Not an engine block heather

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Someone, Dec 16, 2009.

  1. Someone

    Someone Guest

    It might sound like a stupid question, but what do you call the thing
    you put in the pipe where the coolant circulates in order to warm up
    the whole engine?

    I know about engine block heater, but all it does is warm up the oil
    at teh bottom of teh engine. What I want and had some 20 years ago in
    a 240, was the heating element inserted in the pipe leading to teh
    radiator.

    Btw, it is for a 240 Also,any idea where I might be able to buy one
    of those things?

    Thanks
     
    Someone, Dec 16, 2009
    #1
  2. Someone

    Reed Guest

    Do a Google Search on
    Engine Tank Heater
     
    Reed, Dec 16, 2009
    #2
  3. Someone

    Reed Guest

    Actually what you asked for was
    lower radiator hose heater
    not sure about 240 volt
     
    Reed, Dec 16, 2009
    #3
  4. Someone

    James Sweet Guest


    Are you referring to a park heater? I've never seen one stateside, but I
    hear they're somewhat common in Europe and normally burn Diesel to warm
    up the engine. Seems like a good idea really, given all the people who
    let their cars idle for ages in the morning to defrost.
     
    James Sweet, Dec 16, 2009
    #4
  5. Someone

    Someone Guest

    Sorry for the confusion. No, I meant an electrical heating element
    inserted into the coolant pipe at the bottom of the radiator.

    After using my head a little bit, I figured it was called (or must be
    called) an engine coolant heater. Though it seems I cannot find one
    anywhere like what I used to have.
     
    Someone, Dec 16, 2009
    #5
  6. Someone

    Andy Guest

    : On Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:44:52 -0800, James Sweet
    :
    : >Someone wrote:
    : >> It might sound like a stupid question, but what do you call the thing
    : >> you put in the pipe where the coolant circulates in order to warm up
    : >> the whole engine?
    : >>
    : >> I know about engine block heater, but all it does is warm up the oil
    : >> at teh bottom of teh engine. What I want and had some 20 years ago in
    : >> a 240, was the heating element inserted in the pipe leading to teh
    : >> radiator.
    : >>
    : >> Btw, it is for a 240 Also,any idea where I might be able to buy one
    : >> of those things?
    : >>
    : >> Thanks
    : >
    : >
    : >Are you referring to a park heater? I've never seen one stateside, but I
    : >hear they're somewhat common in Europe and normally burn Diesel to warm
    : >up the engine. Seems like a good idea really, given all the people who
    : >let their cars idle for ages in the morning to defrost.
    :
    : Sorry for the confusion. No, I meant an electrical heating element
    : inserted into the coolant pipe at the bottom of the radiator.
    :
    : After using my head a little bit, I figured it was called (or must be
    : called) an engine coolant heater. Though it seems I cannot find one
    : anywhere like what I used to have.


    Hi James,

    Found this through Google:

    "Also what's a recommended brand if one were to go this route (inline
    coolant heater)? Which places would stock this stuff? I tried searching
    online for more info about these products but came up with nothing."

    "Partsource, Auto Value, NAPA, etc all stock them. They will be made by one
    of 2 companies, Pyroil or Temro. "

    Good Luck.
    Andy I. (Living in the Banana Belt of BC, Canada, I can manage
    without that gadget......)
     
    Andy, Dec 17, 2009
    #6
  7. I believe some Russians lit fires under the engine sump on the tractors ,
    THIS WAS MADE ILLEGAL guess why ?
     
    Jon Robertson, Dec 18, 2009
    #7
  8. Someone

    Perk Guest

    When we lived in Maine & Vermont they were often referred to as
    "percolators" since they were installed in the lower of the hoses and
    the heat would then convect upwards into the block etc.

    The light bulb underneath also works but I'd also put a blanket or such
    over the engine (or the hood if the car is inside) to retain the heat.

    Perk :)>)
     
    Perk, Dec 18, 2009
    #8
  9. In UK a firm called Kenlowe makes a heater which plugs into one of the water
    safety plugs between 5 & 6 cylinders on the right side of the engine. This
    has a connector under the bonnet (hood) which connects to the mains and just
    needs switching on for around 20 minutes before starting. The heater can be
    used to warm the interior of the car as soon as the car has started.
    Cheers, Peter.
     
    Peter K L Milnes, Dec 19, 2009
    #9
  10. Someone

    James Sweet Guest

    You can get those here too, they're called engine block heaters, which
    he specifically said in the subject is not what he's looking for.
     
    James Sweet, Dec 19, 2009
    #10
  11. Someone

    Tim McNamara Guest

    I think the OP was confused there- or at least his post was confusing-
    since engine block heaters (locally often called frost plug heaters)
    heat more than the oil in the oil pan. I wondered if he meant the
    magnetic ones that just stick on to the oil pan.

    Basically, as has been pointed out in this thread, there are three main
    types of engine heaters:

    1. Magnetic ones that stick on to the block temporarily and are
    intended to be removed before driving. They heat the metal of the
    engine at the point of contact.

    http://tinyurl.com/ybz895u

    2. Engine block heaters that replace one of the frost plugs and heat
    the coolant in the engine block.

    http://www.amazon.com/Kats-11621-Watt-Frost-Heater/dp/B000I8YP7I

    3. Tank heaters that are spliced into the radiator hose and heat the
    coolant.

    http://tinyurl.com/ycxdms6

    Maybe in the latter two cases, we should be talking about "warmant"
    instead of coolant. ;-) IMHO the OP was looking for #3.
     
    Tim McNamara, Dec 20, 2009
    #11
  12. Someone

    Henry Guest

    In the case of type 3, we might have to differentiate between 3A and 3B.
    :) You refer to the device which fits in the _radiator_ hose. I
    remember this from years ago. However, the gizmo to which your link
    points splices into the _heater_ hose. Different diameter.

    cheers,

    Henry
     
    Henry, Dec 20, 2009
    #12
  13. Someone

    Tim McNamara Guest

    Good point. There are several options among tank heaters. Some splice
    into a radiator hose, some into a heater hose and some use a tap into a
    frost plug.
     
    Tim McNamara, Dec 20, 2009
    #13
  14. Someone

    franz47 Guest

    Hose heater - that´s what they call it on the swedish company Calix´s website,
    they do also have it in UK English.
    http://www.calix.se/consumer/index.asp?lang=UK

    When I lived in northern Finland, in one of my cars, which did not have a block
    heating possibility, I put in one of these. Worked fine. I could plug it in on
    the parking area at work and at home, so low temps were never a problem.
    Franz47
     
    franz47, Dec 26, 2009
    #14
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