Engine Block Heater?
- Thread starter Memphis
- Start date
TravsSonic
New member
i've only drove one vehicle with a block heater, and it was a work truck in canada.. haha. They even had plug-ins for every vehicle in the hotel i was staying in, it was the funniest thing, but i guess necessary. 
Yep, a lot of cars have an engine block heater here in Canada. It is vital for the winter.
When it goes down to -30 F, you really shouldn't be starting the car from cold, so helps to plug it in and keep the oil warm all night.
When it goes down to -30 F, you really shouldn't be starting the car from cold, so helps to plug it in and keep the oil warm all night.
SSpeckerwood
New member
i have a heated garage. no need for a block heater.
i'd look into a magnet that hooks to your oil pan a heat lamp and a blanket to go over the motor. i've done it before and it works great.
i'd look into a magnet that hooks to your oil pan a heat lamp and a blanket to go over the motor. i've done it before and it works great.
Papasonic
Active member
The optional factory oil pan heater doesn't heat the coolant like a more desirable engine block heater. It only warms the oil pan, and by convection will assist warming the block. Another issue with the factory heater: It doesn't even turn on until ambient temperature reaches 0 degrees F.
On some older vehicles I used during cold winter conditions, I had a heater called a thermo-pump that connected to the heater hose. It would warm the coolant and circulate it through the engine and heater. When starting the vehicle in any cold temperature; it was like starting on a warm summer day. The defroster and heater worked almost immediately. Most of today's vehicles won't work with this type of heater because of electronic and vacuum controlled coolant control valves and electronic thermostats.
On some older vehicles I used during cold winter conditions, I had a heater called a thermo-pump that connected to the heater hose. It would warm the coolant and circulate it through the engine and heater. When starting the vehicle in any cold temperature; it was like starting on a warm summer day. The defroster and heater worked almost immediately. Most of today's vehicles won't work with this type of heater because of electronic and vacuum controlled coolant control valves and electronic thermostats.
photoman475
New member
Hi all-
I (sadly) live in North Dakota, and the temps were down in the -25 to -35 degrees over the last several days. And with temps like that, you can understand the sadness.....
I've had the dipstick heater in the past for another car-it's ok, but it's not the greatest.
I've had the block heater, and that is much better. After this winter, I'm thinking about getting one in my wife's 2012 Sonic. It will use electricity and add to the bill, but even though the car sits in a garage, it's unheated.
Worth it is will be!
Photoman475
I (sadly) live in North Dakota, and the temps were down in the -25 to -35 degrees over the last several days. And with temps like that, you can understand the sadness.....
I've had the dipstick heater in the past for another car-it's ok, but it's not the greatest.
I've had the block heater, and that is much better. After this winter, I'm thinking about getting one in my wife's 2012 Sonic. It will use electricity and add to the bill, but even though the car sits in a garage, it's unheated.
Worth it is will be!
Photoman475
Blue hedgehog
New member
If you want to protect the engine you want to heat the oil. If you want the convienience of a warm engine (no warm up time till heat comes on) you want a block heater. Block heaters are more common on diesels since they use heat for ignition (heat is caused by the compression stroke) and on cold days and lower compression/older diesels they need all the help they can get to make the required heat for ignition.
Walleyeye
Member
Up here in Winnipeg the winters get to -40F & colder so having a blockheater warms the coolant and that heat radiates through the. Coolant to warm the block and makes a HUGE difference in Arctic starting temps.
That combined with a powerful battery and synthetic oil and ive never had a vehicle not start.
Ive even put a coolant heater in my Quad and it made all the difference in the world.
I will admit when we got our '17 RS and I found out it had a oil pan heater i was kind of not sure what to do. Do I get a block heater installed as well or just stick with the oil pan heater?
What do you guys think?
The oil pan heater seems redundant to me if I use synthetic oil anyway and install a blick heater.
2017 Sonic RS
1.8L
That combined with a powerful battery and synthetic oil and ive never had a vehicle not start.
Ive even put a coolant heater in my Quad and it made all the difference in the world.
I will admit when we got our '17 RS and I found out it had a oil pan heater i was kind of not sure what to do. Do I get a block heater installed as well or just stick with the oil pan heater?
What do you guys think?
The oil pan heater seems redundant to me if I use synthetic oil anyway and install a blick heater.
2017 Sonic RS
1.8L
Walleyeye
Member
Actually when you live in Canada like in Winnipeg or even north Dakota block heaters/coolant heaters are more common than oil heaters. Up here where temps can go as cold as -40F or colder and you run non synthetic oil then in MHO your an idiot.
In temps like this synthetic oil and a block hear, not to mention remote start are the best way to go. Other good ideas for this kind of cold is a bigger battery and battery blanket.
I will be getting a block heater installed before winter.
Just curious though if anyone knows what temp the oil pan heater heats the oil to?
2017 Sonic LT RS
1.8L Ecotec
6 Spd AT
Red Hot
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I own a 2014 Sonic here in Wpg and the dealer confirmed it has a oil pan heater not a block heater.I find it basically useless in very cold weather compared to a block heater.I run full synthetic oil and even leaving it plugged in for many hours I noticed no change in the length of time it takes to warm up the engine, plugged in or not.
