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Although be prepared for it to be swiped in a parking lot lol had it happen a couple times even had it removed when it was plugged into a post. Get into a habit of when you start your car to warm it up unplug it before going back inside and keep an extra one in the car just in case has saved me a few cords.
@mrdave777 I am from Canada and after many winters this year I found out to jiggle your key a AND your steering wheel AND your shifter if your ignition cylinder won't turn in -40°C.
This video is very informational. Easy to understand for someone who doesn’t know anything about cars. My car didn’t start today due to extreme cold weather condition so I will now get a block heater. Thank you!
Thanks so much for the kind feedback. It lets us know we are doing it right. We're always happy our videos are useful. Please subscribe and share our videos to help others. We appreciate the support.
I designed a block heater cord for one of my buddies in 1986, that had the same function as your tester, built into the cord end - It had about $5 in parts.
The block heater plug does Not charge the battery at all. If you need to charge your 12V battery in your vehicle then buy a charger for that. We have a video on car battery chargers too so check that out on our channel too.
Block heaters primarily heat up the coolant, not the engine oil. The oil may get slightly warmer but if that's a concern get an oil pan or oil heater too.
I am in Canada,had a 2001 Chevy Venture for 4 years.Plugged it in when cold temperatures -30,-40.When it got to -50 one year wouldnt start.Took to mechanic and was told the plug was not working,so for years at -40 started ok without plug working.
If it’s that cold where u live it’s a good idea to have a battery maintainer/trickle charger that will help the battery from freezing they also have battery heaters.
I am currently looking to instal a battery trickle on my truck can i join the two cords into 1? block heater and battery trickle? so that i only have 1 3 prong to connect? or should i keep seperate so that block heater can be on a timer and battery can be on all the time?... thinking about it thats probably better. dont need block heater to be on all the time.
You're welcome. Glad it provided some new information to you! And thank you for taking the time to provide feedback. It let's us know that our videos are useful and encourages us to make more.
I use a heating pad ( Polar Pad ) to heat oil in oil pan under engine can DIY easily vary in size dependent on size of oil pan bottom surface and wattage of pad you need .
Heck, any time it gets below +40G, I plug my diesel in. I plug it in every night, with a timer. Keeps the car wear down, even though it's not really standard practice
Remember to actually use that block heater you'll need access to a plug. I generally don't and most newer cards will start fine anyways. I was debating getting a block heater but will go against, despite driving in -30 to -40C weather because I would never have access to power in the locations I'll be in.
Yeah most new cars also use synthetic oil which helps. With cold starts that's where you get the most damage to the engine. It's too bad you don't have access to a plug outlet. Hopefully you are using synthetic too.
In my experience, the block heater is not something they typically advertise as it's not a feature that gets people to buy a car. Horsepower, tech features, etc... Are features that they would publish as it gets people in the showroom. Dealerships may advertise this if they feel that is something people really want in a car.
my 09 ML550 doesn’t have a block heater. i get anxiety everytime i have to start it up in this -15/-20 degree weather. i guess because it’s considered “sport” it doesn’t have one and i’m unsure if i could even get one installed. thanks for all the info you’ve shared
I haven't heard of any instances of fires. If the block heater you are referring to is the ones installed by the manufacturer then those are very safe.
It dosnt heat the coolant the coolant can operate under extreme cold just fine it keeps the oil warm so when you start the vehicle up it’s not so hard on the engine and the oil pump. Starter will thank you too
The magnetic heaters are not meant to be installed permanently. If you want something more permanent try the silicone pad heaters that I linked to in the video description.
How long to leave it plugged in depends on several things. How cold it is outside, how many watts is your block heater, whether your block heater has a thermostat on it or not, if you are concerned with environment/cost and if you have gas or diesel. There are other factors but i won't cover that. If it's really cold outside like below -10 you will likely need at least a couple hours. The colder the more hours needed so add to that. The wattage of your block heater will also determine how fast it is able to heat the engine block. Since every engine and heater design, size, etc... is different it will be hard to generalize based on the wattage number alone. Also some block heaters have a thermostat that turns on the block heater at a certain temperature, like at -10 and lower for example. This could change the time you need. If you have issue with environmental costs or cost of using too much money for using the block heater then you won't want to leave it plugged in all night. Using a timer can help. If you have a diesel engine that will change things and you might need more time. You would have to look into this further. To keep it simple, 4 hours (use a timer) and up is practical as a starting point. If you want, test it out on your own car to see what works best. In the morning, after using block heater for N number of hours, before you head out you can pop the hood to feel how warm you engine is or use one of those infrared thermometers. This way you can fine tune if you want to get that detailed. One last note... If using public plug outlets (like at apartment complexes), some are timered so you may need to find out what the schedule is. Hope this helps and isn't too confusing.
