When the temp regularly drops well below freezing, how many of you use an engine heater and/or battery heater? (oil pan heating pad, block heater, etc...). If so, what are your suggestions on selecting one?

 

If you're dipping just around freezing (32F or 0C) a block heater is more than enough.

Dip to 14 to -4 F (-10 to -20 C) and a battery blanket will help. At that point, your battery can lose up to 50% of its cranking power.

Below -4 F (-20 C) and the oil pan heater is nice to have, but I wouldn't worry unless you actually get below -22 F (-30 C). Using a good synthetic oil will help, too.

 

I use a magnetic oil pan heater. It works great and the engine cranks over a lot easier when its stupid cold outside. It was only around 50 bucks at Carquest.

 

We don't get that cold here very often. When it does, I know it's a PIA to get this thing to fire up!

 

just be sure to unplug them when you go to take off. Spent a few years in alaska watching newbs back up and ripping their extension cords/grills off the front of their cars/trucks..gave up waving at them because they would never stop

 

I have used these on and off for at least 40 years.

Of all the block type heaters there seems to be for the most 2 kinds the kind you plug in with engine warm and it holds the temp.

The other kind you plug in very cold engine 1/2 hour 45 minutes depending on engine size you are ready to crank it over.

*** Very important with coolant type heaters unplug before cranking you hit a air pocket the heating element is cooked.

get a better product There are the kind you install by removing a freeze out plug. Others area Tank type that go in the radiator hose.

I have used the magnet oil pan heaters a pain to crawl under unless you mount it . it is exposed to all the road slop..

I have used the dip stick heaters I don`t know if they are still around or not. Again pulling it out and installing the dipstick

No Matter they do save a lot of wear on the starting system