Engine Block Heater?
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
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Engine Block Heater?
Hi,
I live in Northern New Jersey. In the winter it can be bitter cold. I heard that the most engine wear and tear happens when starting your car cold because it takes split second (or few) for oil to warm up and reach all parts of engine.
Someone recommended me engine block heaters.
Can you please tell me if it is good to get them and how do they work (i.e. what they do and how you use them).
Thank you.
I live in Northern New Jersey. In the winter it can be bitter cold. I heard that the most engine wear and tear happens when starting your car cold because it takes split second (or few) for oil to warm up and reach all parts of engine.
Someone recommended me engine block heaters.
Can you please tell me if it is good to get them and how do they work (i.e. what they do and how you use them).
Thank you.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 253
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From: Southeast Iowa
I lived in Michigan for many years which is as cold or colder than where you live. I personally think a engine block heater is a waste unless you live in extremes where overnight temps regularly drop under -20F in the winter. THe newer cynthetic oils perform well in cold temps, and I alos think the whole "cold start-up" concern is mostly nonsense. Oil bonds fairly well to metal, so even after sitting all night, there is still a film of oil on the contact surfaces. Oil pressure comes almost immediately since the oil pump is directly driven by the crankshaft.
I had a '91 Tercel that survived 12 Michigan winters and 120,000 miles with regular, cheap non-synthetic multiweight oil. It was outside all winter and as a teenager I abused the car heavily and rarely let it warm up before accelerating hard. When I sold the car the engine still never burned a drop of oil and I was even towing a 1000 lb trailer with it on occasion and also had a roof rack.
Modern engines are far more durable that people think.
To answer your question, block heaters are electric and plug into a standard 120VAC wall outlet. I believe some just try to heat up the oil in the oil pan. Others try to warm up the entire engine block.
I had a '91 Tercel that survived 12 Michigan winters and 120,000 miles with regular, cheap non-synthetic multiweight oil. It was outside all winter and as a teenager I abused the car heavily and rarely let it warm up before accelerating hard. When I sold the car the engine still never burned a drop of oil and I was even towing a 1000 lb trailer with it on occasion and also had a roof rack.
Modern engines are far more durable that people think.
To answer your question, block heaters are electric and plug into a standard 120VAC wall outlet. I believe some just try to heat up the oil in the oil pan. Others try to warm up the entire engine block.
lots and lots of fail
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 23,004
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From: Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeetroit
Originally Posted by Accord2005NJ
Hi,
I live in Northern New Jersey. In the winter it can be bitter cold. I heard that the most engine wear and tear happens when starting your car cold because it takes split second (or few) for oil to warm up and reach all parts of engine.
Someone recommended me engine block heaters.
Can you please tell me if it is good to get them and how do they work (i.e. what they do and how you use them).
Thank you.
I live in Northern New Jersey. In the winter it can be bitter cold. I heard that the most engine wear and tear happens when starting your car cold because it takes split second (or few) for oil to warm up and reach all parts of engine.
Someone recommended me engine block heaters.
Can you please tell me if it is good to get them and how do they work (i.e. what they do and how you use them).
Thank you.