-23 without windchill thismorning everyglow plug bad and i still got mine started!! all i did was unhook the pipe from the turbo to the intake and stuffed a hair dryer in there and took right off
Speaking of that, I was thinking of using a carb heater in the intake somewhere, they can't draw that much power since gas cars use them
Propane, always thought that would be a neat idea since I can't afford a Webasto or Espar.
They sure don't give these away either:
http://www.servicemate.com/catalog/partdetail.aspx?PartNo=8152
Fairly compact though, bit more info here:
http://www.cpinternet.com/~hilton/
that seems like the perfect solution! i take it that it heats the coolant right?
hmmm
We recommend that our heater be turned on when the engine is shut down. This will ensure that the engine is kept warm so that there is proper lubrication when started.
sounds a little bit overkill to me... but not on a big rig though !
I think oil pan/oil heaters are preferable to coolant heaters. Your standard block heater or coolant heater will help the engine start but even if your block is warm, your oil has spent the last however many hours sitting in the bottom of your oil pan with no contact with the block. Coolant heaters help the engine get to operating temperature quicker and help operator comfort, but the initial start will still be with cold, thick oil. The best engine heating systems (such as Kim Hotstart, etc.) all provide means of heating engine oil. Warm oil also does more to reduce wear as it gets through the engine much quicker. I know on my 86 Golf 1.6 NA I haven't noticed any difference in cold starting with my block heater (coolant only) on or off. When I do use it I leave it plugged in from whenever I get home from work until I leave for work in the morning. The only difference I notice is quicker windshield defrosting and less time with the cold start pulled out. Actually there is a shorter period of time for the glow plugs to cycle, but the actual cranking time once the glow plug light goes out isn't noticeably different. The last week or two I haven't even bothered to plug it in.
When my previous 1.6L TD got old & 'tired', it wouldn't start in the winter without the block heater plugged in.
My current 97 TDI, will start in any temperature I've seen down to at least -25*C, and two winters ago that was with 3 bad GP's :oops:
With its block heater plugged in though, noticeably quicker smoother start, and faster heat, so it's worth it when it's real cold.
Hmm, more searching for propane heaters also found this Ebay link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Zerostart-5000-BTU-Propane-Engine-Heater-Zero-Start_W0QQitemZ220077373114QQihZ012QQcategoryZ41490QQcmdZViewItembut I can't find additional info on Zerostart propane-fired heaters anywhere else. Not even on Zerostart's page
hm, that one in the ebay link is interesting. ZeroStart 5,000 BTU Propane Fired Engine Heater: "12 Volt DC power to ignite the propane then heats the engine coolant circulating it through the block by thermosiphan action. "
If a thermosiphon will do it, then one of these for occasional use would be easy to make. heavy pipe (one in picture looks to be about 12" long, 3" in diameter. Put a coil of tubing inside it and connect to head and block water inlet/outlet. cap the ends leaving 1.5" holes. To use shove lit propane torch in one end. Wonder how much it would heat up the block in 15" or so? You'd want it plumbed to a propane tank and ingiter for regular use, but I can't see that you would ever use one of these without the hood open on a VW.