of leaving the standard single 600 watt heater plugged in all night I have found that you really only need about two hours with double block heaters to reach close to the same level of heat you get running a single block heater all night.

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1984 chevy suburban, custom made 6.5L diesel turbocharged with a Garrett T76 and Holset HE351VE, 22:1 compression 13psi of intercooled boost.
1989 firebird mostly stock. Aside from the 6-speed manual trans, corvette gen 5 front brakes, 1LE drive shaft, 4th Gen disc brake fbody rear end.
2011 leaf SL, white, portable 240v CHAdeMO, trailer hitch, new batt as of 2014.

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ThermionicScott

As in, two of the ones that screw in to the block and heat up the coolant? I could see that working nicely.

I just got one of those 50W stick-on pads to see if applying a little heat to the oil helps out any. (The car already has a block heater.) If it doesn't, I'm only out $20.

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Best tank (so far): 32 MPG

oil pan 4

Depending on what engine you have, they may be screw in or freeze plug type.
I have my 8L big block Chevy on an engine stand about to put freeze plug heaters in.
If I can make the pictures small enough on my phone to post on here I will.

Look for a post soon for an immersion oil sump heater using a 1,200 watt hot water heater element.

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1984 chevy suburban, custom made 6.5L diesel turbocharged with a Garrett T76 and Holset HE351VE, 22:1 compression 13psi of intercooled boost.
1989 firebird mostly stock. Aside from the 6-speed manual trans, corvette gen 5 front brakes, 1LE drive shaft, 4th Gen disc brake fbody rear end.
2011 leaf SL, white, portable 240v CHAdeMO, trailer hitch, new batt as of 2014.

me and my metro

Pretty common up north to have two block heaters and plug in battery blankets. Good idea, fire trucks also have thermostatic switches on their block heaters since they are plugged in 24/7.

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02 Saturn L200 5 speed- 265k miles
84 Gmc 6.5 na diesel K30 4x4, TMU
2006 Lincoln Navigator, 215k miles

oil pan 4

I have a 1/2npt hole in the aluminum cylinder heads I would love to be able to plug thst hole with a temperature switch and use that to cut the block heater off above say around 100°F. Put one in each head to control each heater and I would be all set.

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1984 chevy suburban, custom made 6.5L diesel turbocharged with a Garrett T76 and Holset HE351VE, 22:1 compression 13psi of intercooled boost.
1989 firebird mostly stock. Aside from the 6-speed manual trans, corvette gen 5 front brakes, 1LE drive shaft, 4th Gen disc brake fbody rear end.
2011 leaf SL, white, portable 240v CHAdeMO, trailer hitch, new batt as of 2014.

slowmover

Amp draw versus heaters is my usual (and not well researched) question. Coolant and engine oil. Then battery blankets.

skyking

My plan: I got a yard light timer that is rated for 1875 watts resistive, and has a water resistant housing.
I just got the cord for my truck (yay!), and what I would do is add an oil pan pad, while keeping the load under 1500 watts or so total.
Then I would figure out a proper amount of time through trial and error. Set the timer, plug in and go to bed.

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2007 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW 4x4 with 6MT
2003 TDI Beetle
2002 TDI Beetle

currently parked - 1996 Dodge 2500 Cummins Turbodiesel
Custom cab, auto, 3.55 gears

me and my metro

Zerostart makes thermostats and y-cords.

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02 Saturn L200 5 speed- 265k miles
84 Gmc 6.5 na diesel K30 4x4, TMU
2006 Lincoln Navigator, 215k miles

skyking

That won't do for me. I see no point in keeping an uninsulated cast iron 950 pound mass at a constant temperature all night, so the timer is still a part of my equation.

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2007 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW 4x4 with 6MT
2003 TDI Beetle
2002 TDI Beetle

currently parked - 1996 Dodge 2500 Cummins Turbodiesel
Custom cab, auto, 3.55 gears

oil pan 4

This is what they look like:




The engine block heaters on most engines look like this.

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
1984 chevy suburban, custom made 6.5L diesel turbocharged with a Garrett T76 and Holset HE351VE, 22:1 compression 13psi of intercooled boost.
1989 firebird mostly stock. Aside from the 6-speed manual trans, corvette gen 5 front brakes, 1LE drive shaft, 4th Gen disc brake fbody rear end.
2011 leaf SL, white, portable 240v CHAdeMO, trailer hitch, new batt as of 2014.