Civic's Block Heater - beating winter cold

[California98Civic]

Very nice. I think of this sometimes even though my morning temps are only as low as the low 40s at the lowest in January/February. Amazing how you got only 40 degrees warmer start-up temps but saw notable improvements in FE. Seems like such a small temp change.

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

Very nice. I think of this sometimes even though my morning temps are only as low as the low 40s at the lowest in January/February. Amazing how you got only 40 degrees warmer start-up temps but saw notable improvements in FE. Seems like such a small temp change.

Thanks. Net result at startup time is the block is like on a summer morning, between 65-90 F depending on outside temp. Not bad really.

I'm disappointed I don't seem to be able to get more than about 40 deg increase over ambient yet. Heater thermostat is 245 deg F (not adjustable) so i was hoping to see close to normal operating temp after several hours.

Really I think it could use the next stronger heater model, ZeroStart 330-8002. That one's available on Amazon. 1000 watts instead of my 750.

My added hoses are insulated but one has insulation partially melted by cat/ exh manifold, I will try remedy that. I can try insulate some of the OEM hoses. And I really want to insulate the hood. I'm thinking foil faced pink foam panels maybe fastened with body work plastic rivets. I'm sucking the coolant thru radiator before it hits the heater but at least the rad is mostly blocked off. Hose routing is determined by the heater's need for a clean rise in output hose to enable circulation. Hopefully more insulation will help, deep winter is still ahead!

[brucepick]

Detailed writeup is HERE.