Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Mini experiments: 300w vs. 800w block heater warm up time

2000mc · 03-13-2014, 08:24 PM

The block heater from saturn is a radiant element that sets against the block, so I don't think it would be near as efficient as one in coolant. I don't know for sure what the wattage is, but I was thinking I'd heard 500w

I would totally agree with oilpan4, I think 4x the heat for a 1/4 of the time would be far better.

If I ever get around to swapping to a manual steering gear, I'll remove my currently disabled power steering pump, which will allow me a great place to add a circulation heater. I don't think I want to go past about 1800w total though, so I can still use a standard 110 outlet

edit: so most ppl on the saturn forums seem to say 300w block heater. considering that, it doesnt sound as inefficient as i was thinking
edit#2: so yea, looks similar to metrompg's bolt on heater which is also 300w. post15- http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea....html#post7274

03-13-2014, 08:24 PM	#69 (permalink)
2000mc herp derp Apprentice Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 1,049 Saturn-sold - '99 saturn sc1 Team Saturn 90 day: 28.28 mpg (US) Yukon - '03 GMC Yukon Denali 90 day: 13.74 mpg (US) Thanks: 43 Thanked 331 Times in 233 Posts	The block heater from saturn is a radiant element that sets against the block, so I don't think it would be near as efficient as one in coolant. I don't know for sure what the wattage is, but I was thinking I'd heard 500w I would totally agree with oilpan4, I think 4x the heat for a 1/4 of the time would be far better. If I ever get around to swapping to a manual steering gear, I'll remove my currently disabled power steering pump, which will allow me a great place to add a circulation heater. I don't think I want to go past about 1800w total though, so I can still use a standard 110 outlet edit: so most ppl on the saturn forums seem to say 300w block heater. considering that, it doesnt sound as inefficient as i was thinking edit#2: so yea, looks similar to metrompg's bolt on heater which is also 300w. post15- http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea....html#post7274 Last edited by 2000mc; 03-13-2014 at 11:18 PM..