Dip-stick heater test -- no go

[bwilson4web]

The dip-stick oil heaters are a solid rod and can't make the 'bend' in the dip-stick tube:



FYI.

Bob Wilson

[Beryl Octet]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bwilson4web @ Jan 19 2007, 11:29 AM) [snapback]377726[/snapback]</div>

The dip-stick oil heaters are a solid rod and can't make the 'bend' in the dip-stick tube:



FYI.

Bob Wilson
[/b]

So, you couldn't get your rod in the hole? I almost had the same problem with the block heater. But seriously, is there a reason for picking this over the block heater, or do you have both?

[skruse]

Oil tends to stick and form a glop at the end of the oil dip stick heater. Not recommended!

[rudiger]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bwilson4web @ Jan 19 2007, 11:29 AM) [snapback]377726[/snapback]</div>

The dip-stick oil heaters are a solid rod and can't make the 'bend' in the dip-stick tube:[/b]

Those dip-stick oil heaters have been around for decades. You'd think that by now, someone would have been able to come up with a version that is able to accomodate the bends in the dip-stick tube.

[bwilson4web]

Hi,
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Beryl Octet @ Jan 19 2007, 10:55 AM) [snapback]377734[/snapback]</div>

So, you couldn't get your rod in the hole? I almost had the same problem with the block heater. But seriously, is there a reason for picking this over the block heater, or do you have both?
[/b]

It was an experiment and the dip-stick heater was sent for testing. I've been a little busy with some other tasks so this was my first attempt. I'll send it back since I don't feel like trying to modify the part.

I have a block heater but not yet installed. I've been working on a thermistor hack and need a 'cold' engine to test. But I'm rapidly coming to a close on the thermistor hack testing. More about this sometime in the future.

Bob Wilson

[Beryl Octet]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bwilson4web @ Jan 19 2007, 01:15 PM) [snapback]377794[/snapback]</div>

Hi,
It was an experiment and the dip-stick heater was sent for testing. I've been a little busy with some other tasks so this was my first attempt. I'll send it back since I don't feel like trying to modify the part.

I have a block heater but not yet installed. I've been working on a thermistor hack and need a 'cold' engine to test. But I'm rapidly coming to a close on the thermistor hack testing. More about this sometime in the future.

Bob Wilson
[/b]

Thanks, want to hear more about your thermistor hack. I've installed the block heater, figure I'm getting mabye 2MPG better overall during cold weather given my commute.

[Frank Hudon]

forget the thermistor hack as your wasting your time. Get another oil pan for the PSD and get a tube machined up and tig weld it into the pan and put another block heater in the PSD unit and get it warm. Block heater in the ICE left on for 3 1/2 hours at an OAT of 5C get's the ICE to 27-30C.
Leave it on over night and it get's the ICE to 42C maybe a bit higher. Put one in the PSD as it has the same mass and the same fluid capacity as the ICE and get it up to the high 30's low 40's Celcius. That will significatly improve your mileage by reducing the fluid viscosity drag on the drive unit. IMHO

[bwilson4web]

Hi Frank,
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Jan 19 2007, 01:29 PM) [snapback]377851[/snapback]</div>

. . . .Get another oil pan for the PSD and get a tube machined up and tig weld it into the pan and put another block heater in the PSD unit and get it warm. Block heater in the ICE left on for 3 1/2 hours at an OAT of 5C get's the ICE to 27-30C.
Leave it on over night and it get's the ICE to 42C maybe a bit higher. Put one in the PSD as it has the same mass and the same fluid capacity as the ICE and get it up to the high 30's low 40's Celcius. That will significatly improve your mileage by reducing the fluid viscosity drag on the drive unit. IMHO
[/b]

In the above, we agree but the thermistor hack has other uses. For example, in cold, windy weather, less than 0C and more than 15 mph, even with the radiator block, I've seen enough cooling to force ICE operation. Also, the thermistor hack works when the car has been parked without AC power (aka., the office parking lot.)

For my PSD, I bought a second PSD pan and have 'glued' the JC Whitney flat heater and installed a thermistor inside the pan. I've got some machining and tapping of the drain plug to fashion a low-profile sample-plug in the drain-plug. Once I finish the plug and pan, I'll post photos before and after installing.

The block heater, pan heater and thermistor hack will provide optimum performance. But in six weeks, N. Alabama will return to our moderate temperatures and my cold weather experiments will be replaced by others. <grins>

Bob Wilson

[Frank Hudon]

if your down around freezing I doubt that it's the ICE temp that's forcing the ICE to run, I get the same thing and if you look at your Battery temps you'll see that they are probably in the 2-7C range and it's the battery temps that are forcing the ICE to run to build heat to warm the battery. Just bump your MiniScanner to read battery temps and you'll notice that when they get to about 12C your ICE "problem" is gone.

[bwilson4web]

Test results from thermistor hack:




In all cases, ICE autostop worked as soon as the indicated ICE coolant temperature reached 70C. However, the 35 mph trigger speed and the stop for 6-10 seconds must occur to transition from S3 to S4 state. The savings is nearly 3.5 extra minutes in hybrid-electric mode versus having the ICE run, even if in idle.

Bob Wilson