No Block Heater?

[karrie]

I test drove a Mitsubishi Outlander recently. Out of all the SUV/XUV's I test drove, it was the one with the most well thought out interior, the roomiest, most comfortable, best handling, and the smoothest riding.

The transmission made me roll my eyes a bit (sportronic transmission so you can put it in 'manual' or automatic, except that manual isn't really manual, and if you stop paying attention the comp will make the shifts anyway... whoopty-do), but I'd likely just put it in automatic and forget it had such a dumb option anyway.

The thing that really gave me pause was hubby staring under the hood, looking to the guy and saying 'where's the block heater'?

'They don't come with blockheaters'

'We'd want a blockheater'

'They don't come with them, because the engine is fine with a cold start up until -47, when blockheaters quit helping anyway.'

Hmmmmm. I don't quite buy this. Too many years on the farm perhaps? Too unwilling to believe salesmen? Has anyone ever heard of engines that don't require blockheaters in a Canadian winter?

 

[gerryh]

I test drove a Mitsubishi Outlander recently. Out of all the SUV/XUV's I test drove, it was the one with the most well thought out interior, the roomiest, most comfortable, best handling, and the smoothest riding.

The transmission made me roll my eyes a bit (sportronic transmission so you can put it in 'manual' or automatic, except that manual isn't really manual, and if you stop paying attention the comp will make the shifts anyway... whoopty-do), but I'd likely just put it in automatic and forget it had such a dumb option anyway.

The thing that really gave me pause was hubby staring under the hood, looking to the guy and saying 'where's the block heater'?

'They don't come with blockheaters'

'We'd want a blockheater'

'They don't come with them, because the engine is fine with a cold start up until -47, when blockheaters quit helping anyway.'

Hmmmmm. I don't quite buy this. Too many years on the farm perhaps? Too unwilling to believe salesmen? Has anyone ever heard of engines that don't require blockheaters in a Canadian winter?

I don't buy it either, especially since I have never heard that block heaters "quit helping" at -47. The prius had a system of storing hot coolant over night in a "thermos" type device that would pump heated coolant into the heads the next day. This was meant to compliment a block heater but not replace it.

I'd say the salesman lied through his teeth.

 

[karrie]

I don't buy it either, especially since I have never heard that block heaters "quit helping" at -47. The prius had a system of storing hot coolant over night in a "thermos" type device that would pump heated coolant into the heads the next day. This was meant to compliment a block heater but not replace it.

I'd say the salesman lied through his teeth.

That or he just clearly didn't understand what the manufacturer explained to him about it. I don't know. I couldn't find manufacturer's info when I looked, on why they would not have block heaters.

 

[jimshort19]

The guy is telling the truth, under conditions that are ideal, albeit at subzero temperatures.

The first thing that I would do, in past, on ordering new car options was think winter.

Since electronic fuel injection governed by a temperature and oxegen sensing computer, and the specification of low viscosity super multi-grade oils like 5-W-30, and high voltage fully electronic ignition systems, the car always starts better than a carburetor with a nuclear power plant. The electric and temperature aspects were never the direct issue. Chokes are gone and the mix is right. How's your compression? While your car is new, and for maybe 100,000 km, it probably will not fail to start, and you may never experience a flooding problem. Meantime save energy. Car warm up recommendations are also shorter.

Believe it or not, cars are in every way better than they have ever been.

 

[gerryh]

it's not only a matter of if the car will start or not. TRhere's also the question of efficiency at cold starts.

 

[jimshort19]

gerryh, "it's not only a matter of if the car will start or not. TRhere's also the question of efficiency at cold starts."

And that's why there's no block heater. It is far more efficient to run the car for 15 seconds and drive easily for thirty seconds than to leave the power on all night. A block heater with a timer however may make sense for a short electric warmup, but not all night - that's an efficiency disaster.

