Block heaters

Jerbearyukon · Post by **Jerbearyukon** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:15 pm

But I have only owned one vehicle that never needed it and that was my bike. I know these are air cooled but I had to ask the question cause our stuff is hard to start up here when she gets real cold.

Sorry about my ignorance

Jer Bear

Jimm391730 · Post by **Jimm391730** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:32 pm

Depends on what you mean by "real cold", our 710M with properly adjusted, well functioning carbs and pertronix and civi ignition fires right up down into the teens (well, it has to crank 5-10 times to fill the carb bowls, but once they have fuel it starts right up with full choke). How cold do you usually get?

Jim M.
712W w/FI and 710M

75pinz · Post by **75pinz** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 6:23 am

it's not as cold here as in the Yukon. However, I have seen 25 below with several Pinzgauers with absolutely nothing besides decent batteries and thin oil. I use 5 w30 in the winter here in Iowa. My guess is it will start better with a battery warmer but they do very well otherwise.

Kiwibru · Post by **Kiwibru** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:52 am

Yeah, it's gettin the darn engines to stay warm after they have started that is the challenge. Air cooled is just too efficient in the cold nordic air. I used to have a VW bus in which I dedicated one of the heater outlets to the air intake (via the air filter) so as to prevent roadway carb freeze ups in the lower teens and minus ranges. Guess that's why that Pinz air cleaner heat flap is such an important detail these cold months. But still, I have admit the Pinz is a bugger to keep warm or warm in! Guess you will have to see what your experience is and re-plan accordingly.
Happy New year!

Jerbearyukon · Post by **Jerbearyukon** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:40 pm

SHe's minus 28 C here today - If she'll start she should be ok after I get the webasto 3000 in her. Dennis said he can do that when I'm going through Co.

AK NIMROD · Post by **AK NIMROD** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 4:36 pm

Jerbear- seems to me i recall people using dipstick heaters and battery blanket heaters on their vw bugs in Goose Bay , Labrador when growing up( 40 years ago) -40 not uncommon there. i recall few years ago driving thru Yukon in mid dec. that two days it was -44F and i did not have block heater in the new car we were driving up.
i would also think something to restrict air flow may be helpful when driving and it is so cold.....not sure if there would be downside to that, Dennis might have an idea,
the guy that i got my pinz from used synthetic oil so i have continued that as i recall there was significant discussion here somewhere about synthetic oil use. pros and cons.
mine is sluggish to start but i think that is due to battery strength. barely turns over @ zero but will eventually start.

AK NIMROD · Post by **AK NIMROD** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:17 pm

my son had put an oil pan heater on my pinz i had forgotten about unit epoxyed to oil pan

MASSIVE PINZ · Post by **MASSIVE PINZ** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:41 pm

Yeah, it's gettin the darn engines to stay warm after they have started that is the challenge. Air cooled is just too efficient in the cold nordic air.

And then Pinz doesn't have a thermostat like a VW or Porsche to help it warm up.. THe oil T stat does NOTHING for cold heads..

Makes zero sense to me..

lindenengineering · Post by **lindenengineering** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:16 pm

Guys
I have seen Pinz folk blank up the air intake here in Colorado on very cold days to improve engine temperatures.

The problem is that Colorado also has sudden warm days in winter; so owners also forget that the engine is blanked up, hence no cooling. That can and WILL cause some expensive repairs to the top end if you are neglectful.

As for block heaters I suppose you could use the mentioned pan heater but syn oils would obviously help when its 40 below.

You could do what the Turkish truckers did about 30 years ago before the advent of plastic air and fuel pipes. In short light a tyre on fire a bung it under the truck. That keeps things toasty warm all night! NOT recommended!
Dennis

TurboJim · Post by **TurboJim** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:48 am

here is a wonderful place to get heat strips tape probes and any kind of controller you need we use this site for a lot of projects
http://www.omega.com/heaters/hsc.html
... heated seats would be a nice addition also ...

lindenengineering · Post by **lindenengineering** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:37 am

Heated Seats
Yes we have posted a thread on this some time ago with an additional demountable Webasto 24v heated seat element on a Pinzgauer.

A lot of interest I might add but no takers/real interest I,m afraid!
Dennis

Thomas-E · Post by **Thomas-E** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:23 am

Drifting a little off subject.... I have been concerned about the oil temp and cold wx also. My issue is not so much starting but while running, my oil temp was averaging about 125 - 140 Degrees F., not really warm enough to cook the moisture out of it.

I installed insulation made of foil and foam sandwich, 1/4 inch thick and covered the lower part of the engine (sump), covering the bottom and the sides as high as I could easily go. I cut a piece of foam centering it up on the oil pan and cut 4 notches so I could fold the sides up, used aluminum foil tape to seal the fold seams and then used a LARGE cable tie, wrapping it around the foil blanket about 3 inches above the pan bottom to secure it.

Now my engine in 25-30 degree F. wx, runs about 160 degrees F. I would really like it to run about 180, but this is a start.

Tom E.
712 M
Sonora, CA

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Block heaters - yup might sound like a stupid question

Block heaters - yup might sound like a stupid question

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