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engine oil heater

remingtonoaks
I didn't want to hijack montanajoe's engine block heater thread so I started this one.

Not only do I run an engine block heater but I also run an engine oil heater. I find it just as important if not more to heat the oil as it does to heat the cooling system/block because it lets the oil get warm so it flows better through your engine when your engine is cold before you start it. Lubricating your engine faster

There are a couple of different types that you can use, I've used both and anymore I just buy the dipstick type, it's easier to put in, this is just as good a job and I can take it from vehicle to vehicle when I sell one. The engine pan heater you have to put on the outside of the pan and it sticks on with double-sided tape. And I'm always afraid it may come off.

So I don't have to have them both the oil heater and engine block heater running all night long I bought a heavy duty 24 hour timer that I use to start them. and depending on how big the capacities are I'll run them from 1 to 3 hours before I'm ready to leave in the morning. Saves me a bunch of money in electricity using the timer.What I do when I first buy a vehicle it is run the heaters all night longand before I started up in the morning I'll take a infrared thermometer and make sure the temperature of the engine block and the oil pan, and then the next night I'll run it for about for 5 hours and take the temperature again the next morning, slowly decreasing the time I left the heaters run until the temperature starts to decrease when I measure the temperatures with the infrared thermometer. And then slowly bring it back up in length of time until it reaches the optimum temperature


Here are the two types of that they have

Dipstick type engine oil heater

https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Heaters/Kats-Heaters/KH15200.html?feed=npn&gclid=CjwKCAiAy-_iBRAaEiwAYhSlA4yQXRrsUWckLCP5FKAEIUpiwLtjomI0aQy4zh14Bp8sMQXrt2f1gRoCiIQQAvD_BwE

Engine oil pan heater

https://www.walmart.com/ip/110v-175w-Pad-Silicone-Heater-Engine-Oil-Pan-Tank-Heater-Preheater-Pad-3-5-x-5-Orange/627678337?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=18183&adid=22222222228235578791&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=279284447269&wl4=pla-466823303651&wl5=9029751&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=125210735&wl11=online&wl12=627678337&wl13=&veh=sem&gclid=CjwKCAiAy-_iBRAaEiwAYhSlA2koGkP7T8G2KySDi7B3Pb450gY8tRWIK6jEixLTq0ecGMz7zvs-ZRoCclgQAvD_BwE
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • allen griggs
    I am from Georgia. Twenty years ago I went to visit my buddy up in South Dakota, it was minus 19. Nissan wouldn't start.
    We went down to the mechanic and he said "You must have that thick Georgia oil." What the hell did I know we don't see minus 19 in Georgia.

    He sold me a heater, you pull the dipstick and put this into the dipstick hole and plug it in. A few hours later the truck cranked up.
    Life in Yankeeland.
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  • remingtonoaks
    quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
    I am from Georgia. Twenty years ago I went to visit my buddy up in South Dakota, it was minus 19. Nissan wouldn't start.
    We went down to the mechanic and he said "You must have that thick Georgia oil." What the hell did I know we don't see minus 19 in Georgia.

    He sold me a heater, you pull the dipstick and put this into the dipstick hole and plug it in. A few hours later the truck cranked up.
    Life in Yankeeland.


    Oh yes, oil can become a heavy sludge when it gets cold, even the right viscosity... but we don't have to put up with the humidity during the Summers
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  • spasmcreek
    engine oil pan heater with magnet stick on..buy at many places...google
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  • Cornflk1
    Only problem with oil pan heater is you have to crawl underneath the vehicle to install/remove. Dip stick, just stick it in.[^]
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  • remingtonoaks
    quote:Originally posted by us55840

    Not much reason for either anymore. With 100% synthetic motor oil, haven't needed a engine block heater, dip stick heater or tank heater to heat the engine coolant in decades.

    My truck is outside 24/7 and fires right up in either 110 F above zero or 30 F below zero.

    With synthetic lube in the transfer case, front and rear differentials, it rolls off like it's 90 F above zero regardless of how cold it is.

    [^]


    It's not about starting, I've had vehicles start with conventional oils without block or oil heaters in them when it's 30 blow out too... It's about getting proper lubrication right away. Even synthetic oils become sludge when it gets really cold.

    So I wouldn't be to smug with your quote if I were you
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  • Tech141
    quote:Originally posted by us55840

    Not much reason for either anymore. With 100% synthetic motor oil, haven't needed a engine block heater, dip stick heater or tank heater to heat the engine coolant in decades.

    My truck is outside 24/7 and fires right up in either 110 F above zero or 30 F below zero.

    With synthetic lube in the transfer case, front and rear differentials, it rolls off like it's 90 F above zero regardless of how cold it is.

    [^]


    I'm guessing you don't drive a diesel vehicle.
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  • Smitty500mag
    Can you buy an air-conditioner dipstick? I need of them instead of a heated dipstick.
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  • remingtonoaks
    quote:Originally posted by us55840
    quote:Originally posted by remingtonoaks
    quote:Originally posted by us55840

    Not much reason for either anymore. With 100% synthetic motor oil, haven't needed a engine block heater, dip stick heater or tank heater to heat the engine coolant in decades.

    My truck is outside 24/7 and fires right up in either 110 F above zero or 30 F below zero.

    With synthetic lube in the transfer case, front and rear differentials, it rolls off like it's 90 F above zero regardless of how cold it is.

    [^]


    It's not about starting, I've had vehicles start with conventional oils without block or oil heaters in them when it's 30 blow out too... It's about getting proper lubrication right away. Even synthetic oils become sludge when it gets really cold.

    So I wouldn't be to smug with your quote if I were you


    As for wear, not an issue. I've used full synthetic oil for nearly 50 years..since the early 70's. Several vehicles have had well in excess of 100,000 miles on them and some nearly 200,000 miles.......gas engines. Never had one using oil nor blowing up.
    I switched engines in one vehicle to a larger size (more power), and opened the removed engine to check wear. There wasn't even enough wear to warrant honing the cylinders before it went back into another vehicle where it went another 100,000 miles before being sold.

    Just lucky ..... I don't think so and that is my belief based on my personal experience.
    [:)]


    and somebody here also said they get over a hundred thousand miles without ever changing their oil.I've also known women that have drove their cars over a hundred thousand Miles without oil. Doesn't say much does it...

    But hey, it's your vehicles. You do what you want with them
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  • Mobuck
    We tried those back in the 60's. I know technology has improved in 60 years but I still remember the smell of scorched oil emanating from the oil fill cap after Dad left one plugged in all night. Then there was another that malfunctioned and swelled itself up in the tube requiring a trip to a heated shop and paying a mechanic to remove tube and heater.
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  • jwb267
    THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    why burn your oil?
    if there is oil pressure, you are good to go
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