Mini experiments: 300w vs. 800w block heater warm up time

[stovie]

Any1 try induction heating??? might do more for the same wattage, instead of heating 1 spot u could position it to heat up more area but it would only work on steel of course...... Oh heres somthing i read about, if u take two cans just big enough for 1 to fit inside the other and then run a zinc rod down the middle and feel between the cans with moter oil and then connect a drill to the zinc rod u can hit about 165F in like 30 seconds and the bigger the cans the faster they heat up maybe use that to heat the motor.......if it works of course???

[pete c]

Has anyone run the actual numbers on how much fuel a typical block heater saves. I realize there are other advantages besides just fuel savings. it is nice to get into a car which gives off heat pretty much instantly, plus I suppose there is some sort of added engine life.

How expensive are they? How many cents worth of electricity does one consume on a typical 20 degree overnight?

I suspect there are already threads addressing this, but, I haven't found any.

[HydroJim]

not leaving it plugged in all night is the key. I believe about an hour will do, but there are a lot of factors. someone with more experience will be able to give you the numbers.

[mechman600]

I'm finding that two hours does the trick in my 10C/50F garage. That's 400W*2=0.8kWh, which is about 9 cents for me. Nine cents is a pretty small gamble.

[California98Civic]

Run search terms through the forum search, above left on this page. I believe there are some who have estimated. But here is Metro's little test: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea....html#post7143

[Daox]

I've installed multiple block heaters in my vehicles. They normally cost ~$40.

The last I read (sorry, can't find a link) of the economics of it is that it is essentially a wash cost wise. The block heater saves you a very small amount of money by improving mileage. So, ROI is pretty far out there, but it is there. However, the other benefits are a much larger factor. Faster warm up times (quicker heat) as well as reduced wear on startup due to warm oil are the main benefits. in the case of a hybrid the benefits are even greater since a warm engine allows more engine-off use.

On a day like today when it was -8F out, I was incredibly happy to have my block heater!

[slownugly]

Take a look at my fuel log and you can see when I started using the block heater religiously. I also used the graph that metrompg made as illustrated above and I try for at least 1.25 hours with it.

Conservatively, and on average before it I was getting 45. After I'm averaging 48. So a 3 mpg increase for 8 gallons of gas you get 24 miles extra out of that amount of gas. From that you can get how much money you are actually saving per mile and so forth. It's very easy to do aba testing but I don't care to because I know it works.

Mine was 53 plus timer and cord I got about 75 into it. From my info I could figure out how long it would take to pay for itself but I'm lazy. If imagine it wouldn't be too long

[pete c]

that 3 mpg increase is quite good. i suspect you have a fairly short commute. i can't imagine it being that much if you have a longer drive.

how difficult is the install on a typical vehicle?

[bestclimb]

look on youtube for block heater install they air not to hard.

Oil pan heaters are pretty easy too
clean the oil pan, apply adhesive stick pad to adhesive and route cord.

[slownugly]

That's 130 miles a day 5 days a week. 80% highway 20% city.

Depends on the type of heater. An inline heater is more involved you have to cut and fit hoses and such. Someone did a write up on one I forget who it is. Block heater is easy bolt into the water jacket as long as its easy to get to. ( ie not behind exhaust or accessories)