Engine Block Heater for Winter Temperatures

[n789db]

I never got around to install it (oil pan heater) this winter. I will install next fall.

[journeymansteve]

came across this post while looking for any worries about heater cores on the X (sniffing some ethylene glycol scents when I first start my car up some days)....

The poster with the suggestion for the 100W lightbulb was I thought the best idea. Gotta do some cord running/plugging in each use anyway, might as well just drop a trouble light down there. While it's not been that cold here in decades, there were times my S-PFI on a 302 V8 would freeze and a lightbulb (and some time) would warm it up. Cheap and don't need to worry about how you install it ;-)

[heavyD]

BTW: My car actually came new with a block heater. Funny that other Canadian models didn't. Mine was a June 2008 build.

[n789db]

Originally Posted by heavyD

BTW: My car actually came new with a block heater. Funny that other Canadian models didn't. Mine was a June 2008 build.

I have been told by the dealer that there is no place to install a bock heater on the EVO X, and none available. I wonder how and what they installed ???

I did install an oil Pan heater about a month ago, It works great so far and is an easy install. Just follow instructions.

www.engineheaters.com Model 154 for $55 delivered. It provides 125 watts of heat.

[jackygor]

Originally Posted by heavyD

BTW: My car actually came new with a block heater. Funny that other Canadian models didn't. Mine was a June 2008 build.

how can you check? Mine was one of the first 08 MR that came to Canada, just wondering if I had one. :P

[heavyD]

Originally Posted by jackygor

how can you check? Mine was one of the first 08 MR that came to Canada, just wondering if I had one. :P

It is pretty obvious on mine as the plug wire was tie wrapped near the fusebox and air filter box. I followed it and it does run to a block heater on the driver's side of the block so there is definately provisions for it.

[xRoguex]

Toss a mini space heater under the hood?

[Toxin]

Are you guys for real? Oil pan heater?

Just don't put 15w50 oil in your car in the middle of the winter and you'll be fine.

[n789db]

Originally Posted by Toxin

Are you guys for real? Oil pan heater?

Just don't put 15w50 oil in your car in the middle of the winter and you'll be fine.

Being "fine" is NOT good enough for me, fine, better, best are choices. I prefer better or best NOT "fine". A heated garage at 60 F or 15 C would be best.

It is much better for the car when starting to have warm oil, The first 30 seconds of oil pressure after starting is critical to engine maximum life. With warm oil you get oil flowing MUCH sooner.

Read this whole thread and you will learn something.

[UT_Evo]

People really need to read the whole thread. Either get an insulated/heated garage (so temps are up there), get an engine block heater of some kind, get an accusump system or similar (some of which force oil into the system when starting the car, therefore increasing the oil pressure during that critical moment), or deal with the minor damage and be "fine" Starting the car is when the most damage is done to the motor that it sees in most normal motor lifetimes, and if you want it to last awhile, it's best to do whatever you can to avoid problems.

The good news is being "fine" on the 4b11 is far better than being "fine" on your grandpa's pinto.

Lucky for me, our garage is insulated and even on the super cold days the temps are right around 55*F.

Glad to see you're still loving your Evo and posting on here n789db. I think the Utah guys were planning a meet this Saturday if you're interested, I'd check out the west region section.

[Tractionlimit]

Nice, glad you got this installed. I'm running E85, so a sub zero start could definitely be a challenge, and I totally agree with the oil concern you have. I don't drive my car until it's at least starting to warm up because the cams/E85 combo drives like crap cold.

My only question is how do you know that your heater is doing anything for you? Do you have a oil temp gauge or something? Does engine warm up happen faster? Do you think the residual heat would be enough to also warm the fuel rail a bit (heat rises, right)?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by n789db

I have been told by the dealer that there is no place to install a bock heater on the EVO X, and none available. I wonder how and what they installed ???

I did install an oil Pan heater about a month ago, It works great so far and is an easy install. Just follow instructions.

www.engineheaters.com Model 154 for $55 delivered. It provides 125 watts of heat.

[n789db]

Originally Posted by Tractionlimit

Nice, glad you got this installed. I'm running E85, so a sub zero start could definitely be a challenge, and I totally agree with the oil concern you have. I don't drive my car until it's at least starting to warm up because the cams/E85 combo drives like crap cold.

My only question is how do you know that your heater is doing anything for you? Do you have a oil temp gauge or something? Does engine warm up happen faster? Do you think the residual heat would be enough to also warm the fuel rail a bit (heat rises, right)?

Thanks.

I know it is working because the engine cranks faster (easier) when I use the pan heater. Also, the temp on the display comes up much quicker when I heat it overnight.

It does not really get cold enough in Utah (except very rarely in the ski resorts or similar) for a fuel temp problem. Block heater is a better solution than the oil pan for fuel issues. Way up north or WY, MT, MN and ND or Canada as examples the block heater and oil (pan) heater both in combination would be best unless you have a warm garage.

[Freebs]

Just thought I would ad that the Mitsubishi dealership here in Calgary (western Canada) puts them in right when they get the cars, so you don't even have a choice of having it or not and it helps for sure. Normally my car is parked in my heated garage which is a constant +20C/68F (umm slab heating is so nice lol) so I never have to worry. But there are times such as right now when the car is sitting outside when I go visit the old ladies family in Saskatoon which has been dropping to -38C (-36F) and the first night I forgot to plug it in and when I went to start it up it did not want to start up and when it did it made a horrible noise for the first minute or so. Since then I have remembered to plug it in and it fires up just as easy as when it is in my garage and comes up to full operating temps fairly quick considering how cold it is outside.

I will say that I am going to add a oil pan heater for next year and just splice the two together so that I just have to plug in the one cord and have them both going as I would like to have the oil warmer on start up. Over kill? Yes but I like to baby my vehicles so they take care of me when I am beating on them.

[n789db]

Originally Posted by Freebs

Just thought I would ad that the Mitsubishi dealership here in Calgary (western Canada) puts them in right when they get the cars, so you don't even have a choice of having it or not and it helps for sure. Normally my car is parked in my heated garage which is a constant +20C/68F (umm slab heating is so nice lol) so I never have to worry. But there are times such as right now when the car is sitting outside when I go visit the old ladies family in Saskatoon which has been dropping to -38C (-36F) and the first night I forgot to plug it in and when I went to start it up it did not want to start up and when it did it made a horrible noise for the first minute or so. Since then I have remembered to plug it in and it fires up just as easy as when it is in my garage and comes up to full operating temps fairly quick considering how cold it is outside.

I will say that I am going to add a oil pan heater for next year and just splice the two together so that I just have to plug in the one cord and have them both going as I would like to have the oil warmer on start up. Over kill? Yes but I like to baby my vehicles so they take care of me when I am beating on them.

You are a good man to your car Freebs.

[Freebs]

ahah I try