Warming up your car (Fairbanks, Eielson AFB: house, rent, job)

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by mal_flisk

I scraped my windshield this morning and couldn't see from the frost INSIDE the windows from the previous evening. Green weenie helps , but nothing beats a warm defroster in a 1984 Eagle Summit.

That's exactly what happens when very cold around Fairbanks and the rest of the interior of Alaska, but there no way for folks who don't live here to understand what we have to do before we can drive our car:

Any moisture in the air inside the car, including one's breath, ends-up frozen on the windshield and windows. If the car is plugged-in when around -40 or colder, it take a while before the layer of ice to melt or evaporate, since the antifreeze is not necessarily warm in the block.

There are differences between aircraft motors and a modern automobile motors, but the differences are primarily related to weight, and higher quality components required for aircraft use. They all depend on internal combustion, plugs (or ignitors), all use oil, fuel, have valves and pistons, run on fuel, and all are affected by ambient temperature. The main difference to a pilot is that he watches the oil, fuel pressure, temperature etc., before he takes off. In a car all we have these days are "idiot" lights.

But if you are a pilot and believe that you don't have to wait a few minutes for the motor to stabilize, go ahead and fly away. Also, if you have a brand new car or truck (a real expensive one), go ahead and drive it without warming it up. Just don't tell the dealer Something else: if you live in Fairbanks, don't plug-it in at work when it's -65. Juts leave it there for 8 hours at work, and jump-start it at the end of the day.

[warptman]

In my old Dodge Dakota, I installed a small aviation type heater for inside. No matter what happened overnight in the winter, my windows were frost free in the morning. I installed it under the dash on the passenger side. I didn't care if it got in the way of the passenger's feet, as long as my windows are clear in the morning.

[Rance]

Is that an electric type 110 or 12 volt or something?

[warptman]

110 volt. It was a old aircraft cabin heater. Found some online. I had a Mazda for a while here until it died, I used a small portable plug in heater in the cab on low, kept the windows frost free all night. Found a link to some.

12 Volt Auxiliary Ceramic Heaters & Blankets

[User 2]

The goal is called future. Welcome at Eberspächer

BlueHeat® Main
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..

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by User 2

The goal is called future. Welcome at Eberspächer

Holey Swiss Cheese, batman, I want one of those! You buying, User?

[Rance]

Looks like a nice idea. I could not find a cost. I may have to call them.

[Arcticthaw]

Auto Trim Design in Fairbanks sells the Blue Heat model. It is a gas or diesel fueled engine heater for those that don't have a place to plug in, like those that live off the grid.

[Arcticthaw]

Here is another product design we use at times to warm the interior of the car when it is plugged in. Saves the apoulstry and things like turn signal switches that fail in real cold temps.

Kat's Automotive Interior Heater #37100 with 900 watts power!

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by User 2

The goal is called future. Welcome at Eberspächer

Hmm, I tooled around the site a little bit and found that the link provided was intended for viewers from Germany...
Here's the American/Canadian version: Enhance your quality of life - Welcome to Espar