Advice on fitting a coolant heater please

[Nedlom]

Thanks teoman, I'm determined to get this sorted this year - I'll let you know how it goes.

Your DIY sounds great oil pan, but don't think it would work for me.

I've looked at the link you posted skyking, but no luck! I swear to god, I don't think this engine has any freeze plugs! I've searched through loads of pics of stripped down engines on ebay, and the only thing that looks close is a plastic plug on one of the plastic coolant hose junctions, but more likely is an alternative placement for an ECT sensor (same engine fitted to both Ford's and Citroen's).
If there are any they must be behind the cam belts, under the valve covers or something.

Anyway, I'm at the point now where I'm going to buy a unit and hopefully the Chinglish instructions will make things a little clearer

[Piotrsko]

If it's a ford cologne series engine the freeze plugs will be right above the oil pan gasket I believe on the exhaust side of the block.

I make heaters all the time using a couple of pipe pieces sized for the water heater element in a "T" configuration. I also place the controller directly over the elements end so if it goes dry, the controller tends to shut it off. Got 3 in the ranger including one powered poorly by 12 VDC.

[ratgreen]

Do report back with how well it works. Thats a decent price for a heater, I'm also from the UK too. How do you plan on plugging it in, or are you just going to leave the lead dangling?

I'd like to have a male/female waterproof plug mounted to the front bumper so you can just plug it in easily.

[skyking]

Originally Posted by Nedlom

Thanks teoman, I'm determined to get this sorted this year - I'll let you know how it goes.

Your DIY sounds great oil pan, but don't think it would work for me.

I've looked at the link you posted skyking, but no luck! I swear to god, I don't think this engine has any freeze plugs! I've searched through loads of pics of stripped down engines on ebay, and the only thing that looks close is a plastic plug on one of the plastic coolant hose junctions, but more likely is an alternative placement for an ECT sensor (same engine fitted to both Ford's and Citroen's).
If there are any they must be behind the cam belts, under the valve covers or something.

Anyway, I'm at the point now where I'm going to buy a unit and hopefully the Chinglish instructions will make things a little clearer

It was a thought
My diesel truck had that kind of heater from the factory, but the cord was an option

[Nedlom]

Ok, well I've bought and installed the heater now, turned out to be easier to fit than expected.

Had a few trial runs... hmm seems to only heat the coolant to 45c or so, no matter how long it's on for (specs say it should heat coolant to 70c) still better than nothing, but a bit disappointing.

I think I might have fitted it back to front? The instructions (poor though they are) show it directing the flow directly towards the thermostat, however this would be the opposite direction to the coolant flow when the engine is running, so I fitted it the other way around. For various reasons this seemed the "correct" way.

I remember reading a post somewhere (can't find it now) where someone had fitted it back to front and it wouldn't heat up fully - doesn't make sense to me how that would affect anything, but still... I've made sure the heater valve is open...

Anyway, just thinking out loud for now...

[oil pan 4]

If the idea is to pump the hot coolant into the cylinder head and draw the cooler liquid out of the lower part of the block. The head is where the temperature sensor is so it will read hotter as opposed to pumping the heated coolant into the lower part of the block it will be much more spread out.