Alternatives to a Block Heater?

[spacemanspif]

Seen tbe blanket trick work many times to prevent frost and makes it easier to clear off a light snow. Parking in a garage is best though...

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by bryn

throw an old blanket over windshield and side windows. i close the corners in the door for wind. i also have a 120 v heater that wraps the lower radiator hose.

I was doing that and I ran into a problem where I would pull the blanket, start driving and the wind shield would frost fast while driving.

[SilverCrown9701]

I live in Texas, so we rarely get many frosts here but it will get down into the 20s on some nights in the dead of winter but mostly it stays in the 40s and 50s.

I wouldn't know how to use a space heater in a car. The coroplast idea sounds great!

[oil pan 4]

Space heater in a car?
Put it on the floor so its not blowing scorching hot air against the seat or trim, or in the seat or on the center console run the heater cord out the door through the bottom seam close the door till it clicks, not fully shutting it on the cord.
Be sure the heater is "on".
Then plug the heater cord into an extension cord and toss or kick the junction between the heater and extension under the vehicle to keep water off the connection incase of rain.
Finish by running the extension cord into the house , leaving it by the door or plugging it into an out side outlet on a switch.
When you get up in the morning apply power to the cord.
Then when time to leave unplug the heater put the heater in the back seat or leave it on the passenger side floor. Leave the cord, unless you have crack heads around that will steal an extension cord just for the copper.

Its about as simple as killing a snake with a shovel.

[SilverCrown9701]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Space heater in a car?
Put it on the floor so its not blowing scorching hot air against the seat or trim, or in the seat or on the center console run the heater cord out the door through the bottom seam close the door till it clicks, not fully shutting it on the cord.
Be sure the heater is "on".
Then plug the heater cord into an extension cord and toss or kick the junction between the heater and extension under the vehicle to keep water off the connection incase of rain.
Finish by running the extension cord into the house , leaving it by the door or plugging it into an out side outlet on a switch.
When you get up in the morning apply power to the cord.
Then when time to leave unplug the heater put the heater in the back seat or leave it on the passenger side floor. Leave the cord, unless you have crack heads around that will steal an extension cord just for the copper.

Its about as simple as killing a snake with a shovel.

Wow, I'm blonde. I don't know where my mind is today. I don't know why I was thinking that I had to wire a space heater into my vehicle's electrical system

[basjoos]

Originally Posted by SilverCrown9701

Winter in approaching in a few months and I started thinking of ways to help my engine warm up quicker.

I'm not mechanically inclined as far as modifications go, so I was curious if anyone knew of alternatives to a block heater??


Thanks!

I've wondered if it would be feasible to mount a small hair dryer in the engine compartment, especially if it was grill blocked and underpaneled, then running the dryer for an hour or so before you planned to leave as an alternative to a block heater.

[XYZ]

Originally Posted by SilverCrown9701

Can anyone help me with a grill block? Something inconspicuous yet cheap and efficient. Any help is greatly appreciated!

It's easier to do a radiator block. There is often a small space (less than an inch) between the grille and the radiator. Cut a piece of ordinary cardboard to fit, that you will slide downward into that space. Leave enough of the cardboard panel protruding at the top so you can also pull it out to remove it. If there is a support in the middle, use two pieces, one for the left side and one for the right. The cardboard will stay there by itself in most cases. If the temperature gets too hot it's very easy to stop and remove it, as it takes only a few seconds to do.

Another nice feature is that it's disposable and costs nothing to make.

[XYZ]

Originally Posted by basjoos

I've wondered if it would be feasible to mount a small hair dryer in the engine compartment, especially if it was grill blocked and underpaneled, then running the dryer for an hour or so before you planned to leave as an alternative to a block heater.

The problem is that any heat you generate is dissipated quickly in cold weather. One good thing about an actual block heater is that the block itself holds the heat after it is heated.

[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by basjoos

I've wondered if it would be feasible to mount a small hair dryer in the engine compartment, especially if it was grill blocked and underpaneled, then running the dryer for an hour or so before you planned to leave as an alternative to a block heater.

I did just that a year and a half ago. I have full underpaneling and a LGB.
I let a 1000W hair dryer run in the engine bay for 45 minutes in the engine bay of my snow covered Insight.

It did melt the snow around the seams.
It heated up the 12V battery, the cables, the insulation, fuse box, air filter, you know what. Anything but the engine.
It still started like the cold pig of other days, no measurable reduction in fuel consumption at all for all the effort.

When I discussed block heating with my brother in law, a physics engineer, he was shocked that I would introduce high voltage inside the hood where there is a risk of gasoline vapour. I decided that it was not the right time to tell him what exactly I had used for my heating experiment...

[oil pan 4]

You can use an external heater, but a hair dryer is about 50 to 100 times too small.
If you could direct the output of a small furnace under the hood that would do it.
Or get a block heater.