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Block heater usage

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by rdgrimes, Dec 18, 2014.

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  1. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    Dittos on that. A lot of block-heaters don't work, because the cord was allowed to flop around in the wind, breaking all the wires inside.
     
    #21 GregP507, Dec 19, 2014
  2. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    My little utility tractor in Illinois didn't really "need" one either but it did rattle a bit for the first 30 seconds or so when started COLD.

    I suspect that a little heat in the block/oil probably would prevent that.......since it rattled much less in the summer and not at all on a hot restart.
     
    #22 Easy Rider 2, Dec 20, 2014
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  3. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    For most machines other than personal vehicles, you won't get them started or even to turn over in a real Canadian winter without heating the engine. If you can't plug them in, a metal pail under the oil-pan with a hole cut in the side for a propane torch works just as well as a Herman-Nelson.
     
    #23 GregP507, Dec 20, 2014
  4. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    Just for the sake of follow up, having played with the block heater for half a winter. Its fine for cold mornings, definitely improves the heater output on startup (there actually is heater output as opposed to none), but I wouldn't claim it makes any difference in fuel consumption.

    What the heater really excels at is as a "keep warm" device. If you make several shorter trips a day, using it to keep the engine warm between trips really works.
     
    #24 rdgrimes, Apr 3, 2015
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    new mexico seems like a funny place for a block heater. what was your winter like?
     
    #25 bisco, Apr 4, 2015
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I use the block heater year 'round. Engine operating temp is always well beyond ambient. Typical use would be 2 hours, before the first start up of the day. Rarely if every would I plug it in again, the same day: the engine seems to hold decent residual heat for rest of day. My MAIN object is improving mpg, not cabin heat, and I do believe it helps with that, getting the engine through warm-up faster.
     
    #26 Mendel Leisk, Apr 4, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2015
  7. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    Stop using it in warm weather and I expect you'll see no difference in MPG. In cold weather, maybe but not likely. The initial block temp is only one small fraction in the whole MPG equation. In cold weather the ICE still has to run to keep warm, so the benefit from the block heater is only seen in the first few minutes of run time. In warm weather, that benefit would be limited to maybe the first 30-60 sec.

    So I'll wager you cannot demonstrate any benefit to average MPG with use of a heater in any weather, but I'd be happy to be proved wrong. I doubt that Toyota ever intended the block heater to be anything more than a comfort feature.
     
    #27 rdgrimes, Apr 4, 2015
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    or maybe a starting feature in frostbite falls...
     
    #28 bisco, Apr 4, 2015
  9. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    actually, not quite as cold as usual/

    [​IMG]
     
    #29 StarCaller, Apr 4, 2015
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Watched a making of Breaking Bad disc: they were freezing their butts off before some shoots, wearing parkas.
     
    #30 Mendel Leisk, Apr 4, 2015
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    because their blood is thin.
     
    #31 bisco, Apr 4, 2015
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