(Questions in bold for people who don't want to read the whole thing
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The next project I want to do on my van is some sort of engine pre-heating.
I notice most of the threads on here are about people fitting water/ block heaters.
It's well known that water has a much lower heat capacity than oil and that therefore oil temps take longer to reach optimal than oil temps.
I have a 1.6 turbo diesel, there's not much waste heat - plus the oil pan holds a massive (for a 1.6) 7.4l (7.8 quarts). I know in my old VW that was leaking fuel into the oil it used to take a good 10km (6miles) to get the water up to temp (when I drained the oil and found 11 litres in there I found my problem). Just shows the heat capacity of oil, once drained and filled to half way on the dip stick warm up was a normal ~2km. Another time I got an old Suzuki/Metro and the oil was thick and disgusting - hadn't been changed in years. Took for ever to warm up. Change the oil and it was one of the fastest to warm up cars I'd ever owned.
So my plan is to buy a stick on Wolverine oil pan heater, as they come in 240v models (normal mains power here).
The plan is to run off my van mounted solar panels, off an inverter.
My thought is to just connect the inverter to the solar controller out put, so when ever the sun shines the oil is being warmed.
Other than possibly burning out the heater pad sooner, would there be any reason not to have the oil warmed, even when not being driven?
I like the idea of the oil being warm and ready to go whenever I am. I can still have an automated timer or kill switch for when I know it's really not going to be needed, but if I can leave it on all day it would be really convenient.
Since I'm stepping up the voltage from 12v to mains voltage I can choose either a 110v or 240v inverter - I know 240v is theoretically more efficient, but I think the inverter becomes less efficient, as well as bigger and more expensive?
I also see these 12v units that would do away with inverters:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100X...80e2b74c8b30-0
Fairly cheap too -and I like the in built thermostat. Even with 360W of solar panels I think any pre-heater will have to be switched off once moving - or at least once warm.
Based on other people's tests, I'm aiming for 250W - in reality that's more than my panels would normally produce but I don't think that matters. I'll probably warm the trans while I'm at it. My primary reason is because I really want this vehicle to last me 20+ years, so no cold starts
Finally, given that oil pan heaters are so much easier to install, and can't possibly cause a leak of vital fluids, why are most of you heating water rather than oil?