Technical Heaters

[Dino500]

Hi all,


I'm mechanically au fait with cars but I always ask the question on the forums I'm on as I get so many different answers depending on which manufacturers car I'm currently driving at that time.

Do you know of an impact to the engine in terms of reliability and lifetime of starting the car up on a cold day and immediately putting the car on heat or do you wait a while util the engine temp is at optimum before asking for full heat?

M

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Hi all,


I'm mechanically au fait with cars but I always ask the question on the forums I'm on as I get so many different answers depending on which manufacturers car I'm currently driving at that time.

Do you know of an impact to the engine in terms of reliability and lifetime of starting the car up on a cold day and immediately putting the car on heat or do you wait a while util the engine temp is at optimum before asking for full heat?

M

Shouldn't make any difference if any to the reliability or life of the engine. Modern engines are designed to a driven from cold, under a reasonable load, and if you're thermostat is working correctly, with cabin heat on or not, the engine should warm up fairly quickly.

 

[MJG]

Hi all,


I'm mechanically au fait with cars but I always ask the question on the forums I'm on as I get so many different answers depending on which manufacturers car I'm currently driving at that time.

Do you know of an impact to the engine in terms of reliability and lifetime of starting the car up on a cold day and immediately putting the car on heat or do you wait a while util the engine temp is at optimum before asking for full heat?

M

I too would say the difference would be negligible to non existent TBH. Ours starts to warm up very quickly and although I haven't experimented the time difference taken to do so does not seem unduly affected with the heater on or off.

 

[varesecrazy]

as MEP says- a working thermostat will keep all the engines heat in the block until the temp is enough to open the 'stat - and at that point you will begin to get proper heat to the matrix.

It doesn't matter if you call for 36'C, you won't get much above 15'C until the engine has warmed and the 'stat opens,
Charlie

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

as MEP says- a working thermostat will keep all the engines heat in the block until the temp is enough to open the 'stat - and at that point you will begin to get proper heat to the matrix.

It doesn't matter if you call for 36'C, you won't get much above 15'C until the engine has warmed and the 'stat opens,
Charlie

Most Fiats keep the matrix in the same circuit as the block, stat can be jammed shut and you'll still get heat

 

[Dino500]

Okay cool, great replies thanks guys.

So we are saying that having the heaters on full blast straight away won't have any detrimental effect on the engine from a warming up or mechanical longevity point of view?

Just wondered what Fiat owners thought was all.

M

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Okay cool, great replies thanks guys.

So we are saying that having the heaters on full blast straight away won't have any detrimental effect on the engine from a warming up or mechanical longevity point of view?

Just wondered what Fiat owners thought was all.

M

It'll take slightly longer to warm up, but shouldn't affect mechanical longevity.

 

[varesecrazy]

It'll take slightly longer to warm up, but shouldn't affect mechanical longevity.

fractionally longer....possibly


on ALL of my cars it takes @2 miles / 5 mins to cross town - whereby the temp gauge actually starts to creep off cold..It's at THIS point where heat starts to be emitted from the heater vents,

so the heat isn't really leaving the engines central circuit,
until the thermostat opens ( around halfway -up gauge),

I hope that makes sense..,
Charlie

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

fractionally longer....possibly


on ALL of my cars it takes @2 miles / 5 mins to cross town - whereby the temp gauge actually starts to creep off cold..It's at THIS point where heat starts to be emitted from the heater vents,

so the heat isn't really leaving the engines central circuit,
until the thermostat opens ( around halfway -up gauge),

I hope that makes sense..,
Charlie

The thermostat on FIRE engines is on the feed to the rad only, so you'll find that its taking 2 miles before the coolant has any real heat in it probably, which is why you only then start to get heat into the cabin.

It'll slow the engine warm up time ever so slightly on a petrol, although not by much, but you will defo notice it with a diesel lump.

 

[varesecrazy]

very true,
as diesels run COLD..

that's why diesels in Proper COLD climates all run Eberspacher and the like.., :worship:

my sons 307 HDi had an electric warmer from the factory..needless to say it's electrical supply wasn't the best..:bang:

give me Italian electrics anyday :devil:

Charlie