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  • #1

    Car Vs. Cold

    I'm new to Calgary and I'm heading into my first winter with my new GTI. I'm just wondering what the deal is with block heaters. Should I consider getting one installed? I'm parking in a parking garage but it's opened up and not heated. I take the train to work so I don't need to start it in the early morning but I'm planning on moving in december and may end up having to drive to work depending on where I can find a place. I'm looking for a place with a garage though.

    Any suggestions?

    Also if anyone knows of a full house for rent for dec 1st in the university/downtown/somewhere close to the train area, I'd like to hear it.
    Sanity In Numbers
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Car Vs. Cold

    Here's what I did, and most TDI guys do. I have the oilpan heater on my car still, and still use it in conjuction with this....

    Buy a Temro circulating tank heater from Canadian Tire (I bought mine on sale for $52, reg $75ish), make sure its the rectangular one, not the cylindrical one. Install it the same way as a TDI, using the coolant hoses from the oil cooler (they come out just above the oil filter), you need a small length of coolant hose with a 90 degree bend, a bunch of hose clamps, and need to use the straight through adapter included in the heater. the heater mounts just below and to the left of the battery, quite low. Install takes about 1-2 hours, depending on your level of expertise and how much beer you drink (absolutely essential). Just make sure your car warms up properly and blows hot air when you are done, to ensure you haven't made a loop in the system, and you're good to go....

    Now the reason this is so great, its a 1500W heater, so plug in for about 2-3 hours, and the car is up to operating temperature, blowing warm air right when you get in....no warm up....by far the best thing I've installed on the car.....

    TDI install instructions: http://pics2.tdiclub.com/gwillie/zer...%20install.htm
    Follow these, your oil cooler hoses don't connect to the block the same, so diregard that part, but splice into the lower of the 2 hoses and you're golden.....once you look under your hood you'll get it....
    2006 Colorado Xtreme | AEM CAI | Walker exhaust | smoked glass | -1" dropped rear | Avic D3 | 8000K HID's
    2002 GTI 1.8t | C1 SS | Upsolute 94 oct | Brullen 2.5" DP | Supersprint catback | Poly mounts | 19" Privat's | FK 55 kit | Projector lights | EVOMS CAI
    2000 GSXR750 | Hindle Race exhaust | Telefonica replica | K&N intake | Custom ECU

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Car Vs. Cold

      If your not handy just buy a oil pan heater from Altrom. Stick it on or get someone to stick it on and your golden.

      www.altrom.com
      Like Type 2's? Visit my blog!

      My posts and comments written here on this forum are on my spare time and are my personal opinion(s) and are not the opinion(s) or policy of my employer nor are they proven to be accurate. Use advice at your own risk.
      You dig sucka?!

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Car Vs. Cold

        You can buy olipan or coolant heaters locally from Gregg's Distributors. See here

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Car Vs. Cold

          I ripped my oil pan heater off my car a couple summers ago (Edmonton roads suck) and never replaced it. I've never had a problem starting up the car.
          Brandon

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Car Vs. Cold

            Got my oil pan heater at Concept 1 because the are not to far from my work. Not sure how their price is compared to others, but it was convienent in my case, and it works very well. But ya, definatly would get one for the winter. I'm sure your car will start for ya, but its a lot easier on the car to plug it in...
            Stefan
            -> '19 Deep Black Pearl Alltrack
            -> '05 Urban Grey Passat Wagon TDI.
            -> Past rides: '14 Allroad, 06 Mazda5, '98 Jetta K2, '01 Jetta TDI, '91 Mazda B2200, '81 Toyota Cressida
            -> FutuRe Ride...??!

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Car Vs. Cold

              I just found that the oil pan heater was only doing part of what I wanted.....
              2006 Colorado Xtreme | AEM CAI | Walker exhaust | smoked glass | -1" dropped rear | Avic D3 | 8000K HID's
              2002 GTI 1.8t | C1 SS | Upsolute 94 oct | Brullen 2.5" DP | Supersprint catback | Poly mounts | 19" Privat's | FK 55 kit | Projector lights | EVOMS CAI
              2000 GSXR750 | Hindle Race exhaust | Telefonica replica | K&N intake | Custom ECU

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Car Vs. Cold

                Originally posted by Aleks
                I just found that the oil pan heater was only doing part of what I wanted.....
                Plus the chance of a lowered car catching it on something ripping it off then warming up the underbelly plastic to a very nice firery temp.... not such a huge problem with the 1.8t bellypans but on a TDI...
                Name: Brent
                His: '04 TDI Golf Mods: None If it's smoken it ain't broken
                Family: '15 Jetta Sportwagon
                Fun car: '92 Blue Karmann Crabby Cabby Mods: Coils, front and rear swaybars, LED interior lights and some other old things.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Car Vs. Cold

                  ya.. lowered could increase the risk of problems... never thought of that.