In extreme cold (think Calgary in the winter) it MUST BE LEFT BLOCKED IN OVERNIGHT or you risk destroyed your engine. Block heaters are designed to keep water jacket fluids at few degrees above freezing. Once heater stops, your engine will quickly cool and water can freeze in a few hours. If it freezes, the ice expansion will crack engine block which is a total unrepairable loss of engine.
May I make a suggestion keep your breaker off in your home to the outside plug in that you plug your car into keep it turned off up until 3 hours prior to you needing to leave to go out when it's really really cold trust me you save on a lot of electricity and make sure you turn it back off just get into a habit of it trust me it works
3 hours is the maximum duration based on an engineering study from the University of Saskatchewan. After that the you reach equilibrium and the engine won't get any hotter
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My 40 year truck doesn’t like starting in 60 degree weather and it take a while to warm up and I have to start it many times before it runs longer than a few seconds so I thought if I had the heater I wouldn’t have to wake up earlier for school to wait for it to warm up
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Some block heaters do no turn on until the temp goes below a certain temperature so you may need to determine if that is your case. Question for you would be how did you know that the element got hot? Lastly, the temp gauge measures the coolant temperature.Depending on how long you've plugged in your car, the coolant may not have been heated by the engine block yet or by much.
Here are some links to purchase them. KATS Magnetic Heater (200W): amzn.to/382M2pm KATS Magnetic Heater (300W): amzn.to/2OLZm9T FYI... These are affiliate links where we may make a small commission for qualifying purchases.
I have a 2008 Dodge Dakota with a V8 that I bought brand new 13 years ago and I have never plugged it in even once. And it has started immediately without issue every time, even in -50 weather. Someone told me if I plug it in once it will need to be plugged in every time afterward. I use Royal Purple Synthetic
That's pretty impressive @ -50°C. Synthetic oils are the way to go. Though aren't you concerned about cold start wear and tear on the engine? Even at -50°C synthetic oils will get thicker. As for using it once and having to use it everytime afterwards, that doesn't make sense. It's not like it changes anything in the engine that makes using block heaters necessary from then onwards.
I live in Calgary/Canada I have only experienced -50c(No windchill) one time in Saskatoon Saskatchewan mid/late 1990s. Only warm blooded animals(Humans included) are effected by windchill. Gas/deisel/jet engines are not effected by windchill including the fuel they are burning. Think about this for one second a jet plane flying at 40,000 feet even in the summer its -30c to -50c at that altitude so a plane flying at 600 miles per hour windchill wold be off the charts almost at absolute zero.
It looks like the lows there only get to about -7 degrees Celsius. If that's true then you don't necessarily need a block heater in that case. Using synthetic oil will be good though not really necessary in this case. If it gets below -10 and lower you may consider getting one. This will help prevent engine wear on cold starts and also get you heat out faster to the vents.
I'd say if it's colder than minus 20 Celsius or about minus 4 Fahrenheit over night or more than 8 hours I'd use a block heater on any vehicle or keep it inside most of the stuff I drive is older from 80s and 90s
Thanks for your feedback. I checked the video and I did mention it heated the coolant. This was at around 1:05. There might be some confusion because I mentioned that the oil was still cold after several of minutes idling. I probably should have been more clear that the coolant would be heated and this would heat the whole block and help heat the oil up too.
It does heat the oil though too. Because the engine block is in an enclosed space, this traps the heat. Your average block heater in -15F or -26C weather will cause the entire engine compartment to become nearly room temperature. I don't think it was mentioned in the video, but this is why you don't actually want to use one if its warmer than -15F, and why using a timer is a good idea even if you're not worried about saving on electricity $.
It will depend on how cold it is outside and on your particular vehicle. But generally 2 - 4 hours is a good start. You can adjust as you start doing it. Add/remove time as necessary.
@@FrakkingCreations How much power would it consume? I have a portable battery, Jackery 200W, and wondering if that would work to power up the heater - Or do I need a larger battery? (I have a camper, so I cant rely on plugging into a home)
@Michael Frymus you will have to check with the dealership parts department. They would probably be able to tell you how much wattage they are. 200W seems a little low though as I believe they are usually higher than that. Also check that you battery can sustain that much output for long enough. Some may only list the max peak output which cannot be sustained for long. And if you need to plugin for several hours, does you battery have enough reserve power to last that long?
