Possible options of a coolant pre-heater?

[8v-of-fury]

I had this ingenious idea brought forth to me from a knowledgeable source.

He told me he has seen a certain diesel engine with a few gp's or something of the sort in a coolant neck that goes in to the cabin.. thus preheating the coolant entering the heater core.. How would I go about doing this? Would i just thread some duraterms in to the coolant neck? an aluminum one? how would their tip react with the coolant?

Pretty awesome idea if you ask me..

[rallydiesel]

ALH engines already have this. There's three glowplugs on the head coolant flange.

[8v-of-fury]

yes, but are they just normal gp's that we use ? or are the specific? Will our $11 Duraterms be up for this with there sefl regulating ability to be left on? and having them surrounded in a cold liquid should prolong the amount of time they can be left on for no?

[rallydiesel]

As far as I know, they are the same kind as the cylinder GP's. I think only manual trans ALH's had them. I think they were intended just as a way to heat the coolant going to the heater core faster in very cold weather. I don't think they were very effective cuz later engines replaced them with an electrical heater next to the heater core. They also required a more powerful alternator (120A?).

I don't think it would be too hard to fit them onto an earlier engine.

[maxfax]

I don't think they were very effective cuz later engines replaced them with an electrical heater next to the heater core. They also required a more powerful alternator (120A?).

Glow plugs just don't seem to make enough heat, or else the lack the surface area to transfer the heat.. I tried this on the cold blooded bunny with hope of being able to run WVO in colder weather... In this particular situation I had better luck putting them in the fuel system.. Less volume I suppose..  

It most definitely requires a heavier alternator..  I ended up with a 100 amp alt to keep things powered..

If you're just looking for faster heat without the block heater, one of those electric heaters you plug into the cig lighter seems more effective..  Not that much more unless you molest it though...

[mtrans]

Glow plugs just don't seem to make enough heat, or else the lack the surface area to transfer the heat.. I tried this on the cold blooded bunny with hope of being able to run WVO in colder weather... In this particular situation I had better luck putting them in the fuel system.. Less volume I suppose..  

X2
6 hours in summer night it can`t hit 60 c on open return. Now Webasto 0.25 lit/h

[8v-of-fury]

ok now on this extra heating element? something easily attained in a junkyard? Also I will be doing this (if I can figure out a good way) on my TDI swap in my 81. thanks guys

[maxfax]

I wonder if there's any sort of 12v water heater for say a camper or boat.. You'd still need some crazy power to run it..

[8v-of-fury]

It would be worth the loss of economy to run it while the car was still heating up though... Kind of like that new Tankless hot water system?!? Instant hot hot hot water.. hmmm could help with engine warm-up too.. lol

[maxfax]

Something like this could be the ticket...

http://www.missouriwindandsolar.com/Water_Heater_Elements.html

[8v-of-fury]

Brett-a-saurus, how would i go about making that work in my system.. ? I cannot figure out a way.. in the overflow?? Doesn't its feed that goes back in to the system then run in to the core? or back to the WP?

[maxfax]

My thoughts at this point would be to fabricate something similar to a tank style block heater.. Then either plumb it into the heater return line (after the tee for the expansion tank), or the bypass hose that comes off the head to the water pump..  Heater line would be easier to work with, but you'd have to make the heat is set to hot for it to work..

I wish I had a good cad program.. Lemme try and draw something up.. I can explain better with pics and props..

[maxfax]

Could be done easily using hardware store pipe fittings

[8v-of-fury]

ahhhh!! I SEE I SEE! Make a separate chamber of sorts that will have a constant coolant flow through it.. I diiig it.

Thanks Brett lol, should be an artist

I think it would work best being plumbed in to the line that feeds the core no? between head and heater core? it would be very easy as there is about 8" or so of space between the valve for the core and where it exits the head.

Hmm upon further examining a picture of my engine bay. It seems the heater core is fed by the metal coolant tube, and its coolant returns to the head on the drivers side.. Hmm.. lets see here..

Can see here the feed line is most certainly the coolant hardline;

[8v-of-fury]

also mind you their 600w system will run about 50A on the alternator.. but with the TDI and its 120A alt.. Running this and the cabin fan (another what.. 20A?) I don't think it really poses a problem eh? 70A should put it right in its sweet spot..