Winter Warm-up Discussion: Heaters, Starters, etc

[P Arkus]

With winter coming up, I've been contemplating a few things of how to keep the car a bit warmer or at least allow it to warm up quicker. Wanted to get some peoples opinions and perhaps start a discussion regarding some of the following topics.

Heaters: What would you guys recommend as the best heaters and why.

1) Oil Pan Heater
2) Block Heater
3) In-line coolant heater/circulator

Remote Starters: Good idea or bad idea? I've heard numerous sides to both stories but what do you guys thing? I know some guys idle their cars for long periods of time and say driving a cold car will damage it in the long run. I've also heard the exact opposite that people idle their cars for 45 seconds, then drive them slowly to warm them up and say that idling for long periods of time will damage the engine in the long run. Thoughts and opinions on both?

Cheers

[MechEngg]

Re: Winter Warm-up Discussion: Heaters, Starters, etc

I definitely prefer the inline coolant heater. Some of the pro's are that it heats and circulates the coolant into the block, so that unlike the oil pan heaters which are scorching hot on the oil pan and cold at the top of the block the whole block heats up at the same time and stays relatively the same temperature throughout. That being said the oil doesn't get extremely hot, but it stays warm enough to provide easy starts in the winter. Another added bonus is instant heat when you do crank the car over. With the coolant being circulated and heated, the fan is able to start using the heat right away. The downside is that it takes more time to install, and takes up more room in the engine bay. Just be sure to suck from one side of the engine block and discharge to the other side of the engine block to have the largest possible loop to be heated.

[stef2.7t]

Re: Winter Warm-up Discussion: Heaters, Starters, etc

With winter coming up, I've been contemplating a few things of how to keep the car a bit warmer or at least allow it to warm up quicker. Wanted to get some peoples opinions and perhaps start a discussion regarding some of the following topics.

Heaters: What would you guys recommend as the best heaters and why.

1) Oil Pan Heater
2) Block Heater
3) In-line coolant heater/circulator

Remote Starters: Good idea or bad idea? I've heard numerous sides to both stories but what do you guys thing? I know some guys idle their cars for long periods of time and say driving a cold car will damage it in the long run. I've also heard the exact opposite that people idle their cars for 45 seconds, then drive them slowly to warm them up and say that idling for long periods of time will damage the engine in the long run. Thoughts and opinions on both?

Cheers

First I'd ask yourself why do you want your car to warm up quicker? Is it comfort, being able to hammer it sooner, gas mileage?

I've read that the days of having to wait to have your car warm up to driving temps are long gone. Cars are much better at cold starts, especially the VAG cars. Now I'm not saying Start the car and hammer on its soul, I'm referring to the get up and start moving. A lot of people reference gas mileage dropping in the winter months because of the time it takes for the motor to come up to operating temperatures. In a very small way I agree, but after reading this, it sheds another light on the issue. http://jalopnik.com/what-you-should-...g-i-1450089585

I have an oil pan heater on my current car. Never used it. Had it on my old A6, never used it. I found that having regular oil change intervals with quality synthetic made cold starts relatively easy on the motor.
I looked into block heaters. Was not an option in my case, never was, so that was out of the question.
I could see coolant heaters being more useful than an oil pan heater when it regards coming up to operating temp quicker. It should, in my "limited knowledge" assist with having that cabin heat come on much sooner as well. I, for one, don't really mind waiting that extra minute and a half to two minutes for my heat to begin cycling.

Remote starters IMO are a waste of money at my age. I can sit in a car for a few minutes if I feel I want to wait for it to warm up. Crank my seat warmer to 6 and my ass is toasty in no time.
These are just my opinions. Don't take them to heart. To each their own.

[Mcrow]

Re: Winter Warm-up Discussion: Heaters, Starters, etc

Sitting and idling your car for 45 minutes is beyond ridiculous. I warm up my car for 60 seconds max then drive it. As for as engine wear is concerned, who knows.

Idling warms the car up in like 30 minutes, while driving it warms it up in about 5 minutes. I have people around me that idle it 30 minutes-45 minutes so they can get into a warm car, seriously? You live in Calgary, winter and cold weather exists. Suck it up.

[P Arkus]

Re: Winter Warm-up Discussion: Heaters, Starters, etc

Main reason for me is I hate the cold, and getting into a car at -25 degrees or below sucks balls. Yes I know we live in Calgary, yes I know it gets cold EVERY winter, No that doesnt mean I have to like it one bit lol.