You will need an extension cord if you have one long enough to reach a plug. Otherwise without a plug it may not be possible. Only other thing i could think of is a 12v inverter that has high enough wattage rating to power the specific block heater. That may be used in an emergency situation but I haven't tried it before. And usually when you need several hundred watts, you will need to connect the inverter directly to the car battery and not to the 12v outlet. You will also need to have the car with the battery turned on.
They can work if you get one that can supply enough wattage to your block heater in an emergency situation. Block heaters vary in wattage requirements and range in the hundreds of Watts and up. Make sure to get a power station that can output enough power/wattage with room to spare and also with enough capacity for you to keep it running the block heater for long enough. Hope that helps.
... you can heat up your car from underneath with a small fire in a can, using fuel oil or something similar, or with a camping stove (the portable kind), or use propane with a BenzOmatic torch adapter 😆 ...just be careful where you point the torch at, only in the direction of Steel 🤔
That's good. If they're honest they won't overcharge. I think it's more likely they overcharge when you buy a car from them and they add it as an option. Thanks for sharing.
Frakking Creations I love Toyota dealership, it’s the one in anchorage Alaska too. Probally the best and most honest dealership I’ve been too. I paid cash for one car and they didn’t up charge me they just sold me the car.
There are battery powered inverters out there that can supply AC power that may work to power a block heater, though i haven't tried. You would have to make sure that max output is able to support the power draw of the block heater and that the capacity of the battery is large enough to be able to power the block heater for long enough to heat the engine block.
are you asking if it is needed for -25 to -35 °C? I do think it is needed at that temp even if you use synthetic. though the newer cars will likely be able to start in those Temps with synthetic oil, the first few minutes will cause more wear and tear on your engine.
That's good to know. If your dealership isn't trying to ripe you off the won't charge too much. I find that when you are buying a car from them the Options like block heaters can be overly inflated to get as much $$$ out of you.
@@FrakkingCreations At some point in the video you said you need some special tool to know if the engine is heating; a 400W draw is damn sure heating something at least.
What I don't understand is the empirical evidence showing the benefit or detriment of a block heater. There are 2 detriments in my mind that I wish I could test. 1) the engine is warmer for longer and the oil that typically sticks to the metal surfaces now drips down to the pan and the engine is actually less lubricated for the first 5 seconds 2) the block heater unevenly warms the engine, thus cylinder 3 (or etc.) becomes slightly oddly shaped to the 5/1000th of an inch. Repeated starting causes 2psi to 5psi loss in a specific cylinder whereas without the block heater the uneven heating would not otherwise occur block heater advantages 1) warmer oil faster 2) melts snow / ice on windshield 3) increased mpg due to less warm up process (where the car shoves in tons of fuel)
What are you talking about? Engines go through temperature cycles from 0 to around 200F every time you drive them. How is bringing the engine's internal temperature to room temperature with a heating element different from letting it sit in a warm summer day???
Option installed for only $500 easy way to find out, dealership parts department that's what I did and found out that the car was interested in chatting with cheaters from $40 to $70 depending on the make and model of the vehicle how do we know if our block heater is working for check to make sure our block heater is functioning properly first check that the cord is in good condition and not greater than need to be replaced the nightlight the outlets and extension cord connected to and two if a block heater is going in car comes out just plug in the block heater then wait and listen to hear a sound similar to what the electrical noise sounds like the liquid starting to boil and sometimes something as a metal in the engine block start sticks band Panini have it all you need to know about engine block heater watching the end of a video start
In the province I live in rates for electricity range from 5.11 to 9.28 cents per kilowatt hour. The cars in my video had block heaters that ranged from about 330 to 450 watts. Assuming worst case of 10 cents per kilowatt hour and 500 watt block heater it would work out to about 5 cents per hour.
Turn your breaker off inside your home and only turn it on for 3 hours to warm up your vehicle then shut the breaker back off when not in use so that nobody from the outside can seal your electricity by plugging in their vehicle I've been doing this for probably 30 years and it works you do not need any more than 3 hours usually I do it for 2 hours but I'll say 3 hours if it's extremely cold and I mean minus 30 and colder
I talked about how it works and what it heats. I showed how to plug it in, where some are installed and also how to know if it's working, etc... It's kind of hard to show it heating the engine as i don't have a cross section cutout of an engine to use for demo.
Yeah, you really have to know how much things are worth to not get screwed when buying a new car. Sales people will definitely take advantage of you if you let them.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
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omfg just show us how to install the goddamm heater ffs you keep speaking without showing or saying anything
Pro tip: hang your extension cord over your drivers mirror so you remember to unplug it, and don't drive away with it plugged in.
