If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Those who know about Eng. Block Heater
Acura TL 2004
Had engine block heater installed a few days ago. Wanted to give it a test - 30F today I pluged in for an hour or so and started car. But temp needle was at bottom, idled for about 30 secs - no change. Turned heat on - no difference I could tell than w/o the heater. Isn't the needle supposed to NOT be at the bottom ? Basically I could tell no difference. This sounds right ? |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
"matelot" > wrote in message ... > Acura TL 2004 > Had engine block heater installed a few days ago. > Wanted to give it a test - 30F today I pluged in for an hour or so and > started car. > But temp needle was at bottom, idled for about 30 secs - no change. > > Turned heat on - no difference I could tell than w/o the heater. > > Isn't the needle supposed to NOT be at the bottom ? > Basically I could tell no difference. This sounds right ? Sounds fine to me. If you want the whole block warm enough to feel heat right away, you'll have to plug it in longer than an hour, especially with an air temp of -30. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
oh, no no
+30F not minus ! "Steve Bigelow" > wrote in message ... > > "matelot" > wrote in message > ... > > Acura TL 2004 > > Had engine block heater installed a few days ago. > > Wanted to give it a test - 30F today I pluged in for an hour or so and > > started car. > > But temp needle was at bottom, idled for about 30 secs - no change. > > > > Turned heat on - no difference I could tell than w/o the heater. > > > > Isn't the needle supposed to NOT be at the bottom ? > > Basically I could tell no difference. This sounds right ? > > Sounds fine to me. > > If you want the whole block warm enough to feel heat right away, you'll have > to plug it in longer than an hour, especially with an air temp of -30. > > |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
On Mon, 28 Feb 2005 18:46:09 -0500, "matelot" >
wrote: >oh, no no >+30F not minus ! At +30 you don't need a block heater. It's a waste of power to use one at temperatures above +10 F or so. No it won't warm the engine up enough that the temp guage will come up off the pin. Most temp guages only start to come off the pin at about +140 F If it's a warm car interior you're after, get a 115V car heater and a timer that will start the heater about an hour before you plan to use the car. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
matelot wrote:
> Acura TL 2004 > Had engine block heater installed a few days ago. > Wanted to give it a test - 30F today I pluged in for an hour or so and > started car. > But temp needle was at bottom, idled for about 30 secs - no change. > > Turned heat on - no difference I could tell than w/o the heater. > > Isn't the needle supposed to NOT be at the bottom ? > Basically I could tell no difference. This sounds right ? ----------------------------- If you could hear it 'cooking', it's working. Government of Canada concluded that plugging in more than three hours was a total waste. One or two hours at -30f is just right, or use a block heater 'economizer'thermostatic extension cord, which senses the temp and turns it off and on. +30f is shirt-sleeve weather, as far as your car is concerned. 'Curly' |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
I have had a few cars where running the block heater for 2 hours caused the temp guage to move ever so slightly, but most don't show it. How quickly the temp guage moves up the dial when you start driving is another matter. You should see a noticeable difference then, with normal temp achieved in a short period. As others have noted, using the block heater at +30F isn't all that beneficial. It will reduce fuel consumption and oil contamination slightly, since there will be a shorter time when fuel can condense on the cylinder walls. The colder it gets, the more help it is. At -40F, a block heater may allow the car to start when it otherwise wouldn't (most properly maintained cars will start at -40F) and will certainly reduce the load on the battery, starter and alternator, and improve lubrication on start-up. Dan (This account is not used for email.) "matelot" ) writes: > Acura TL 2004 > Had engine block heater installed a few days ago. > Wanted to give it a test - 30F today I pluged in for an hour or so and > started car. > But temp needle was at bottom, idled for about 30 secs - no change. > > Turned heat on - no difference I could tell than w/o the heater. > > Isn't the needle supposed to NOT be at the bottom ? > Basically I could tell no difference. This sounds right ? > > |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
|
#8
|
|||
|
|||
I had a bitch starting my truck at -17 with no block heater. Many people
also equate a car that started in cold weather as OK. A common thing is burning out the cam bearings on cold days with no block heater. The car started, the oil had pressure, but it was to thick to get up to the cam -- Stephen W. Hansen ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician ASE Undercar Specialist "Dan Beaton" > wrote in message ... > > I have had a few cars where running the block heater for 2 hours > caused the temp guage to move ever so slightly, but most don't show > it. How quickly the temp guage moves up the dial when you start > driving is another matter. You should see a noticeable difference then, > with normal temp achieved in a short period. > > As others have noted, using the block heater at +30F isn't all that > beneficial. It will reduce fuel consumption and oil contamination > slightly, since there will be a shorter time when fuel can condense > on the cylinder walls. The colder it gets, the more help it is. > At -40F, a block heater may allow the car to start when it otherwise > wouldn't (most properly maintained cars will start at -40F) and will > certainly reduce the load on the battery, starter and alternator, > and improve lubrication on start-up. > > Dan > > (This account is not used for email.) > > > "matelot" ) writes: >> Acura TL 2004 >> Had engine block heater installed a few days ago. >> Wanted to give it a test - 30F today I pluged in for an hour or so and >> started car. >> But temp needle was at bottom, idled for about 30 secs - no change. >> >> Turned heat on - no difference I could tell than w/o the heater. >> >> Isn't the needle supposed to NOT be at the bottom ? >> Basically I could tell no difference. This sounds right ? >> >> > |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
|
#10
|
|||
|
|||
A block heater isn't meant to give you heat faster. It's job is to keep the
oil in the engine warm so it lubricates better on a cold start. Your temp gauge measures the temp of the engine coolant, which is also used to heat through your heater core. Block heaters don't heat that water. It has to be heated by the running engine, so a block heater won't help you there. It's only purpose is to save wear and tear on the engine at start up. "matelot" > wrote in message ... > Acura TL 2004 > Had engine block heater installed a few days ago. > Wanted to give it a test - 30F today I pluged in for an hour or so and > started car. > But temp needle was at bottom, idled for about 30 secs - no change. > > Turned heat on - no difference I could tell than w/o the heater. > > Isn't the needle supposed to NOT be at the bottom ? > Basically I could tell no difference. This sounds right ? > > |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Crappy undersized wire in overpriced Saturn block heater | private | Saturn | 7 | March 5th 05 06:01 AM |
Fricken Cold!-wireless block heater? | FrankW | Jeep | 25 | January 20th 05 10:14 PM |
wtb: block heater for 93 Accord EX-R | monkey cow moon | Honda | 2 | November 25th 04 09:51 PM |