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Isaac Zachary · 10-02-2021, 03:04 AM

I thought I'd go ahead and explain my reasoning,
I have a 2.5L 4cyl engine. With a 200W OEM cartridge type block heater (goes in hole on side of engine purposely put there for a block heater) I have to plug it in all night for it to really do anything. And in the morning my engine is about 30⁰F to 40⁰F warmer than ambient. If I plug it in for 10 hours it'll use 2kWh of electricity per night, or at 15¢ per kWh, 30¢ per night. Multiply 30¢ by 30 days and that's $9 per month to have the engine only 30⁰F warmer than ambient.

But that 1,500W heater plugged in for an hour will use less electricity and result in a warmer engine. It'll be closer to 80⁰F warmer than ambient in an hour, and only cost $6 of electricity per month.

With the 1,500W heaters, on smaller engines at least, i can actually heat the engine enough to get in the car and have heat immediately for all my body warming and defrosting needs.

Another drawback to the circulating tank heaters, however, is that you don't want to start your engine (or water pump) with it plugged in. I've fried a few that way since the flow is opposite of that of the engine causing it to boil out, dry up and overheat.

10-02-2021, 03:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
Isaac Zachary High Altitude Hybrid Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Gunnison, CO Posts: 2,109 Avalon - '13 Toyota Avalon HV 90 day: 40.45 mpg (US) Prius - '06 Toyota Prius Thanks: 1,147 Thanked 595 Times in 472 Posts	I thought I'd go ahead and explain my reasoning, I have a 2.5L 4cyl engine. With a 200W OEM cartridge type block heater (goes in hole on side of engine purposely put there for a block heater) I have to plug it in all night for it to really do anything. And in the morning my engine is about 30⁰F to 40⁰F warmer than ambient. If I plug it in for 10 hours it'll use 2kWh of electricity per night, or at 15¢ per kWh, 30¢ per night. Multiply 30¢ by 30 days and that's $9 per month to have the engine only 30⁰F warmer than ambient. But that 1,500W heater plugged in for an hour will use less electricity and result in a warmer engine. It'll be closer to 80⁰F warmer than ambient in an hour, and only cost $6 of electricity per month. With the 1,500W heaters, on smaller engines at least, i can actually heat the engine enough to get in the car and have heat immediately for all my body warming and defrosting needs. Another drawback to the circulating tank heaters, however, is that you don't want to start your engine (or water pump) with it plugged in. I've fried a few that way since the flow is opposite of that of the engine causing it to boil out, dry up and overheat. __________________ Last edited by Isaac Zachary; 10-02-2021 at 03:58 PM..