???? I thought they just kicked straight in with hot air blowing? Serious question cos I was starting to look at fitting one....? A
HECKFLOSSE
Active Member
Bit like sitting in a huge, damp, metal biscuit tin with a blower fan that is as powerful as a mouse's fart and more draughts than a tent on Ben Nevis.If it's cold outside, you're going to need a coat at some stage, unless you're driving to and from a heated garage. As long as it demists the windows, get used to it - feel alive! crap heaters is part of the tratter experience
The feeling comes back to your fingers at about Easter, I believe.
The man I quoted was talking about the block heater versions, ie the ones that heat the coolant and are std fit on many makes of cars, the hot air versions are obviously much quicker to heat up, a couple of minutes will give you heat, 5 minutes and you will be toasty, but still not 400 yards.
Saltlick
Well-Known Member
They're not 'block' heaters - they're coolant heaters, and they assist modern engines to reach operating temp.
But what is being said here is that a small heating device that is designed solely to provide heat and nothing else, won't heat up as fast as a 2ltr + engine.
Please explain how an efficient (as in, most of the energy stored in the fuel translates into kinetic energy, not heat) a comparatively large engine can go from stone cold and warm up its huge thermal mass in the space of 400m (in less than a minute perhaps?), unaided, and provide full heat to the cabin?
The reason that Mercedes, BMW, VAG, Ford, JLR, Volvo, Toyota etc. add coolant heaters to most of their engine range is that modern engines are so efficient that they turn most of the fuel into drive rather than heat, and would not get up to full operating temp inside 30 minutes in normal driving conditions. So they fit the webasto/eberspacher coolant heaters to their engines as standard to speed up/assist the engine warm up and drive the heating circuit to give cabin heat quickly.
Just look at how many "what's that noise coming from my stopped engine when it gets cold?" threads there are on these boards which are the coolant heaters that the owners didn't know were fitted.
Saltlick
Well-Known Member
Whilst not trying to perpetuate the myth that I might have a brain, I do know that they're not the same thing
Block heaters are small non moving heating elements that screw into the engine block and directly heat the engine casing. They're common in America/Canadia etc.
The other type plumb into the coolant lines.
I really don't mind if you want to troll though, it's kinda entertaining
mikescuba
Well-Known Member
Not in my part of the world when temperatures can go down as low as -18 C. One good thing about my Defender heaters. The windows don't steam up, it doesn't get warm enough inside.
mikescuba
Well-Known Member
It's a Diesel, I have noticed the fuel consumption is higher when it first starts up according to the on board computer, once the engine warms up I get better mileage. whatever it has in it, it works very well.
defenderdog
Active Member
The heater in mine has never been cold. Heats up quick and toasty and warm. Or maybe I just don't feel the cold.
The heater in mine has never been cold. Heats up quick and toasty and warm. Or maybe I just don't feel the cold.
Reckon your hard as hell. Should take up Arctic exploration
defenderdog
Active Member
Reckon your hard as hell. Should take up Arctic exploration
Would love to. When my Landy was on the road I used it to tow my twin axle salt spreader round. Had some real cold nights in 2012 season but she never let me down and always kept me cozy and warm. Can't wait to be out there again. But the way I'm getting on it could be 2017 season.
mikescuba
Well-Known Member
I Prefer the Webasco, I can start my car up, then load up. By the time I get in it all the ice on the windows etc has melted. No ice scrapping or deicers necessary.
Shifty1962
Well-Known Member
I took my Defender heater box apart and lined it with 6mm camping mat foam. Sealed all gaps with silicone and Rob's your mother's brother. Now got a heater that works and I must say it is much better than I expected. Still takes an age for the engine to warm up but once it does its nice and cosy in the cab. Not had any real cold nights yet but it is 100% better than the luke warm it used to blow.