That's a good idea. Thank you for sharing.
Although be prepared for it to be swiped in a parking lot lol had it happen a couple times even had it removed when it was plugged into a post. Get into a habit of when you start your car to warm it up unplug it before going back inside and keep an extra one in the car just in case has saved me a few cords.
Good point. Hate it when people steal others things.
This will probably help me I'm not used to a block heater
@@Panda-od9uj Have the wiring secured through the engine bay, then. Not that it can't stop them from cutting the cord, though.
My cars from Texas and recently drove it up north to visit my parents place and man did I learn a bunch of things the hard way lmao
Please share.
@mrdave777 I am from Canada and after many winters this year I found out to jiggle your key a
AND your steering wheel AND your shifter if your ignition cylinder won't turn in -40°C.
This video is very informational. Easy to understand for someone who doesn’t know anything about cars. My car didn’t start today due to extreme cold weather condition so I will now get a block heater. Thank you!
Thanks so much for the kind feedback. It lets us know we are doing it right. We're always happy our videos are useful.
Please subscribe and share our videos to help others. We appreciate the support.
I designed a block heater cord for one of my buddies in 1986, that had the same function as your tester, built into the cord end - It had about $5 in parts.
block heaters are great for northern climates. They can preserve the life of the engine as well. Very simple idea and very effective.
Agreed 👍
Im in florida and i bought a Canadian truck lol i didnt kno what that plug was for !!! THANK YOU
LOL. You're welcome!
How did you end up buying truck from Canada?? And did you paid extra or something
Jack Black from the dealership it was a fleet truck very low miles
@@Therefrieddreamz i find them cheaper if theyre from mountain states, except colorado.
Electric truck
does the block heater plug on the car charge the 12v battery as well? or should i buy a separate trickle charger?
The block heater plug does Not charge the battery at all. If you need to charge your 12V battery in your vehicle then buy a charger for that.
We have a video on car battery chargers too so check that out on our channel too.
Block heaters primarily heat up the coolant, not the engine oil. The oil may get slightly warmer but if that's a concern get an oil pan or oil heater too.
Wire em to the same plug
Synthetic oil makes these less effective than a block heater I would imagine.
@@cptstubing If you're trying to increase your fuel economy on a cheapie, these still are a benefit. Not a huge amount, but the benefit is present.
I am in Canada,had a 2001 Chevy Venture for 4 years.Plugged it in when cold temperatures -30,-40.When it got to -50 one year wouldnt start.Took to mechanic and was told the plug was not working,so for years at -40 started ok without plug working.
Maybe. The plug failed recently? Did you not notice the coolant temp being too low on start up?
If it’s that cold where u live it’s a good idea to have a battery maintainer/trickle charger that will help the battery from freezing they also have battery heaters.
Good tip. Thanks for sharing!
I am currently looking to instal a battery trickle on my truck can i join the two cords into 1? block heater and battery trickle? so that i only have 1 3 prong to connect? or should i keep seperate so that block heater can be on a timer and battery can be on all the time?... thinking about it thats probably better. dont need block heater to be on all the time.
That was very informative thank you the things that I did not know
You're welcome. Glad it provided some new information to you! And thank you for taking the time to provide feedback. It let's us know that our videos are useful and encourages us to make more.
I use a heating pad ( Polar Pad ) to heat oil in oil pan under engine can DIY easily vary in size dependent on size of oil pan bottom surface and wattage of pad you need .
Thanks for sharing.
Heck, any time it gets below +40G, I plug my diesel in. I plug it in every night, with a timer. Keeps the car wear down, even though it's not really standard practice
Remember to actually use that block heater you'll need access to a plug. I generally don't and most newer cards will start fine anyways. I was debating getting a block heater but will go against, despite driving in -30 to -40C weather because I would never have access to power in the locations I'll be in.
Yeah most new cars also use synthetic oil which helps. With cold starts that's where you get the most damage to the engine. It's too bad you don't have access to a plug outlet. Hopefully you are using synthetic too.
What about using some alternative energy source?
It like asking are warm clothes important in cold temperatures.
Not so much if your like Wim Hof
@@Dor_alien ..lol..
@@zorans5200
@zOran chchruSt me- theyyre impoRtint!!😬🤐⚠️
I plug in for 10 min even when its a warm 0 C. Engine requires less fuel to warm-up.
Just wondering the car manufacturer doesn't publish the list of features the car comes pre-installed ?
In my experience, the block heater is not something they typically advertise as it's not a feature that gets people to buy a car. Horsepower, tech features, etc... Are features that they would publish as it gets people in the showroom. Dealerships may advertise this if they feel that is something people really want in a car.
