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OK....who uses a block heater in the winter and what have you noticed using it?
being pondering whether tis worth plugging the car in every chilly nite
alessandro
PERFORMANCE FORDS- Unique parts for the contique and cougar
SVT Owners Association - Toronto Chapter
SilVer_bulleT@rogers.com
1999 Silver SVT
Funnel Ram, PF Maf Adapter, Magnecore, Brullen Exhaust, Brullen Y-Pipe, O.Z. Supperleggera...MORE toys waiting to be installed...
177hp, 155lb-ft
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Originally posted by SilVer bulleT:
OK....who uses a block heater in the winter and what have you noticed using it?
being pondering whether tis worth plugging the car in every chilly nite I've noticed that in -10 degree (C) weather or colder, the engine's not as rough when it starts up if I use the block heater.
Black '98.0 GL V6/MTX, tints, SVT airbox (sans fender boot), stock muffler replaced with spiral racing muffler, A6 side markers, Cougar 16" polished wheels w/ bald 205/50/16 Yoko A520's, Mobil 1 5W30, Castrol SATF/Ford FM tranny cocktail, 9005 high-beam bulbs all around, re-aimed stock foglights
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Joined: Jun 2000
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-10C won't hurt anything, but when I go up to Sudbury in the winter where it dips to
-40C, the block heater is essential. It's not as hard on the battery and starter if the engine and oil is slightly warm.
Stephen Pechkoff
'02 Sentra SE-R Spec V
Liquid Silver, Sport Package
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Block heaters are mainly used only for temps below -18C. It does not hurt to use it though if you can. Every little bit helps extend battery and ENGINE life.
The use of synthetic oil though has all but eliminated my need to use it, except in all but extreme conditions. I will use it if the temp threatens -30C. By then, an engine requires all the help it can get.
Go ahead and use it if you want. I would put it on a timer though to save on electric bill. Only needs to be on for a few hours to do its job. Canadian Tire had one that automatically kicked in when the temp hits -18C. Otherwise it would save your electricity. Not sure how much it costs.
2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V
Vibrant Blue - fully loaded
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Use synthetic oil rather than block heater because when I need one there is no handy power. On another vehicle my oil flowed when others had "oil" as hard as "pavement". They used portable bbq's under the oil pan to get started. Have continued to successfully use synthetic 5w-30 ever since on an extended 15- 20 km fill.
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Block heaters are usefull starting at about -10 C for helping your engine warm up faster. Sure it will start without it, but the faster you hit operating temp, the faster the computer will stop enriching the fuel/air mix. Translation....it saves you gas. Rule of thumb: plug the vehicle in 1 hour for every 10 celcius below zero. It hit -37 C here in Winnipeg last night so this comes from experience.
96LX/24V/ATX/Midnight Red/A4 repeaters/SVT exhaust/KKM/65mm throttlebody/SVTsprings and ST200 struts/SE rockers and BAT spoiler/BAT 19mm swaybar/urethane bushings/Kenwood 7 speaker syst./E1 SVT brakes w Powerslot rotors/9005 lowbeams/885 fogs/50% tint/Michelin XM+S 130's for winter/E1's with gForces for summer...and now "New Paint!!" 87 Renault GTA convertible/2.0l/mtx/Sony sound/otherwise stock http://members.shaw.ca/neilmc/
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toronto winters are not severe, but i still plug in the block heater and the car seems to get 'responsive' quicker.
have noticed that the engine temp meter does not show that the block heater has been used ie. it still is at the bottom of the scale when the ignition key is put in .... on my old pontiac, the needle used to be away from the min position if the block heater had been used.
am also using mobil 5w30 synthetic.
also have noticed that all of this does not seem to really help the gas mileage!
carbon
97 mystique 2.5 atx
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