Oil Pan Heater Mod

Coming from an electrician's perspective, nice. Just a thought, you could splice the block heater and this pad somewhere along the line so that you only have one male end to plug in.

 

Never thought about doing this. Looking forward to perhaps do this to both my Tacos

 

Another option is a webasto heater - in line coolant heater that was mentioned previously. We use them extensively on all kinds of vehicles up north and lots of big rigs. I've seen many installed on diesel Landcruisers. They can be on a timer, or on a thermostat, and sip a small amount of fuel (diesel). They are the cat's ass.

 

Just rule of thumb for stick on oil pan heaters:
In 60 minutes, 1 watt will heat up 1 quart by 1C°.

For example, 125 watt heater in 1 hour will increase temperature by 20C°.
1 watt x 125=125watt
125watt / 6 quart = 20.8C°. (My 2.7 lt. takes 6 quarts)

So leaving on 125 watt pad all night (10 hours) will raise oil to 200C°!!! (Operating temp. is 100C°.)
So you need timer or thermostat.

I have timer that starts 2 hours before I start car to warm it up. I do it even around 0C°.

(Wifi plug, with app with timer and on demand on/off)

I will try to measure temp of oil pan.

 

I'm not a science major but the above equation doesn't take into account the passive radiation of the aluminum engine block.

Years ago a friend here in Anchorage was looking for an interior heater for his Chebby Astro Van. He repurposed a hot air popcorn popper mounted to a piece of plywood and placed in back. He would fire it up about 10 minutes before he was ready to leave, then would drive to work in short sleeves.

Sandy

 

Ok, so i went and plugged in heater just for kicks.
Test started 12pm
Outside temp +7C°
Bottom of oil pan +7C°
30 minuts later: +11
60 minuts: +12
90 minuts: + 13
120 minuts: +13.5

So I decided to drain some oil and check temp directly:
2 hours after plug in + 18C°
I used laser thermometer. I wonder if result would have been different if i have used submerged thermometer.

Ok so what went wrong? Aluminum desapated all the heat?
I guess i can increase time its plugged in.

If its about 5 C° in hour, and i leave car 10 hours overnight, and it heat it up by 50 C°. Minus temperature drop at night.....
What you think?

Edit: 3:30 pm
Outside temp drop to 6C°
3.5 hours plug in, poured oil sample out and measured 18.5 C°...

Edit: 5pm
Outside tepm 5.5C°
5 hours plug in, sample 18C°

Done for today, will get better termomiter and try it again.

 

Coolio! Thanks.

btw, I wasn't trying to be a jerk. I know after many years an Alaska that if my oil had ever gotten that hot the snow would have been melting off the hood and HOT air would have come out of the ducts.

Sandy

 

No sweat at all, when you said it, i wanted to actually check if formula was right. I got it from british stick on heating pad manufacturer. Will go back to website and check math again.
Tonight I have set timer for 3 hours before i have to start truck.

Will try to do overnight measurement when temperatures drop to 25 f.

 

You right, I was thinking leaving heat all night tonight, i just cameback from drive, but its only 5C° tonight.

 

For the V6 I was able to put two of the Wolvering 125 watt heaters on the oil pan -- one on each side, and the OEM block heater that fits into the port on the rear of the engine. Works great but depending on the ambient temp you may have to leave it plugged in all night. Kind of neat to jump in and see the temp needle already a 1/4 way up the dial.

 

So, last night parked truck after long drive, plugged it in right after, 6 pm. After 13 hours plugged in, drained and oil is +5C°. Outside temp -11C°

 

It was good today, no metal clicking sound that you get from cold start. But it gets -20 C° once in blue moon at my parts.

 

Shazzam! Today is a blue moon.

 

Yeay, i did not know if anybody would get the joke i went outside 5:45 am to look at moon, and it was brighter and larger but not blue.

I just bought freeze plug 11813 for $30 (plus funel to get free shiping)
https://www.autozone.com/external-engine/freeze-plug-kit/engine-freeze-plug-kit/4301_954429_0

 

Just did this mod today.... looking forward to testing it this winter here in Oklahoma. It often times will get down into the single digits here during December, January and early February.

 

Do you think there would be any benefit to having the heater on the bottom of the pan opposed to the side? I suppose that always gives the concern of the wires being lower but idk heat rises. I wonder if they work better that way. Or if it even matters at all.

 

We can't install these any more, its actually because of VW.

They were all mounted to the bottom of the pan, they would fall off and ignite the possible oil leak underneath the vehicle caught in the skid tray.

I prefer the frost plug block heaters as the coolant circulates way more than engine oil. Just way harder to install.