Need a block heater... what works best?

[AndrewButler05]

I know this is an OLD thread, BUT any update on this?

I'm considering buying some sort of heater for Chewy, I would love to go out to a warm car. As Metro said, warm starts are better cold starts.

-Andrew

[MetroMPG]

My update would be the same: getting a block heater is worth it on so many levels. Just make sure you get a powerful one.

[AndrewButler05]

My update would be the same: getting a block heater is worth it on so many levels. Just make sure you get a powerful one.

Do you have any suggestions? I've been googling and looking and there's several to pick from....

Thanks,
-Andrew

[MetroMPG]

Well, I got mine from eBay. It's a Katt's 800w tank style heater. Thermosyphon style circulation.

There is probably an OEM block heater for the Aveo as well that may require you to pull a frost plug out and install it directly in the water jacket. But, again, I'd only do this if the wattage of the heater is decent.

That way, 45 - 60 min is all you need for a decent amount of heat, eg (for a 1.0L engine)...

[Daox]

Ditto, go big! And make sure you put it on a timer so you don't use a ton of electricity haha.

[AndrewButler05]

Well, I got mine from eBay. It's a Katt's 800w tank style heater. Thermosyphon style circulation.

There is probably an OEM block heater for the Aveo as well that may require you to pull a frost plug out and install it directly in the water jacket. But, again, I'd only do this if the wattage of the heater is decent.

That way, 45 - 60 min is all you need for a decent amount of heat, eg (for a 1.0L engine)...

I think I'll order the one you have, any tips on where/how to install it? Is/was it a pain?

My next task will be on how to hook it up at my apartment complex, there's no outlets on the front side if our apartments, only on the back deck. I don't think I could run a cord out the window and still lock the window. I will have to do some thinking. There's no point in me buying one, if I can't plug it in this winter.

Thanks For The Input as well Tim.

Thanks,

-Andrew

[Thymeclock]

I know this is an OLD thread, BUT any update on this?

I'm considering buying some sort of heater for Chewy, I would love to go out to a warm car. As Metro said, warm starts are better cold starts.

-Andrew

Yeah, I'd love to go out to a warm car in winter, too. It depends upon what you expect a "warm car" to be. If you want to go out to a warm car in winter you will need to move to a warmer place - like Florida.

From your latest posts, apparently you don't have the car garaged and you would need to run a power cord out to where it is parked to warm it electrically. Virtually any car will start in temps down to zero degrees F if the car is in good roadworthy condition. If it's much colder where you are on a regular basis, then a block heater is recommended. Short of that, you might try insulating the engine compartment and using a 100W, politically incorrect light bulb. Incandescent bulbs put out more heat than light. It will provide some warmth and raise the ambient temp under the hood. Remember, cold is cold and winter is winter, but it's all relative - compared to WHAT?. 20 degrees F is more comfortable than 0 degrees F. Either way you will need to deal with the nuisance of the power cord and the added expense to your electric bill.

Another option would be to buy heated clothing (Gerbings) and plug your outfit into the cigarette lighter on your car. As long as the car starts, you'll be warm. But heated clothing doesn't come cheap.

Hat, scarf, gloves, long underwear, boots. We can hardly wait for winter...

[AndrewButler05]

Yeah, I'd love to go out to a warm car in winter, too. It depends upon what you expect a "warm car" to be. If you want to go out to a warm car in winter you will need to move to a warmer place - like Florida.

From your latest posts, apparently you don't have the car garaged and you would need to run a power cord out to where it is parked to warm it electrically. Virtually any car will start in temps down to zero degrees F if the car is in good roadworthy condition. If it's much colder where you are on a regular basis, then a block heater is recommended. Short of that, you might try insulating the engine compartment and using a 100W, politically incorrect light bulb. Incandescent bulbs put out more heat than light. It will provide some warmth and raise the ambient temp under the hood. Remember, cold is cold and winter is winter, but it's all relative - compared to WHAT?. 20 degrees F is more comfortable than 0 degrees F. Either way you will need to deal with the nuisance of the power cord and the added expense to your electric bill.

Another option would be to buy heated clothing (Gerbings) and plug your outfit into the cigarette lighter on your car. As long as the car starts, you'll be warm. But heated clothing doesn't come cheap.

Hat, scarf, gloves, long underwear, boots. We can hardly wait for winter...

Thanks for the input. It is usually like 30 degrees here, it is rarely colder than 20. I think I'll wait beings how it doesn't get extremely cold here, and I always let Chewy warm up some Before I blast off to class.

Thanks,
-Andrew

[milesvinson]

My wife and I rarely take off with a cold engine even in the summer. I've always believed it was better for the engine to warm to operating temperature before applying all of the pressure and strain that is generated with normal engine operation. I think this is especially true with aluminum heads. Also, we don't believe in scraping ice or frost from the windows. Instead we start our vehicle and let them warm up to the point where the windows are defrosted. This said, several years ago when gas started reaching the $3 mark I started putting a small bathroom heater in the floorboard of the car on those cold nights and turned the thermostat on really low. I figured electricity was cheaper than gas. Now I know that does nothing for heating the motor, but it does eliminate the idling time to defrost the windows as well as not having an ice cold interior. I also ordered an alarm kit w/ remote start that will work w/ a stick shift. Four years later it is still sitting in my living room floor. I also ordered a ZEROSTART 1500 watt tank style heater. I've never installed it either. Do you have any suggestions about mounting the heater?

[Dustin]

I've used magnetics before, they work fine if you use a timer and make a bracket to secure them to the bottom of the oil pan.