I just bought a block heater, do i need to just install it or do i need to put some tread tape on it?
my 09 ML550 doesn’t have a block heater. i get anxiety everytime i have to start it up in this -15/-20 degree weather. i guess because it’s considered “sport” it doesn’t have one and i’m unsure if i could even get one installed. thanks for all the info you’ve shared
You're welcome.
So the dealership was able to confirm that it doesn't have one already?
was there any issue where in block heater caused fire in engine, any other good practices? thanks
I haven't heard of any instances of fires. If the block heater you are referring to is the ones installed by the manufacturer then those are very safe.
Plugged my cable in but didn't hear a thing, even after 10min. No noise as of it was on. And I don't have access to a tester. 😩
Hey man! Can u tell me whether mercedes c300 2016 model have block heater and how can i find it
I'm not sure. It would depend on your country and dealership. Best to call the parts department and ask.
It dosnt heat the coolant the coolant can operate under extreme cold just fine it keeps the oil warm so when you start the vehicle up it’s not so hard on the engine and the oil pump. Starter will thank you too
thnx Ryan
It looks like the heating element is installed where a freeze plug is which would heat coolant not oil
@@thaton3guy100 yea maybe a little but it’s mostly there to help the oil
They have both oil heaters and coolant heaters..
Do it yourself inline coolant heaters are very popular
The most common type of block heaters heat up the coolant which will indirectly heat up the oil
But where am i gonna get the power outlet in my apartment parking lot? :(
No plugs at all by the stalls?
Some people run a long extension from the building.
How strong are the magnetic heaters? I don't want the thing falling off when I hit a bump.
The magnetic heaters are not meant to be installed permanently. If you want something more permanent try the silicone pad heaters that I linked to in the video description.
Thanks for the magnetic heater tip
You're welcome. Thanks for commenting!
How long should you leave it plugged in? Is it ok to leave it plugged in overnight?
How long to leave it plugged in depends on several things. How cold it is outside, how many watts is your block heater, whether your block heater has a thermostat on it or not, if you are concerned with environment/cost and if you have gas or diesel. There are other factors but i won't cover that.
If it's really cold outside like below -10 you will likely need at least a couple hours. The colder the more hours needed so add to that. The wattage of your block heater will also determine how fast it is able to heat the engine block. Since every engine and heater design, size, etc... is different it will be hard to generalize based on the wattage number alone. Also some block heaters have a thermostat that turns on the block heater at a certain temperature, like at -10 and lower for example. This could change the time you need. If you have issue with environmental costs or cost of using too much money for using the block heater then you won't want to leave it plugged in all night. Using a timer can help. If you have a diesel engine that will change things and you might need more time. You would have to look into this further.
To keep it simple, 4 hours (use a timer) and up is practical as a starting point. If you want, test it out on your own car to see what works best. In the morning, after using block heater for N number of hours, before you head out you can pop the hood to feel how warm you engine is or use one of those infrared thermometers. This way you can fine tune if you want to get that detailed.
One last note... If using public plug outlets (like at apartment complexes), some are timered so you may need to find out what the schedule is.
Hope this helps and isn't too confusing.
You can leave it for days it doesn't matter.
Does it use a lot of power? And should I just plug it in a few hours before I use it instead of leaving it plugged in all the time?
In extreme cold (think Calgary in the winter) it MUST BE LEFT BLOCKED IN OVERNIGHT or you risk destroyed your engine. Block heaters are designed to keep water jacket fluids at few degrees above freezing. Once heater stops, your engine will quickly cool and water can freeze in a few hours. If it freezes, the ice expansion will crack engine block which is a total unrepairable loss of engine.
@@chrismiles6010 heard about antifreeze?
May I make a suggestion keep your breaker off in your home to the outside plug in that you plug your car into keep it turned off up until 3 hours prior to you needing to leave to go out when it's really really cold trust me you save on a lot of electricity and make sure you turn it back off just get into a habit of it trust me it works
@@chrismiles6010 hey Chris how are you it's colder here in Edmonton we got minus 29 and an extreme cold warning it's been like this for about 2 weeks
3 hours is the maximum duration based on an engineering study from the University of Saskatchewan. After that the you reach equilibrium and the engine won't get any hotter
Kudos! Very informative!
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My 40 year truck doesn’t like starting in 60 degree weather and it take a while to warm up and I have to start it many times before it runs longer than a few seconds so I thought if I had the heater I wouldn’t have to wake up earlier for school to wait for it to warm up
Thanks! Good content!
