Simple tarp effective heat blanket

[ConnClark]

We got a cold snap in our area. Unfortunately I have just two glowplugs working at the moment. It started to snow last night so I decided to just throw a tarp over the front of my car going from the top of the windshield over hanging the front of the radiator. Around midnight I fired it up and brought it up to operating temperature in the hopes it would retain some heat in the morning.

Well this morning it turned over and fired up with out the glowplugs coming on. It did shudder and shake but considering I had to crank for five minutes the day before it is a night and day difference.

My theory is that the tarp overhanging the radiator kept the heat from escaping via convection. The heat that did escape flowed up into the air gaps between the tarp and the hood making an insulating layer.

Before anyone says it, yes I'm wasting fuel by warming up my car at midnight. But this is a necessity until I get my glowplugs replaced and my block heater fixed. The thing is I will reap more savings than I did before once I have these things fixed.

[Kyleyadon]

It may just be a band-aid to the problem, but without band-aids many problems wouldn't survive long enough to get proper treatment. It does show creative problem solving. Good job.

[Frank Lee]

Why don't you blanket and grille block it as I've mentioned?