engine heaters

[Manche757]

I will be moving to a much colder climate and have read that when temperatures are lower than 5 degrees F, radiator fluid gels and oil becomes very thick.  For protection of the engine before it warms up, there are various heaters that warm the block, or warm the oil.  Has anyone here installed, or had installed, anything other than the simple ones that temporarily replace the dip stick?  

[howeitsdone]

They install in place of the freeze plug below cylinders 1 & 2. Fairly simple install but a little time consuming because you need to remove a bit to get there.

Mopar: 82201506

Aftermarket: 3100072

[rokinn]

How cold are we talking?  Never heard of antifreeze jelling, not saying it can't but I can only imagine it's going to have to get seriously subzero.  Here in Colorado 20 below zero isn't unheard of and 5 and 10 below are relatively common.  I've never failed to start any vehicle I've ever owned if it has been properly maintained and the battery is good and I've been starting cars in CO for nearly 50 years.  Might take a bit longer but not inordinately so.  5w30 should be plenty of protection. 

 

I had my manifold off this summer and thought about doing it but decided I didn't need it, but then I have another garaged car as a daily driver.  Where are you moving to?

[gogmorgo]

If where you're going is only going to get down to +5°F on occasion, I wouldn't even bother installing anything.

On the other hand, if you are going to experience colder than that, you should know that a 50/50 blend of normal ethylene glycol antifreeze and reasonably pure water will remain liquid until below -30°F.

Wait, you're the guy moving to Glacier, right? 50/50 should be fine, although you might want to go a touch richer. I typically try for a 2:1 ratio for easy measuring with what I top up with, but generally I just fill the system alternating between a jug of concentrated antifreeze and deionized water until it's full, making sure it's got more of the antifreeze than water. System capacity is something like 12 quarts, but since there's always a little remaining in the system after you drain it you'll put in the first gallon of antifreeze and first gallon of water just fine, then you'll run out of space as you're adding the second gallon of antifreeze. That said, no one I know has ever damaged anything from running a 50/50 ratio, and the premix is definitely easier to deal with. 

Definitely also make sure you're running a 5Wxx oil, there is a very noticeable difference in cranking speeds between 5w40 and 15w40.

As far as block heaters go, generally put it in the easiest to access freeze plug in the block. Getting warmth into the coolant is the best strategy. I'll be honest that I generally don't bother plugging mine in if it's not getting below -15F or so because street parking makes it problematic, but it's definitely worth doing. If you're paying for the power you use get a timer set for ~4hr before you normally would drive the vehicle. Some block heaters will draw upwards of 1000W, which can be a lot if you leave it plugged in all the time when it's not being driven. Also make sure the block heater cord is in good condition and any extension cords you use are properly rated for it... the number of vehicles I've known that burnt down and were attributed to the block heater cord is higher than you might think.

 

Battery and charging system health is also a big deal. Don't let your battery get discharged out in the cold. It will freeze, the electrolyte will expand and distort plates or split the case open. If you do freeze your battery, check it over for cracks and then thaw it out before charging. If the vehicle was sitting overnight and the battery was low enough you needed to boost it to start, it's pretty likely it's been compromised. If your battery was sitting at -40 and the engine cranks over but doesn't want to fire, don't keep cranking until it won't any more. And if you've got things that don't shut off and constantly draw power like a security system, remote starter, or keyless entry (not necessarily talking MJ here) absolutely do not let the thing sit for more than a week without running it or you'll come back to a fancy brick. Battery blankets can help, but they'll also hide a weak battery which can leave you stranded if you end up parking somewhere you can't plug in. 

[Manche757]

11 hours ago, rokinn said:

How cold are we talking? ......... Where are you moving to?

 

5 hours ago, gogmorgo said:

Wait, you're the guy moving to Glacier, right? 

 

I will move from Virginia Beach, VA which is right on the Atlantic Ocean to Montana less than 10 minutes from the West entrance to Glacier National Park for the winter. The coldest temperature recorded in the US was -70F in 1954 in Montana. The Continental Divide runs through Glacier National Park. Although I will probably be 10 miles west as the crow flies, temperatures get lower on the east side. Just east of the divide, an area gets 100 feet of snow per year on average.  Where I will be gets 81 inches on average. Although average lows where i will be are not as extreme, advisories state to expect lows of -10 to -50. Evidently-35F is not unusual to the east. I expect to buy a GMC suv with awd before I drive the 2500 mile trip.  I have no experience with engine heaters other than what I have read.

[75sv1]

I have one in my MB 240D. A diesel is a bit harder to start. I do or did plug it in and it help starting with 15W-40. I then switched to 10W-30 for the colder months.  Then I switched to 5w-40 synthetic. I think synthetics do better in the cold. I'd also look at a battery heater pad. They also make heater pads for the oil pan sump. 

[rokinn]

Wow, big change there!  Whole different world.  Life will definitely be easier if your car is garaged.  Most especially if you have a commute.  I see a down parka in your future   And some Sorrel's.  If you come via Loveland CO respite from your travels is in the cards. 

[pizzaman09]

I don't live in quite as cold of a place as where you are going, but it can get down into the -20F range on the coldest days.  I haven't found a need for a block heater.  My 99 Oldsmobile inexplicably has a factory block heater, does make for a nice quicker heat up in the morning.  My first Comanche had a patch heater on the bottom of the oil pan really not sure why it had it as it was always a California truck.  The patch looked like an extremely simple stick on install.