 

[Hazmart]

You know I have never plugged in my Jeep before, ever. She has always started for me and I rarly let her warm up before driving gently off. Up until recently I had never had any probems with her either. But twice since Christmas she has flooded and today she did not want to start. I think this is very rude timing on her part since on tuesday she goes to get certified to become an oilberta vehicle! That is right, the time has come for me to officially give my my saskatchewan-ness and join the dark side! Anyway I am pretty ticked off at my jeep and I am hoping that it is nothing serious ... or expensive. anyway this is kind of off topic, just needed a little rant time! thanx

 

[karrie]

I don't plug my current vehicle in, unless it's around -30. Nor do I 'warm it up' unless the insides of the windows are frosted up. I start it, scrape it, and drive easily for the first little bit. Apparently it's easier on the catalytic converters to not idle a new vehicle incessantly in cold weather as well.

 

[gerryh]

gerryh, "it's not only a matter of if the car will start or not. TRhere's also the question of efficiency at cold starts."

And that's why there's no block heater. It is far more efficient to run the car for 15 seconds and drive easily for thirty seconds than to leave the power on all night. A block heater with a timer however may make sense for a short electric warmup, but not all night - that's an efficiency disaster.

Of course it is.

http://www.environnement-canada.ca/envirozine/english/issues/40/any_questions_e.cfm


1 to 2 hours is all that is required

 

[jimshort19]

One cold weather startup snafu: ... problem was the coolant temp sensor was telling the computer that it was -75* and flooding the engine. Replaced the sensor and no more problem.

Gerryh, your link says that two hours of electric warmup was feasible on a test car from a pollution standpoint. Warm engines run more cleanly than cold of course.

My friend had a new Jeep Cheroke and he was very particular about it. He always asked for distilled water for his rad. After the kid at the local gas station topped his rad up with battery acid the block heater plugs fell out and pissed all his coolant onto the ground. There was something funny about it at the time.

 

[gerryh]

Hey....I SWEAR...I thought it was distilled water.

 

[#juan]

With synthetic oil, block heaters are a waste of energy. With modern fuel injection and synthetic oil you don't need a block heater. Granted some cars have trouble cranking in very cold weather but unless you have a problem turning the engine over, forget the block heater.

 

[karrie]

Yeah, juan... it's all fine and dandy to say 'unless you have a problem don't worry about a block heater', but damn, it sure helps if you have one when there's a problem! lol.

While I don't use my block heater except in extreme conditions (-30 or less, and only for an hour or so), I still appreciate that it's there just incase. It would seem a bit odd to me to just not put one in a Canadian vehicle. Is that just me?

 

[jjaycee98]

Many North American Vehicles arrive at the Sales Lot without Block Heaters. Beleive it or not, even in Canada, there are places where they are not needed!!!

 

[jimshort19]

Karrie, "It would seem a bit odd to me to just not put one in a Canadian vehicle. Is that just me?"

And the hand crank too. And how do you push start these new-fangled automatics?

 

[Stretch]

I have an old '79 Ford F150 pickup, no block heater and starts fine...even at -31. I believe they are easy to install tho' if needed.

 

[#juan]

I have driven many different vehicles, with, and without block heaters in northern B.C. and in Winnipeg, and northern Saskatchewan and I have to say that block heaters don't do a damn thing in very cold weather unless you find a way to insulate the engine with blankets or something. There was one time in Winnipeg when the plug-in I was using for the block heater was down for two weeks and I never noticed. Some older vehicles with summer weight oil will sometimes have trouble cranking at low temperatures because the oil has become too viscous. If you have a block heater, use it by all means if it makes you feel better, but I wouldn't walk across the street to get one.

 

[miniboss]

As far as I know, all new cars sold in Canada have to come with a block heater, kind of like they all have to have daytime running lights, it's a law ore something. They may charge you extra for it, it it's supposed to come with one.

 

[hermanntrude]

Has anyone ever heard of engines that don't require blockheaters in a Canadian winter?

our jeep never had a block heater and used to start fine even down at -50. you had to let it warm up a bit afterwards but it always turned over on the first try.

 

[FUBAR]

My old 75 Firebird was so reliable starting in the cold my parents made me park it last as it always started first go, and no block heater. Used it to jump start the other cars..