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I have an unused engine block heater in my garage. I am wondering if it would be worth installing on a gasoline engine? Or would it be better suited on a diesel engine?
I live in a climate that in the winter can get down to zero degrees, as it is right now 6 degrees Fahrenheit at 1 am.
Gasoline or diesel, there are multiple benefits from starting a warmer engine than one that's cold-soaked at close to zero degrees.
You don't need to run the block heater continuously, but just enough to bring the water and block temp up a little bit. Use a timer to power up the block heater a few hours before you need to start the motor for your normal commute.
Don't anticipate having "instant" heat from your heater. Ideally, the block heater only needs to bring the block water temp up to 50-60 degrees to make it's beneficial impact upon starting the engine. If it's brought the water temp up to 100 degrees ... or more ... it's being used excessively. A thermostatically controlled block heater won't bring the temp up that high, and an in-block heating element is way oversized if it's bringing the temp up that high.
And if it shorts out your car burns up. Been there, done that! Luckily I had it under the carport next to the living room and heard a loud pop. Went to look and the whole passenger side of the engine compartment was in flames. Dude next door came over with the biggest fire extinguisher I've ever seen and put it out. If would have been in the detached garage.....
Fire department came and really soaked it down. Total loss.
I have an unused engine block heater in my garage. I am wondering if it would be worth installing on a gasoline engine? Or would it be better suited on a diesel engine?
I live in a climate that in the winter can get down to zero degrees, as it is right now 6 degrees Fahrenheit at 1 am.
A block heater for one engine won't necessarily fit in the next engine.
It sounds to me like you don't live in an extreme climate (temps getting to -10, etc.). That said, I'd suggest you might want to do a couple other things.
1. Make sure your battery is good.
2. Run lightweight (5W30) oil. Better yet, run full synthetic oil. It turns over more easily in extreme cold.
If your temps don't get below zero, you should be fine.
No it's not a freeze plug heater, it installs in line with the heater core hose.
I run 5W-30, not synthetic because it leaks oil.
New batt
It's been getting close to 0 F here and it may get even colder.
Gotcha.
Synthetic will definitely leak just a little more than dino.
I guess if it was me, I'd probably install it. It's not going to hurt anything, and if you already own it, what they heck. Just be sure to note whether it is supposed to be in the horizontal or vertical position.
And if it shorts out your car burns up. Been there, done that! Luckily I had it under the carport next to the living room and heard a loud pop. Went to look and the whole passenger side of the engine compartment was in flames. Dude next door came over with the biggest fire extinguisher I've ever seen and put it out. If would have been in the detached garage.....
Fire department came and really soaked it down. Total loss.
I'm in Virginia. It doesn't get as cold here as it gets in the north, although right now it's 15 degrees. I use an engine block heater in our Prius. Got it set up on a timer ... 3 hours on the EBH, and the Prius is ready to get good mileage right out of the garage.
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