The chiller the temperature becomes, the harder it can be for your vehicle to get moving. However, engine block heaters are the equipment that helps cars with smooth and uninterrupted functioning. During those wintry days, you might have noticed an electric cord hanging from the engine block heater from your vehicle’s grille. Heaters are the most crucial and a great investment to prolong your vehicle’s lifespan and ensure that your car is prepared to get on the roads during all seasons. Keep going to know more about why you should purchase an engine block heater and how the machine can be helpful to your car.
Why Do You Need Engine Block Heaters
Engine block heaters help keep the engine of your car warm while you are not using it. Once you plug the machine into the 110-volt outlet, the heater warms up the engine block together with the internal coolant, oil, and other fluids.
Wintry temperature causes the engine fluids to be stickier, making it harder to start a vehicle. The extreme the temperature would be, the harder it would be to even start the car. Heating the engine before turning it on will prevent possible wear and tear to the vehicle. Besides, it also has the benefit of circulating warm air into your vents promptly to keep the car’s internal space warm.
Some popular engine block heaters
The majority of cars in Canada come with engine block heaters as a standard feature. You will also find off-the-shelf car models. You can install the machine by yourself or take your car to a professional auto repair shop, Toronto, to get the instrument installed with an expert’s help. Some of the most popular engine block heaters are:
- Engine warming blanket: This device couples with the top of the vehicle hood or hangs over the engine. It works just like an electric blanket to the motor of your car.
- Oil pan heater: The oil pan heater is fixed to the exterior part of the oil pan with the help of magnets or bolts. The key function of this device is to warm the engine oil.
- Dipstick heater: This simple device replaces your regular engine oil dipstick with a component that heats the oil.
- In-line coolant heater: It is connected to the radiator coolant hose. This instrument spreads coolant throughout the engine by pumping it through.
- Freeze plug heater: This heater type replaces the freeze plug of your car engine by using an element that warms the coolant directly.
Who should get an engine block heater?
Engine block heaters are worth investing in if you reside in a country with hard freezes. Not using a vehicle daily means it is not heated regularly. Nevertheless, engine block heaters can be of great help. Besides, diesel-powered vehicles can also benefit from an engine block heater because diesel engines need a higher temperature than gasoline-powered machines to ignite the fuel. If you own a car that uses non-synthetic oil, your vehicle can also benefit from the use of a block heater.
The use of an engine block heater
If you reside in a wintry country where the temperature could go below -15 degrees centigrade, it is ideal to use a block heater. You don’t need to keep your heater running for the entire night. Rather, it will take anywhere from three to four hours to heat your car. A timer in the early morning hours to turn on the block heater will be a great help to save energy. The most effective way of using an engine heater is based on the temperature. For example, if you are in a wintry climate that can cause the gel to form on your antifreeze, check your brand manual guide or the antifreeze brand ideal to crack the block. Also, you might even need to power your block heater overnight.
You can lower your electricity bill during milder cold days by setting up a timer to put the block heater on. The timer will notify you to turn on the heater a few hours before your time to travel. Often the heater takes circa two to four hours to heat the engine adequately during wintry weather. The engine block heater is not required during every wintery day, and rather, you only need to use the device when the temperature falls below five degrees Fahrenheit.
Besides, a remote starter can more effectively heat the engine during more moderate temperatures. Your engine block heater lowers the possible risk of engine damage and prolongs the lifespan of your vehicle. However, if you are on the lookout for some more advice and help setting up the device, drive to the reputable auto repair shop Toronto where the team of experts will be at your service to provide you with the best assistance.