TIPS - Winter is on its way for North America (and Europe)

[80stech]

They work well, as heat rises, they use little power, and since your not heating the coolant a lot less heat escapes. Downside is that your not heating the coolant so vehicle takes just as long to warm up. Don't know if you would need one in Texas though!

[semcoinc]

Originally Posted by AV8R4AA

Do those heater work well?
I live in warmer climate, but interested in those heaters.
Seems like a good idea to pre warm the oil.

Yes, they work well in the deep freeze of Wisconsin when I am up there. Getting the X ready for a trip up there. I have an E46 in Wisconsin equipped with the trifecta of winter heating: engine oil pan, tranny oil pan and the BMW factory block heater that bolts to casting holes in the block. That OEM heater is about 300 watts and I only would use that when outside for an extended period of time near a plug.

But yeah, they do a good job of prepping the fluids to do their work and they also heat up the surrounding metal to some degree, helping the overall heating effort.



Mike

[80stech]

So that heater that bolts to the side is about 300 watts? Good to know, my X3 has one and I was wondering about that! Thanks

[semcoinc]

Yeah the factory bolt on block heater is 300W from what I remember from the literature in the package. If I can find pictures I will post them.

I remember thinking, man that is going to be a whopper electric bill if I put it on in my garage. so when garaged, I don't use it. But when outside at a hotel or other "free" plug area, I would use it

The heater fits the M52 6 cylinder engine.

Mike

[80stech]

Whopper electrical bill ?? The old standard freeze plug heater is about 850 watts and a lot of guys (including me) had one on each side of the old V8's ! The recirculating type heaters where 1200 to 1500 watts ! Then there where interior car warmers and battery blankets!! Good case for block heater timers

[semcoinc]

Originally Posted by 80stech

Whopper electrical bill ?? The old standard freeze plug heater is about 850 watts and a lot of guys (including me) had one on each side of the old V8's ! The recirculating type heaters where 1200 to 1500 watts ! Then there where interior car warmers and battery blankets!! Good case for block heater timers

Definitely out of my kWh league!

On another heater application that is a distance away from the house, I use a GSM switch box that I just text or call and it will close a relay and flow electricity to the plug

Something like this



Wireless Smartphone GSM Remote Control 3 Socket Power Outlet Smart Switch P9FC | eBay

Mike

[80stech]

Hey, I like that! going out to check the block heater timers sucks. Is that 2 way, does it verify that the power is on ??

[semcoinc]

Not sure what that particular unit can do. Some of them have an iPhone app written that can tell you the system status.

SW 1 On or Off

etc....

I believe they all have simple code that you can text to them and they will respond back with switch status (On or off)

Check out the app "switchbox"

Two that I know of and have used with a different box are written by:

Martin Pauly

and

Cheviot Hills

PS: The cheap Chinese switch box offering is 2G cellular, so a SIM card from T-Mobile is what I use. 3G/4G boxes are likely a bit more expensive.

Mike

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by AV8R4AA

Do those heater work well?
I live in warmer climate, but interested in those heaters.
Seems like a good idea to pre warm the oil.

Not necessary if you are using 5-30W synthetic oil.

For the very cold, long Northern winters I might go to 0-30W but wouldn't be imperative to add a heater even then. Only thing I ever did when living where I never will again was make sure my battery was in great shape and if I replaced the battery I looked for the battery with the highest cold cranking amps.

No downside, unless you do something that has the potential to cause a fire or drains the battery down enough so it might not start in a Texas summer.

[srmmmm]

Originally Posted by 80stech

Whopper electrical bill ?? The old standard freeze plug heater is about 850 watts and a lot of guys (including me) had one on each side of the old V8's ! The recirculating type heaters where 1200 to 1500 watts ! Then there where interior car warmers and battery blankets!! Good case for block heater timers

The higher wattage heaters are a lot more effective because they can overcome the heat sink effect of the pan and block. I had a 900 watt block heater in my Bonneville diesel that only needed to be plugged in for about 30 minutes to make a difference in having warm air out of the defroster at startup. I'd really be surprised if a 100 watt pad heater on the outside of the pan makes much difference in the starter amperage draw.

2002 X5 3.0 314,200 miles
2014 428i 24,100 miles

2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles

1970 Firebird - Under restoration