                  As for personal comfort, you cant beat aleks' suggestion. Perhaps I thrive on the cold misery of the morning commute
                  Stefan
                  -> '19 Deep Black Pearl Alltrack
                  -> '05 Urban Grey Passat Wagon TDI.
                  -> Past rides: '14 Allroad, 06 Mazda5, '98 Jetta K2, '01 Jetta TDI, '91 Mazda B2200, '81 Toyota Cressida
                  -> FutuRe Ride...??!

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Car Vs. Cold

                    Originally posted by stefan
                    ya.. lowered could increase the risk of problems... never thought of that.

                    As for personal comfort, you cant beat aleks' suggestion. Perhaps I thrive on the cold misery of the morning commute
                    I have coolant heaters in both my cars and I wouldn't live without them now (nor would my wife).
                    Name: Brent
                    His: '04 TDI Golf Mods: None If it's smoken it ain't broken
                    Family: '15 Jetta Sportwagon
                    Fun car: '92 Blue Karmann Crabby Cabby Mods: Coils, front and rear swaybars, LED interior lights and some other old things.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: Car Vs. Cold

                      Originally posted by Stonewall
                      Plus the chance of a lowered car catching it on something ripping it off then warming up the underbelly plastic to a very nice firery temp.... not such a huge problem with the 1.8t bellypans but on a TDI...
                      Well, if the oilpan heater gets ripped off, I would be a little more worried about the oil pan getting destroyed. Might be time for a skid plate.

                      The plus to oil pan heaters is they heat the oil directly which is the best thing for the engine.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: Car Vs. Cold

                        Bah.

                        I've had three winters with a 1.8t and it has never refused to start and I don't bother plugging it in (well I don't have the block heater on my GTI yet).

                        The coolant heater would be good mojo though. A nice almost warm car on any -30 day.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: Car Vs. Cold

                          the only thing that bugs me about our cars and what vw tells us to do in the winter is the warming up part.. if its -30 and you park your car overnight outside it gets cold.. i did this 1st winter in my jetta @ my parents place.. i didn't plug it in.. it started the next morning but i let it warm up for 10 minutes.. i dont' care if its 'bad' according to vw.. if you start driving a car when its -30 and its not warm it fogs up instantly and you die head on with a tree.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: Car Vs. Cold

                            Originally posted by Aleks
                            Here's what I did, and most TDI guys do. I have the oilpan heater on my car still, and still use it in conjuction with this....

                            Buy a Temro circulating tank heater from Canadian Tire (I bought mine on sale for $52, reg $75ish), make sure its the rectangular one, not the cylindrical one. Install it the same way as a TDI, using the coolant hoses from the oil cooler (they come out just above the oil filter), you need a small length of coolant hose with a 90 degree bend, a bunch of hose clamps, and need to use the straight through adapter included in the heater. the heater mounts just below and to the left of the battery, quite low. Install takes about 1-2 hours, depending on your level of expertise and how much beer you drink (absolutely essential). Just make sure your car warms up properly and blows hot air when you are done, to ensure you haven't made a loop in the system, and you're good to go....

                            Now the reason this is so great, its a 1500W heater, so plug in for about 2-3 hours, and the car is up to operating temperature, blowing warm air right when you get in....no warm up....by far the best thing I've installed on the car.....

                            TDI install instructions: http://pics2.tdiclub.com/gwillie/zer...%20install.htm
                            Follow these, your oil cooler hoses don't connect to the block the same, so diregard that part, but splice into the lower of the 2 hoses and you're golden.....once you look under your hood you'll get it....

                            stupid question,

                            does this only work on tdi's or can i do this on my 2.0L? golf

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Re: Car Vs. Cold

                              Originally posted by Red90
                              Well, if the oilpan heater gets ripped off, I would be a little more worried about the oil pan getting destroyed. Might be time for a skid plate.

                              The plus to oil pan heaters is they heat the oil directly which is the best thing for the engine.
                              Well snow pressed up against the belly pan would press on the heater and not wreck the pan though. I have a skid plate now so I don't really worry about that though. Personally I would rather have a whole engine that is warm rather then just the oil in the oilpan.
                              Name: Brent
                              His: '04 TDI Golf Mods: None If it's smoken it ain't broken
                              Family: '15 Jetta Sportwagon
                              Fun car: '92 Blue Karmann Crabby Cabby Mods: Coils, front and rear swaybars, LED interior lights and some other old things.

                              Comment

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