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I cannot hear my block heater running. The element is hot and cord works (tested). Temp guage doesn't indicate any temp above cold. Suggestions?
Some block heaters do no turn on until the temp goes below a certain temperature so you may need to determine if that is your case.
Question for you would be how did you know that the element got hot?
Lastly, the temp gauge measures the coolant temperature.Depending on how long you've plugged in your car, the coolant may not have been heated by the engine block yet or by much.
Thanks for the video.
You're welcome. Thanks for commenting!
where can i find a glow plug heater heater?
the first place to check would be a dealership of the make for your car. then you can also check sites out like rockauto.com
Where can I get a magnetic heater, is there a special brand for that?
Simon
Here are some links to purchase them.
KATS Magnetic Heater (200W): amzn.to/382M2pm
KATS Magnetic Heater (300W): amzn.to/2OLZm9T
FYI... These are affiliate links where we may make a small commission for qualifying purchases.
Amazing it worked,, thanks so much
Which part worked?
I have a 2008 Dodge Dakota with a V8 that I bought brand new 13 years ago and I have never plugged it in even once. And it has started immediately without issue every time, even in -50 weather. Someone told me if I plug it in once it will need to be plugged in every time afterward. I use Royal Purple Synthetic
That's pretty impressive @ -50°C. Synthetic oils are the way to go. Though aren't you concerned about cold start wear and tear on the engine? Even at -50°C synthetic oils will get thicker.
As for using it once and having to use it everytime afterwards, that doesn't make sense. It's not like it changes anything in the engine that makes using block heaters necessary from then onwards.
I had a Dodge Dakota myself that was 2008 with a V8 in it man that was a good truck
I live in Calgary/Canada I have only experienced -50c(No windchill) one time in Saskatoon Saskatchewan mid/late 1990s. Only warm blooded animals(Humans included) are effected by windchill. Gas/deisel/jet engines are not effected by windchill including the fuel they are burning. Think about this for one second a jet plane flying at 40,000 feet even in the summer its -30c to -50c at that altitude so a plane flying at 600 miles per hour windchill wold be off the charts almost at absolute zero.
@@FrakkingCreations He is talking windchill, Windchill does not effect gas/diesel/jet engines.
Brilliant. Thanks
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I’m from Florida, I will be moving to Pennsylvania do I need a block heater ?
It looks like the lows there only get to about -7 degrees Celsius. If that's true then you don't necessarily need a block heater in that case. Using synthetic oil will be good though not really necessary in this case. If it gets below -10 and lower you may consider getting one. This will help prevent engine wear on cold starts and also get you heat out faster to the vents.
@@FrakkingCreations thank you
Np!
Excellent video and great tips.
Thanks.
-
Salaam to you and to all.
Thank you for your comment. We love when our videos are helpful. If you don't mind sharing it with others it may help, that would be appreciated!
@@FrakkingCreations Sure thing :)
Wait, Salaam? Why are you watching this if you live in a desert?
I'd say if it's colder than minus 20 Celsius or about minus 4 Fahrenheit over night or more than 8 hours I'd use a block heater on any vehicle or keep it inside most of the stuff I drive is older from 80s and 90s
Thank you for posting this video. I found it to be very helpful.
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Here's something you missed block heaters don't heat up the engine oil it keeps the engine coolant warm not the oil.
Thanks for your feedback. I checked the video and I did mention it heated the coolant. This was at around 1:05. There might be some confusion because I mentioned that the oil was still cold after several of minutes idling. I probably should have been more clear that the coolant would be heated and this would heat the whole block and help heat the oil up too.
It does heat the oil though too. Because the engine block is in an enclosed space, this traps the heat.
Your average block heater in -15F or -26C weather will cause the entire engine compartment to become nearly room temperature. I don't think it was mentioned in the video, but this is why you don't actually want to use one if its warmer than -15F, and why using a timer is a good idea even if you're not worried about saving on electricity $.
@@supurfluus7028 so you realize how cold -15F is.. lol. Believe me you need a BH anything below 5 or 10F imo
Just so everybody knows - I think he mentioned that it was -15 degC which is about 5 degF
How long does it need to be plugged in for?
It will depend on how cold it is outside and on your particular vehicle. But generally 2 - 4 hours is a good start. You can adjust as you start doing it. Add/remove time as necessary.
@@FrakkingCreations How much power would it consume? I have a portable battery, Jackery 200W, and wondering if that would work to power up the heater - Or do I need a larger battery? (I have a camper, so I cant rely on plugging into a home)
@@michaelfrymus Block heaters work on 120VAC.
@@paulmoffat9306 yeah, but that doesn't answer the question..