I had a remote starter on one of my previous cars, and it was great. However it had a time limit of 15 mins, and I never let it idle that long. Usually about 5-10 mins, then drive slowly to heat up the car. I fully agree that idling the car doesnt heat it up nearly as well as driving it slowly, however I never get into a cold car, start it up and immediately drive. Always sit around for 2-3 mins to let it warm up and get the fluids running properly.

Had oil pan heaters before, didnt think there were really that great. Really curious to try the ZeroStart and see how well that work. If I could get into my car, start it, and immediately have heat coming out of the vents, I would be very happy.

So with that said, does this mean that a coolant circulator would work much better than any remote starter?

[BaggedGLI]

Re: Winter Warm-up Discussion: Heaters, Starters, etc

Keep in mind the whole remote starter with immobilizers that are present in our cars.

Coolant heater is the way to go IMO.

[JPO]

Re: Winter Warm-up Discussion: Heaters, Starters, etc

I had an oil pan heater on the S4 and I liked it pretty well. I like the oil pan heaters in fun cars because I never ever beat on them unless the oil is good and warmed up and in a 15-25 minute commute in the winter/colder parts of the year I'd be juuussst up to temp by the I got to work/home and could therefore never have any fun. I used the vag-com to monitor the oil temp a few times to test and it made a big difference.

[Lars]

Re: Winter Warm-up Discussion: Heaters, Starters, etc

Get a Wabasto or a Espar, coolant heaters, oil field companies run them and they all have timers and are self sufficient , ultimate solution but $$.


http://www.genuinewebasto.com

http://www.espar.com

[saabhutter]

Re: Winter Warm-up Discussion: Heaters, Starters, etc

Sounds to me like a waste of money. You can put that money towards performance mods or even towards a winter trip or something like that. Bundle up, walk outside, start the car, head back in, have a cup of coffee in your warm home, get into warm car.

[Danaldson]

Re: Winter Warm-up Discussion: Heaters, Starters, etc

walk outside, start the car, head back in, have a cup of coffee in your warm home, get into warm car.

this, i find it to be a waste of money too. i had a remote starter in my old car and it rarely worked, probably because of shitty installation, but now that i look back i should have spent the 400$ on something else.

[100%VAGitarian]

Re: Winter Warm-up Discussion: Heaters, Starters, etc

Sounds to me like a waste of money. You can put that money towards performance mods or even towards a winter trip or something like that. Bundle up, walk outside, start the car, head back in, have a cup of coffee in your warm home, get into warm car.

yup. it will warm up enough in time for you to brush off all the snow. i don't know who just sits in a cold car waiting for it to warm up a bit. i would complain too. i don't plug anything of mine in. my xterra came with a remote start that i use but i'm usually starting it, walking outside, brushing off the truck and going from there. your car is good to go after a couple minutes. let the engine load heat things up. also, gloves, hats and scarfs are way cheaper than electronic gadgetry.

[Lo)2enz0]

Re: Winter Warm-up Discussion: Heaters, Starters, etc

underground parking.... I don't know how I can ever live without it

[stef2.7t]

Re: Winter Warm-up Discussion: Heaters, Starters, etc

i'm usually starting it, walking outside, brushing off the truck and going from there.

This!

[kujiwara]

Re: Winter Warm-up Discussion: Heaters, Starters, etc

I really don't know if oil pan heaters are good or not, because my Jetta came with one and it caught on fire because he wire got so brittle and shorted... I don't have any heaters, the car warms up after 30sec of idle and 5 min of driving, that's how I passed the last winter.. My car doesn't burn a drop of oil and pulls good... The wear from cold starts are really minimal as long as you use good oil and don't rev it high before it warms up. However i would recommond getting a remote starter, all my parents' vehicle has them and it feels great when you enter a warm car, in contrast without a remote starter getting into the leather seats in a winter morning is quite a torture, especially for a Chinese....

[bobkatkat]

Re: Winter Warm-up Discussion: Heaters, Starters, etc

I know what you mean Patryk, I hate the cold. Since I have been lazy at putting winters on the B5 I have been driving the Jeep for the last week and a half. I has a remote start. I know you should not idle vehicles, kills birds and everything, but man is it nice to get into a pre-warmed vehicle.

I have been contemplating putting in a oil cooler to bypass the OEM water cooled/ oil cooler on the Audi. Most have a thermal bypass valve that allows the oil temperature to come up faster. Hopefully the in car heat will come up faster also.


Sharper Image used to carry an in Car Ceramic Heater that had a remote. That would be handy.