Alternatives to a Block Heater?
 

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!

Block off your front grill as much as you can.

universal heater pads dont take much skill to add on. if there is a suitable place on your oil pan, and or trans pan, you can get a 4" x 5" stick on pad in 100, 150, 250w

Put a space heater in the car, run the cord inside and plug it in shortly before you leave to warm up the car.

I was toying with the idea of using a solar oven and a pipe to pipe in some heat because I work second shift, so leave long after the sun has come up. Might not work as well for those who get up before the sun to start work.

Ive been considering a remote starter so my car can be defrosted for work in the morning. Currently I make 2 trips to the car. One to start and hit by defrosters. Then another to drive off. Even if the cold light is still on its warm enough to melt the frost/dew/ice on the windows. :thumbup:

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

See post 4.
Deice the car with a space heater or 2.

The easiest thing is to zip tie some coroplast to the front or back of your upper grill. The same can be done with the lower, but you'll want to leave some area open for some cooling. A radiator fan indicator light or scangauge will tell you if you've got too much blocked off.

Ditto. Works better, faster, cheaper.

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.

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...

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

The problem with the hair dryer is that it is very indirect heat. You're counting on the hot air to heat the block but air is very easily heated and cooled, not much heat capacity.

Indeed. You are just wasting heat energy in blowing cold air around and trying to heat something else. Electricity doesn't come free. It's a waste of money.

To add to the "small furnace" concept: You could build a fire underneath the car and BBQ the engine. :rolleyes:

Bring hot dogs and hamburgers. Have a winter picnic. Hope that the fuel lines don't ignite, because you might burn your weenie. :eek:

(Disclaimer: this is only an attempt at humor. "Remember, kids, "don't try this at home"!) ;)

I used a hair dryer to successful start a old diesel vw. I stuck the end of the hair dryer into the air intake and let it sit for 45 minutes. The tube, part of the intake and head were warm.

I think you are better with the heating pad to oil pan vs just an air to air heat exchanger.

Look what I found on AliExpress
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3284...846125579.html

Would this kind of block heater be of any use or is ti junk?

why does it have a Transformers logo? :eek: :D :D

electric and obscure chinese stuff- would not put anywhere flammable

in finland, we heat the engines of tractors and log harvesters with gas.

Attachment 23660

just hook up the quick connectors and start heatin'

Unfortunately I do not live in Finland at the moment.

I am currently in istanbul which is very very urban, i doubt i would be able to hookup propane to the car in a closed garage.


How about a respectable version of the above device?

This is similar to electric race car heaters.

https://pitstopusa.com/i-23928869-cr...-hose-kit.html