The best way to warm an engine?

[grober]

Aftermarket Engine preheater? OR a piece of cardboard or strong baking foil over the lower half of the radiator should help warm up time but keep a watchfull eye on the temp gauge.

 

[para alpha]

been told termite is quite effective?

 

[bennesspipers]

Whats that Para ? Chinese marmite ?

 

[wemorgan]

What is the best way to warm an engine.

Recently my morning routine has been to:

remove surface snow
spray de-icer on windscreen
return indoors, eat a full English with coffee
get in car
start engine
wiper removes ice
drive off
1 mile later arrive at work.....pathetic hey.

 

[welland99]

Petrol at least, you should blip it up while cold to throw some oil around.

What do you mean? Momentarily up to 2000 rpm?

 

[welland99]

Takes ages being a derv to warm up

That's interesting. I had been wondering if diesels take longer to warm up because I know diesel burns cooler than petrol.

Does this also mean that cabin heaters in diesel cars are less good than in petrol cars?

Does the water in diesel cars run cooler, or are the cooling systems tuned so that the water is about the same temp as in a petrol?

 

[wemorgan]

Some diesels have an auxillary heater so the cabin can warm up before the engine is warm.

FYI my diesel water temp is 90 C

 

[whitenemesis]

That's interesting. I had been wondering if diesels take longer to warm up because I know diesel burns cooler than petrol.

Does this also mean that cabin heaters in diesel cars are less good than in petrol cars?

Does the water in diesel cars run cooler, or are the cooling systems tuned so that the water is about the same temp as in a petrol?

Most MB diesels have electric booster heaters that cut in at low temps.

Mine is blowing warm air within a couple min. Engine is up to normal temp (80C) within 10miles

 

[SSBB]

A word of warning to all......if you must warm your car up before driving, make sure your sitting in it.
Three owners in the west midlands today left their car warming up only to find it gone when they came out of their houses. You might not see anyone hanging about! You definitley wont see a car cruising round looking for your already running car, never mind gone in 60 seconds.....more like gone in 6 seconds

 

[corned]

Best way to heat up your motor

When I was a teenager, a little old lady near us used the following technique in winter when her Mini Clubman didn't start too well:

1. Mini won't start;
2. Return to house;
3. Return to car and put hot water bottle on engine.
4. Leave for 10 mins.

Can anyone guess No 5?

 

[KillerHERTZ]

My M112 V6 over revs for a min or to until it gets to the correct tempt.

Can anyone tell me why it takes about 4 mins on a boiling hot day, yet on a minus 4 day it takes about 30secs?

 

[bennesspipers]

Yes killer, its the cars revenge for you not tidying your wheel arches

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Go fix your sunroof

 

[bennesspipers]

Touche'

 

[Rory]

That's interesting. I had been wondering if diesels take longer to warm up because I know diesel burns cooler than petrol.

They take longer simply because diesel engines are more efficient than petrol so there's less waste heat produced.

 

[para alpha]

whats that para ? Chinese marmite ?

:d:d:d

 

[ringway]

When I was a teenager, a little old lady near us used the following technique in winter when her Mini Clubman didn't start too well:

1. Mini won't start;
2. Return to house;
3. Return to car and put hot water bottle on engine.
4. Leave for 10 mins.

Can anyone guess No 5?

Made it a cup of Horlicks?

 

[stwat]

Interesting, not noticed one in any Merc I've been in. The SL has a an oil pressure gauge which is pretty pointless IMHO as you only care if the pressure is low (and there's a warning light for that). Oil temp you'd use every time you drove the car.

The oil light you talk of is the oil level light not oil pressure light! It tells you when you need to top the engine oil up.

The 190e 16 valve's have an oil temp gauge

 

[stwat]

Just a quick addition to my post above.

It takes about 2 to 3 miles of driving before the oil temp gauge shows 50 deg c(that's the first reading on the gauge) I take it very easy until that point and don't really give it any beans until it reaches at least 65-70.

 

[camerafodder]

They take longer simply because diesel engines are more efficient than petrol so there's less waste heat produced.

Diesel engines also usually have more mass as they tend to be of a heavier construction than petrol engines.