Not an engine block heather

It might sound like a stupid question, but what do you call the thing
you put in the pipe where the coolant circulates in order to warm up
the whole engine?

I know about engine block heater, but all it does is warm up the oil
at teh bottom of teh engine. What I want and had some 20 years ago in
a 240, was the heating element inserted in the pipe leading to teh
radiator.

Btw, it is for a 240 Also,any idea where I might be able to buy one
of those things?

Thanks

 

Do a Google Search on
Engine Tank Heater

 

Actually what you asked for was
lower radiator hose heater
not sure about 240 volt

 

Are you referring to a park heater? I've never seen one stateside, but I
hear they're somewhat common in Europe and normally burn Diesel to warm
up the engine. Seems like a good idea really, given all the people who
let their cars idle for ages in the morning to defrost.

 

Sorry for the confusion. No, I meant an electrical heating element
inserted into the coolant pipe at the bottom of the radiator.

After using my head a little bit, I figured it was called (or must be
called) an engine coolant heater. Though it seems I cannot find one
anywhere like what I used to have.

 

: On Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:44:52 -0800, James Sweet
:
: >Someone wrote:
: >> It might sound like a stupid question, but what do you call the thing
: >> you put in the pipe where the coolant circulates in order to warm up
: >> the whole engine?
: >>
: >> I know about engine block heater, but all it does is warm up the oil
: >> at teh bottom of teh engine. What I want and had some 20 years ago in
: >> a 240, was the heating element inserted in the pipe leading to teh
: >> radiator.
: >>
: >> Btw, it is for a 240 Also,any idea where I might be able to buy one
: >> of those things?
: >>
: >> Thanks
: >
: >
: >Are you referring to a park heater? I've never seen one stateside, but I
: >hear they're somewhat common in Europe and normally burn Diesel to warm
: >up the engine. Seems like a good idea really, given all the people who
: >let their cars idle for ages in the morning to defrost.
:
: Sorry for the confusion. No, I meant an electrical heating element
: inserted into the coolant pipe at the bottom of the radiator.
:
: After using my head a little bit, I figured it was called (or must be
: called) an engine coolant heater. Though it seems I cannot find one
: anywhere like what I used to have.


Hi James,

Found this through Google:

"Also what's a recommended brand if one were to go this route (inline
coolant heater)? Which places would stock this stuff? I tried searching
online for more info about these products but came up with nothing."

"Partsource, Auto Value, NAPA, etc all stock them. They will be made by one
of 2 companies, Pyroil or Temro. "

Good Luck.
Andy I. (Living in the Banana Belt of BC, Canada, I can manage
without that gadget......)

 

I believe some Russians lit fires under the engine sump on the tractors ,
THIS WAS MADE ILLEGAL guess why ?

 

When we lived in Maine & Vermont they were often referred to as
"percolators" since they were installed in the lower of the hoses and
the heat would then convect upwards into the block etc.

The light bulb underneath also works but I'd also put a blanket or such
over the engine (or the hood if the car is inside) to retain the heat.

Perk >)

 

In UK a firm called Kenlowe makes a heater which plugs into one of the water
safety plugs between 5 & 6 cylinders on the right side of the engine. This
has a connector under the bonnet (hood) which connects to the mains and just
needs switching on for around 20 minutes before starting. The heater can be
used to warm the interior of the car as soon as the car has started.
Cheers, Peter.

 

You can get those here too, they're called engine block heaters, which
he specifically said in the subject is not what he's looking for.

 

I think the OP was confused there- or at least his post was confusing-
since engine block heaters (locally often called frost plug heaters)
heat more than the oil in the oil pan. I wondered if he meant the
magnetic ones that just stick on to the oil pan.

Basically, as has been pointed out in this thread, there are three main
types of engine heaters:

1. Magnetic ones that stick on to the block temporarily and are
intended to be removed before driving. They heat the metal of the
engine at the point of contact.

http://tinyurl.com/ybz895u

2. Engine block heaters that replace one of the frost plugs and heat
the coolant in the engine block.

http://www.amazon.com/Kats-11621-Watt-Frost-Heater/dp/B000I8YP7I

3. Tank heaters that are spliced into the radiator hose and heat the
coolant.

http://tinyurl.com/ycxdms6

Maybe in the latter two cases, we should be talking about "warmant"
instead of coolant. ;-) IMHO the OP was looking for #3.

 

In the case of type 3, we might have to differentiate between 3A and 3B.
You refer to the device which fits in the _radiator_ hose. I
remember this from years ago. However, the gizmo to which your link
points splices into the _heater_ hose. Different diameter.

cheers,

Henry

 

Good point. There are several options among tank heaters. Some splice
into a radiator hose, some into a heater hose and some use a tap into a
frost plug.

 

Hose heater - that´s what they call it on the swedish company Calix´s website,
they do also have it in UK English.
http://www.calix.se/consumer/index.asp?lang=UK

When I lived in northern Finland, in one of my cars, which did not have a block
heating possibility, I put in one of these. Worked fine. I could plug it in on
the parking area at work and at home, so low temps were never a problem.
Franz47