Engine block heater

[Mechlawrence]

Hello all<br /><br />I work in the automotive repair industry and had a question/idea regarding all the controversy about different methods of "winterizing" engines. What would be the downside of installing an auto block heater in place of a freeze plug and using it when it was cold enough to freeze. I'm not sure what the temp is that these plugs get up to but if you had it on a timer on a wall plug that would kick off and on then keeping the engine above freezing and toasty would be a snap. I'm not sure but if the heater was on say all the time nonstop would it eventually evaporate all the water in block and be sitting in the dry doing no good? I'm in northern Alabama and see very few vihicles equipped with these but I plan on doing some experiments to see how hot they get and how long the water in the block could last.<br /><br />Anybody have any ideas on this. Good, Bad, Ugly?<br /><br />Thanks Lawrence

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine block heater

Power failure, block heater failure without you knowing it stopped working. Do you feel lucky?<br />They are usually set up for use with a pressurized closed cooling system, not sure how it would work on a raw water cooled system.<br />But 5 minutes of draining prevents any of the freeze problems.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Engine block heater

couple the above with trying to find a marine rated block heater. I have seen some marine rated engine room heaters.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Engine block heater

I stiil like Bondo's theory: Air doesn't freeze.... ....JK

 

[Mechlawrence]

Re: Engine block heater

Gotcha<br />I wasn't sure how it would work without being in a sealed system. Just was curious about pros and cons<br />Lawrence

 

[bomar76]

Re: Engine block heater

Plus the water in the outdrive trapped between the outdrive water pump and the engine wouldn't be heated with a block heater, so nix that whole idea....

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Engine block heater

while air does not freeze the AF mixture inhibits rust and slows circ pump seal failures. also if some water gets trapped and ya miss it the average oil cooler is close to 250 dollars. the VST case on a volvo is about the same on counter. if you dont believe the rust go to anyboat yard, ask for a recently removed junk riser or manifold. place it in your unheated garage and tell me how long water bleeds out and how fast it rusts.

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: Engine block heater

There is a good reason why engine and any lower drive unit, I/O or OB should be changed before freezing weather. Any bad seals that let some water in during the summer will be seen. And drained out before it seperates and turns to expanding ice. Good places always drain before freezing weather.

 

[scottatwork]

Re: Engine block heater

I was in Alaska and had a block heater in my car, the block heater is the cheaper way to go but not the best (On a vehicle).....it tends to burn hte oil near it, and they tend to be somewhat unreliable when they do start to go.<br /><br />They are expensive to run (electricity), and depending how cold they get it may not do an entire engine - you may need two.<br /><br /><br />HOWEVER - the inline hose heater, man those are nice. I drove my mother in law's 73 nova at 55 below zero cuz my car would not start, it had about 1/8th engine temp and had HEAT as soon as it started. Those are nice.<br /><br /><br />I have to ask this question again, what's wrong with the internal cooling units? Except the $600 price tag....(?) If they have anti-freeze in them they generally won't freeze (Unless you are at 80 below, then you go with a 100% mix)........then you drain the mainfold and air doesn't freeze.....<br />And you could hook a heater hose heater unit up in this and it would circulate the antifreeze (heated) through out the engine during deep freezes...<br /><br /><br />That is unless you always drive in fresh water, we have salt water here mainly save for a couple of lakes....so these kits are extremely popular and save you a few bucks over the long run........not to mention the side effect of making winterizing easier...<br /><br /><br />I would avoid the block heater though

 

[Mile-High Mariner]

Re: Engine block heater

Mechlawrence:<br /><br />You've probably learned that a block heater will be of little use on a marine engine that is not equipped with a closed cooling system. I value the block heater on my Powerstroke, especially having moved to Colorado from Texas. I am also currently working on my boat, making the usual modifications necessary due to the change in altitude and troubleshooting a compression issue, and I have it in and out of the water several times a week, so winterizing each time is not time- or cost-effective. The boat is covered only by a mid-weight custom cover outside my RV, and I keep a small heater fan under the cowl on nights when it drops below freezing; on low, it keeps the under-cowl air temp at between 85* and 105*F - pretty toasty, I'd say.