@Michael Frymus you will have to check with the dealership parts department. They would probably be able to tell you how much wattage they are. 200W seems a little low though as I believe they are usually higher than that.
Also check that you battery can sustain that much output for long enough. Some may only list the max peak output which cannot be sustained for long. And if you need to plugin for several hours, does you battery have enough reserve power to last that long?
Not a fan of the heating element type. I prefer a radiator hose type. The heating element creates a hot spot on the block, which isn’t ideal.
Thanks for sharing.
How does a radiator hose type work?
-25C is the rule of thumb I've always understood for a block heater. 5W oil is rated to flow at -35C, 0W is -40C. And, yes, $500 is way too much.
How to plug a block heater when no electrical outlet nearby ?
You will need an extension cord if you have one long enough to reach a plug. Otherwise without a plug it may not be possible.
Only other thing i could think of is a 12v inverter that has high enough wattage rating to power the specific block heater. That may be used in an emergency situation but I haven't tried it before.
And usually when you need several hundred watts, you will need to connect the inverter directly to the car battery and not to the 12v outlet. You will also need to have the car with the battery turned on.
@@FrakkingCreations what about Power Stations Like Jackery and Rockpals ?
@@FrakkingCreations what about Power Stations like Jackery and Rockpals, would they supply enough power ?
They can work if you get one that can supply enough wattage to your block heater in an emergency situation. Block heaters vary in wattage requirements and range in the hundreds of Watts and up. Make sure to get a power station that can output enough power/wattage with room to spare and also with enough capacity for you to keep it running the block heater for long enough.
Hope that helps.
... you can heat up your car from underneath with a small fire in a can, using fuel oil or something similar, or with a camping stove (the portable kind), or use propane with a BenzOmatic torch adapter 😆
...just be careful where you point the torch at, only in the direction of Steel 🤔
Next dealership will sell extra warm blanket for your engine for 299.99
If they can get away with it, i wouldn't doubt it.
My block heater cord and installment cost me 80$ at the dealership. My new car never came with a block heater cord
That's good. If they're honest they won't overcharge. I think it's more likely they overcharge when you buy a car from them and they add it as an option.
Thanks for sharing.
Frakking Creations I love Toyota dealership, it’s the one in anchorage Alaska too. Probally the best and most honest dealership I’ve been too. I paid cash for one car and they didn’t up charge me they just sold me the car.
If it has continuity, it will work.
continuity means a dead short. You need to measure a restive load. I think that is what you meant is resistance equals a heat source. Good point
Why did you show a motorcycle battery?
What scene did you see a motorcycle battery?
@@FrakkingCreationsAt the 1:51 minute mark.
It's just a picture of a battery that I was using.
@@FrakkingCreations Because of the image misrepresentation, I don't trust your information.
It's your choice to make.
ah. so one still needs a power outlet for this to work! no luck for those of us without a garage i guess :S
There are battery powered inverters out there that can supply AC power that may work to power a block heater, though i haven't tried. You would have to make sure that max output is able to support the power draw of the block heater and that the capacity of the battery is large enough to be able to power the block heater for long enough to heat the engine block.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks for commenting. Please like and share the video with anyone else that would enjoy it.
For a few years I lived in North Dakota (oh joy) and if I remember correctly you're required (by law?) to have a block heater.
Oh wow. What's the rationale behind that? I can see why they require people to get winter tires but why for block heaters?
There's no such law as that
And then everybody clapped.
Most have heated garage. Block heaters are common.
What about -25 ti -35 Celsius
are you asking if it is needed for -25 to -35 °C?
I do think it is needed at that temp even if you use synthetic. though the newer cars will likely be able to start in those Temps with synthetic oil, the first few minutes will cause more wear and tear on your engine.
I live in an apartment with no external plug ins. This is useless to me.
That's too bad.
😢
Move lol
Two AA batteries buddy, sorted.
That's why u use a lighter oil. 0w 20
Just went through a morning of complete BS I hate Winnipeg the winters here are unbearable wish I lived in California.
Sorry to hear that. Hope you were able to get through it.
I think on Fords it's a 90$ option
That's good to know. If your dealership isn't trying to ripe you off the won't charge too much. I find that when you are buying a car from them the Options like block heaters can be overly inflated to get as much $$$ out of you.
Mate, the draw will not be 400W unless it's heating something.
Can you clarify what you are saying as I didn't think I was implying otherwise.
@@FrakkingCreations At some point in the video you said you need some special tool to know if the engine is heating; a 400W draw is damn sure heating something at least.
