Would an oil pan heater be beneficiary

[RedDevil]

Now knowing what and how to search, I found the Honda parts number for the block heater is 08T44-SNA-101.
That's for the 110 volt version, so my search has not ended. But my dealer should get the idea and be able to get the right version. Thanks again guys.
I already decided that installing it myself is beyond my skill level. It took me 3 hours to install a HID kit though that was in part due to it not having proper H11 counterplugs.

Once in place I will use it whenever possible, even in summer. Even a short heat-up should help. The gain is best in winter; last week at -10C / 14 F I had to run the engine before driving to clear the window (it fogged on defrost while driving the day before, would not let that happen again) and it produced quite a petrol stench from the exhaust... so motivating me to put the block heater on top of my wanted ecomods list.

[Cobb]

I never used it in the summer, just the winter when the temps get down to 32 F.

Its not really hard to install, it just requires you to jack up the passenger side where the engine is, remove the wheel, fender liner, belly pan, drain the coolant. Then reach around to the right side of the engine near the firewall and unscrew the little bolt next to the big plug where the heater will go. Thats the block drain plug.

Once its drained, put it back.Now to undo the plug you need 2 guys and a small boy on a 4 ft breaker bar.

Once you screw it in, plug hte cord, route it, use the zie ties to secure it, then button up the belly pan, fender liner, put the wheel back on and add the coolant.

Yes, it helps the car to warm up faster and enter closed loop faster too. I start up and drive for 2 minutes and the cold engine light is off and I crank up the heater.


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[RedDevil]

Even in summer it should help. I start my commute by bringing my 5 year old breaker bar boy to school. That's less than a mile and I get 8 l/ 100 km 29 mpg at best, when it isn't cold.
One day I forgot his bag, so went back and forth to bring it. 4.8 or 49 mpg on the rerun... Running the block heater for 20 minutes or so should have that same effect in summer. Our gas price is mostly tax, making it almost 10$ a gallon while the mains are only taxed lightly. Enhancing the net gain from this mod.

I know the big plug is stubborn, I have a slam screwdriver and bolt cap set but need enough space to swing the hammer, doubt that can be done on my driveway.

The coolant is special Honda magic stuff that only needs to be replaced after 200.000 km; I dread spilling that. The garage needs to charge me severely before I dare DIY.

[RedDevil]

There was that idea nagging in the corner of my brain: the I2's engine bay is almost fully closed, so what if I put a hairdryer inside?

So I did:


I'ts a small 1000W hairdryer and it fits nicely between the radiator and the engine.
Let it run for 15 minutes to test the effect. It defrosted the right wing within 5 minutes, then I pointed it lower to blow underneath the engine. After that all warmed up gradually. My air intake thermo showed a 1 degree C increase per 2-3 minutes. Nothing overheats, and there's no big gush of hot air escaping. I guess it works.

Tomorrow I'll let it run for 40 minutes or so before my commute, then take it out. Still prefer to have the block heater. But we'll see what this does in real life.

My plug-in hybrid

[Cobb]

Breaker bar boy, LOL. Yeah, he will come in handy if you go the oem heater route as it replaces one of the freezer plugs. I had a mercedes 240d that the plug was unable to be removed and a 6ft break bar was used with 4 people as well as a 3/4 impact wrench.

Not sure 20 minutes will do it, I find best usage of power consumption vs benefit is 2 hours. Maybe if you use the 110 "American" model 20 minutes will do it?

I had a 85 diesel vw golf that wouldnt start. This was before I learned the wonders of starter fluid. I stuck the end of a hair dryer in the intake and left it for an hour. Myself and my dad tried and it fired right up.

Route plays a role in mpg. It maybe better for you to drive about vs direct to take your son to school. Where I live I can go a thousand feet and a stop light or go back around 3 miles and come up the street. I typically do that as I can just make a right vs a left and cross 4 lanes of traffic.


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[egads]

Just a thought, but most heating elements can be run at either 120 or 240 volts. The main difference between a European and North American one may just be the plug on the end. You may just need a travel adapter.

[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by Cobb

I had a 85 diesel vw golf ...

So did I, 4-speed 'n all. Drove it to the moon (over 250.000 miles) just took a long time to get there, or anywhere. After 19 years anything plastic desintegrated, like door lock and trip meter reset knobs. I so missed my '85 Civic then (rust killed that baby, it spent years close to the seaside).

All routes to school have the same probl;ems, and the BBB has Asperger's and freaks out on changes like a different route. He's nice but two handfulls.

The hair dryer ran for 45 minutes this morning and heated up the contents of the engine bay from -2C to +6C, probably with the exception of the engine itself. It fired up nice and smooth, idling at lower RPM than last week, but the school run gave hardly better mpg if at all. The fresh layer of snow did not help.
Defrost worked like a dream, cabin heat was early; still the blue light only died after school.
The hair dryer helps a bit but just isn't worth the hassle. I'll leave it and wait to get my block heater now.

Yeah, I could use a travel adapter, but I like to believe Honda makes them for 230V too, or maybe the thing has a built-in regulator to make it voltage independent. We'll see.

[Cobb]

I cant tell for sure, but many things I have use and purchase lists 2 rating 110-220 for voltage and of all its made in China.


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[RMasters]

You would have to have the heater plugged in for at least 2 hours.

Operating a block heater for longer than four hours prior to starting a vehicle is a waste of energy. It was found that coolant temperature increased by almost 36 °F degrees in that period, regardless of the initial temperature (4 tests were run at ambient temperatures ranging from 12 °F to −20 °F).

Continued use of the heater for a further one or two, or more, hours achieved a mere 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit as conditions stabilized. Engine oil temperature was found to increase over these periods by just 9.0 °F.

[RedDevil]

I meant to heat short when it is warm outside, like 25C/80F-ish. I don't think there is much to be gained from heating it for 2 hours then.
But my main concern is fogging up on cold days, even with the AC on. There are days here that you have to let it idle warm a bit or be a hazard on the road.

This mornings commute started at -6C, no hair dryer. Got the same FC for the trip as the day I used the hair dryer which was -2C. So much for that then. (had a bit of luck in avoiding traffic though).
Will order a block heater tomorrow, or at least try to.