Geo Metro Block Heater How-to - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

bbjsw10 · 10-23-2008, 10:26 PM

I picked up a Kat's 850watt block heater today. Part #13080 at my local Napa store. It retails for around $75 but I got a discount because I am good friends with some of them up there.

I had to buy 5/8" heater core hose, they had a 6ft. piece for $5.94 at Advance auto. More than enough for this project, enough to replace all the heater hoses. Might as well while you are doing this.

I also picked up a timer at Wal-mart that I am going to set for 1 1/2 hours before I leave for work in the mornings. I figured up this would cost me $1.27 for a month to use. Not to shabby for a nice warm car in the morning.

The packaging.

The kit, notice the MD can by it the heater is fairly small.

This is how you will want to orient your bracket.

A good mounting location I found, just make sure it out of the path of the cv shaft. That would not be good. The heater also has to be lower than where you are connecting to allow gravity to do it's job.

This is the hose I tied into.

Done enjoy a nice warm car in the mornings. Also the added benefit of better fuel economy.

Make sure to "burp" the system of air, and when refilling system leave outlet of heater unhooked. Watch for coolant to fill the heater before connecting upper "outlet hose" marked by an arrow on the case of heater.

Johnny Mullet · 10-23-2008, 10:41 PM

Looks much easier than a factory style install and more efficient than oil heaters.

Funny · 10-24-2008, 07:13 PM

Has anyone combined different style heaters on one car? Didn't you do something on this, Darin? I would think that an oil heater coupled with a coolant recirculatory heater would make the most difference, but still have diminishing returns... I would like to make such a system.

bbjsw10 · 10-24-2008, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funny

Has anyone combined different style heaters on one car? Didn't you do something on this, Darin? I would think that an oil heater coupled with a coolant recirculatory heater would make the most difference, but still have diminishing returns... I would like to make such a system.

I thought about doing this but instead of oil, use one of the 200w magnetic on the transmission to warm the tranny oil up. I feel the engine oil will warm pretty quickly when the motor is warmed by the coolant heater. The heat from block is sure to transfer to oil pan I would think.

knowbodies · 10-24-2008, 10:46 PM

Years ago a coworker of mine installed a circulating coolant heater from a big truck in his car. The first cold day he tried it, he went out to his car, started it and turned on the defrost. His windshield broke due to thermal expansion. 850W seems excessive for a Metro engine; please be careful if you need to use the defrost.

MetroMPG · 10-24-2008, 11:01 PM

Hi knowbodies - I've never seen more than about 130 F above ambient using my 800 watt heater (almost identical to yours, bbjsw10).

from: Experiment: how long should a block heater be plugged in? - MetroMPG.com

That's still well below normal operating temperature.

I guess it's still possible to crack the windshield if it's super cold outside (like -35 C / -31F) ... oh look, you live in Moose Jaw!

Quote:

Has anyone combined different style heaters on one car? Didn't you do something on this, Darin?

I have an external element style 300w OEM block heater + this convection tank style 800w one. I rarely use them both at the same time, unless I'm in a "hurry" and don't want to wait for the 800w one.

MetroMPG · 10-24-2008, 11:06 PM

Also, don't forget to leave your temp slider on "hot" inside the car when you plug in - you have to give the convection somewhere to go!

Looking forward to your impressions of the heater. I love mine.

You know the unusual sounds a really, really cold (like -10 and below, C) engine makes when it first starts up? I haven't heard that for a long time.

Funny · 10-24-2008, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I have an external element style 300w OEM block heater + this convection tank style 800w one. I rarely use them both at the same time, unless I'm in a "hurry" and don't want to wait for the 800w one.

Since you have the equipment attached to your whip already, would you be willing to make another experiment and temperature every 15 minutes graph using the two heaters at the same time? I would really like to see how quickly it gets up to temp and how it affects your MPGs...

I really would like to do that kind of modification on my car...

MetroMPG · 10-24-2008, 11:21 PM

Ask and ye shall receive!

From: Experiment: how long should a block heater be plugged in? - MetroMPG.com

I haven't tried to measure impact on fuel economy because I didn't think I could control enough variables to get meaningful results.

Funny · 10-25-2008, 12:19 AM

Sweet, thanks a bunch Darin. I think that heating multiple fluids in a car would be better for overall fuel consumption. Oil, Tranny and Coolant. I am really thinking about doing this...