What I don't understand is the empirical evidence showing the benefit or detriment of a block heater. There are 2 detriments in my mind that I wish I could test.
1) the engine is warmer for longer and the oil that typically sticks to the metal surfaces now drips down to the pan and the engine is actually less lubricated for the first 5 seconds
2) the block heater unevenly warms the engine, thus cylinder 3 (or etc.) becomes slightly oddly shaped to the 5/1000th of an inch. Repeated starting causes 2psi to 5psi loss in a specific cylinder whereas without the block heater the uneven heating would not otherwise occur
block heater advantages
1) warmer oil faster
2) melts snow / ice on windshield
3) increased mpg due to less warm up process (where the car shoves in tons of fuel)
What are you talking about? Engines go through temperature cycles from 0 to around 200F every time you drive them. How is bringing the engine's internal temperature to room temperature with a heating element different from letting it sit in a warm summer day???
ööööööööööö motor oil pitää olla juoksevaa ei siinä block heateri paljo auta jos öljy on jäykkää kuin hunaja
Lohkolämmitin tietysti auttaa. Sen on tarkoitus lämmittää öljyä, jotta se voi olla vähemmän viskoosia (juoksevaa) lämpimämmässä lämpötilassa.
... a propane torch to the engine oil pan can fix that problem in 10 minutes or less 🤔
Toisen maailmansodan aikana Venäjällä saksalaaset piti nuotiota panssarivaunujen öljypohjien alla lämmittääksen öljyn siinä on myös hyvä idea
Mielenkiintoista. Kiitos jakamisesta
mine dealership took off just found the cord hanging
Hopefully you don’t need it where you live.
Tell them you like hot water? Well same thing in water tank at home
5:00
*Sad deaf noises*
Option installed for only $500 easy way to find out, dealership parts department that's what I did and found out that the car was interested in chatting with cheaters from $40 to $70 depending on the make and model of the vehicle how do we know if our block heater is working for check to make sure our block heater is functioning properly first check that the cord is in good condition and not greater than need to be replaced the nightlight the outlets and extension cord connected to and two if a block heater is going in car comes out just plug in the block heater then wait and listen to hear a sound similar to what the electrical noise sounds like the liquid starting to boil and sometimes something as a metal in the engine block start sticks band Panini have it all you need to know about engine block heater watching the end of a video start
Twisting the camera all around was nothing but cunfusing.
Thanks for the feedback.
Was it the footage from under the car?
What’s it like on the Electricity bill lol
In the province I live in rates for electricity range from 5.11 to 9.28 cents per kilowatt hour. The cars in my video had block heaters that ranged from about 330 to 450 watts. Assuming worst case of 10 cents per kilowatt hour and 500 watt block heater it would work out to about 5 cents per hour.
Turn your breaker off inside your home and only turn it on for 3 hours to warm up your vehicle then shut the breaker back off when not in use so that nobody from the outside can seal your electricity by plugging in their vehicle I've been doing this for probably 30 years and it works you do not need any more than 3 hours usually I do it for 2 hours but I'll say 3 hours if it's extremely cold and I mean minus 30 and colder
Or you can just pull the oil stick out and feel if its warmer than outside :D no gadgets needed!
Thanks for the suggestion!
But you never show up how it works..
I talked about how it works and what it heats. I showed how to plug it in, where some are installed and also how to know if it's working, etc...
It's kind of hard to show it heating the engine as i don't have a cross section cutout of an engine to use for demo.
Cut the c*ap and get to the installation. Everyone’s who is here already knows what a block heater is
T#E OT#ERX DAE.
Turned it off when he said basically
Sorry to hear that. What did you hate about the video to not give it a chance?
That was an informative video.
Thank you,
What is he brand name of he block heater tester that tells you
the block heater is working.
You're welcome. Glad it helped you. The testers are: PowerChek or "Plug Alive”
@@FrakkingCreations I think the person was offended at "basically" since maybe they are kind of basic to begin with.
Thank you for your support :)
The big question. Should be ... ( How Long ) should it be plugged in for ?
Typically 1 to 4 hours. Longer if it's as cold nowadays with the polar vortex
Should You Warm Up Your Car's Engine Before Driving? Myth Busted
ruclips.net/video/MEaYKmxk_yc/видео.html
500$ for a block heater? Wtf
Yeah, you really have to know how much things are worth to not get screwed when buying a new car. Sales people will definitely take advantage of you if you let them.
Pov you drive a jdm car...
I don't understand what you mean.
Waste of time
Why is that?
Depends on where you live
Plugged my cable in but didn't hear a thing, even after 10min. No noise as of it was on. And I don't have access to a tester. 😩