a winter warm up tip

[almightybmw]

My GP does not constantly flow. Its not even connected until the thermostat opens up. I've watched the gauge hit 220*F and still blowing cold air out the vents. As soon as it opens though, desert hot air flows and the cabin warms up fast, regardless of outside temps. Engine makes the heat, but it won't share it with me

[bobc455]

The heater core in my Saturn can pull enough heat to keep the engine cool in the summertime.

My radiator fan hasn't worked for a couple of years, so when I get stuck in stop-and-go traffic I throw the heater on high and that can keep the engine cool (even on 90 degree days).

So yes, don't underestimate the amount of heat that a heater core can suck out of the engine.

Don't ask why I'm so lazy that my fan has been broken for two years...

-BC

[zero_gravity]

yup little late for sure but to be honest it didn't dawn on me until now

but then again its still stupid cold here....feel like its under -20C here at the moment.

[Jay2TheRescue]

LOL, too late? Even now at 9:00 AM I'm looking at my outside thermometer and it says its 16.5 degreees F outside. I remember when driving to work my SG said the IAT was 8 F.

-Jay

[aalb1]

Originally Posted by zero_gravity

yup little late for sure but to be honest it didn't dawn on me until now

but then again its still stupid cold here....feel like its under -20C here at the moment.

Don't get me wrong... This is a great tip!!!!
But I'm just pissed off that it didn't "dawn" on you three months ago when I started to pack on the gloves, hat, and layers.

By the way, maybe this is the placebo effect, but I think this did not just caused the engine to warm up faster, but it caused the engine to warm up SIGNIFICANTLY FASTER!! Three months late or not... I'm glad this dawned on you!

[zero_gravity]

yeah i'm sorry i never thought of it earlier either, but thats life sometimes. i use this now with my coolant heater and my warmup time is pretty much nil. and yup i wear my gloves, coat, hat while the car is warming up. it sucks.

[Lug_Nut]

Originally Posted by JanGeo

I wonder if they will ever think to put a small electric heater in a gas powered car to take the edge off when the engine is cold. Most of the alternators can provide plenty of power to keep the battery charged with a 50 amp heater load.

The VW TDI diesels have such supplemental heaters. There are three of them located near the head in the coolant supply to the cabin heater core. These heaters are about 250 watts each and are controlled such that none, one, or the other two, or all three, can be working depending on the coolant temperature. The electrical load of all three is darned close to 50 amperes, but the TDI have a 120 amp alternator. It needs to be sized such to cope with these heaters, the four cylinder head glow plugs (each similar wattage), headlights, fan on high, rear defroster, seat heaters, side mirror heaters, washer spray heaters,...

[thisisntjared]

i love climate control. it does that for me

[Jay2TheRescue]

I have a little 12v forced air ceramic heater I bought @ Big Lots for $12 a couple of years ago that works great. Just what I need to help warm my fingers on a 12F degree morning...

-Jay

[Danronian]

Civic VX does cut off the coolant flow to the heater core if you turn the temp all the way to cold.

I've been doing this for about two years now along with my grill block and warm-air intake to get the engine warmed asap.