Sorry for all the posts, but I'm in hyper bus mode for a couple of weeks before our 3000 mile trip. Just wondering if the engine block heater will cause thermal flowing of the coolant and keep it slightly warm in the radiators. Or does it just keep the block/oil warm?
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The block heater is immersed in the water jacket, so the coolant is being directly heated. Of course, the block itself is also being heated where there is contact. Heat energy is not stagnant. It will therefore migrate through the coolant and block. After a reasonable amount of time for your weather, your engine thinks it's Spring.
It will heat up the system past the engine itself over time just from the warm water warming water on down the line.
But keep in mind # 1 with no circulation pump it's going to be slow to get to other areas. Also depending on the flow of a circulation pump it could also have adverse effects on heating on if the pump circulated too fast and didn't allow sufficient time to heat up.
;D BK ;D
Ok. Answers my question. Thanks. I have what is likely a 40/60 coolant to distilled water mix currently. I need to add more coolant but I haven't made it to wwilliams yet. So with it getting down to 26 degrees tonight (we've had snow today already) I just wanted to be sure plugging in my block heater would keep things safe. It's been plugged in all day and I'll leave it plugged in until we head south in a week and a half.
This is from today:
https://vimeo.com/110617972 (https://vimeo.com/110617972)
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Damn a 40/60 mixture should be good down to - 10* time to leave that parking place ;D
You not kiddin cliff. My sentiments exactly. Don't want a repeat of this from last winter:
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F14%2F10%2F31%2Ff8dbafc944aa1faf042162891875a881.jpg&hash=14bc5bb50d1cfbcd1198c9c004ece19a4fb4e8c0)
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I wouldn't have anything plugged in with a 40/60 mix of antifreeze unless the electricity was free. It won't freeze, and it won't cause a problem. I pay around 18 cents a kilowatt, so leaving my bus plugged in for ten days would cost me around seventy bucks Ain't going to happen...
Brian
Jeez, 50 - 50 is good to -40! No way would I be plugging that in until a few hours before I was leaving.
The 40/60 will cool better than a 50/50 mix fwiw
I don't like leaving my block heater plugged in overnite unless I'm moving early in the AM. After a 4 or 5 hour stint the cord leading to the heater gets so hot you can barely handle it. Sure does heat up the engine though.
Will
Good to know. My
Electric is free where I'm at. Actually, we've never had to pay electric where we've parked. But, don't want to waste it either. I'll unplug her until showtime.
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Quote from: PP on November 01, 2014, 06:25:50 PMI don't like leaving my block heater plugged in overnite unless I'm moving early in the AM. After a 4 or 5 hour stint the cord leading to the heater gets so hot you can barely handle it. Sure does heat up the engine though.
Will
Will, that *must* be too small a cord! Is there a larger gauge wire power cord available?
Oonrahn, that's the short cord that is wired into the side of the block. I have an outlet in the engine bay for plugging it directly into, but the short cord, which I am assuming is the factory cord for the block heater, gets really warm after more than 4 or 5 hours. Of course, by then when I hit the starter, the temp gauge actually moves up a notch or two also when the warm water hits the sending unit and the engine doesn't miss a beat. It acts like an engine that has just been shut down. It's all good, I just don't want to start a fire while I'm sleeping directly above it, if you know what I mean.
Will
Quote from: bevans6 on October 31, 2014, 04:06:05 PM
I pay around 18 cents a kilowatt...
Whoa. I'm locked in at barely over a nickel. Three cheers for deregulation.
Cheers, John
Quote from: PP on November 03, 2014, 10:31:36 AMOonrahn, that's the short cord that is wired into the side of the block. I have an outlet in the engine bay for plugging it directly into, but the short cord, which I am assuming is the factory cord for the block heater, gets really warm after more than 4 or 5 hours. Of course, by then when I hit the starter, the temp gauge actually moves up a notch or two also when the warm water hits the sending unit and the engine doesn't miss a beat. It acts like an engine that has just been shut down. It's all good, I just don't want to start a fire while I'm sleeping directly above it, if you know what I mean.
Will
Yeah, I'm really big on not setting fire to my bus, too! It sounds as if your heater is working really well but I still don't think that the cord should be getting (very) hot! I wonder if someone has mixed up a 1K cord with a 1.5K heater plug or something. Do you have a manufacturer's name to google and get customer service?
Oonrahn, it looks like an old appliance cord and might have been replaced at some point. As far as mfg, I wouldn't have a clue, but so long as it works, I'm not going to mess with it. I'll just keep an eye on it and not leave it plugged in when I'm away or asleep.
Will
Quote from: PP on November 03, 2014, 07:57:22 PMOonrahn, it looks like an old appliance cord and might have been replaced at some point. As far as mfg, I wouldn't have a clue, but so long as it works, I'm not going to mess with it. I'll just keep an eye on it and not leave it plugged in when I'm away or asleep. Will
Hope it keeps working OK for ya.
If that is a flat cord with the screw on 2 pin connecter at the heater it is factory they do get warm all the ones I have seen and fwiw they say don't leave plugged in for over 4 hrs in the book
Quote from: luvrbus on November 04, 2014, 07:07:19 AM
If that is a flat cord with the screw on 2 pin connecter at the heater it is factory they do get warm all the ones I have seen and fwiw they say don't leave plugged in for over 4 hrs in the book
That's exactly what it looks like. The pins were loose when I got the bus so I packed the connection in Hi-temp silicone to keep it tight and from rattling loose when the engine is running. But yeah, 4 hours will definitely heat the beast up.
Will
Scott -
Our block heater will move the temp needle in 2-3 hours when below freezing. Makes a huge difference starting the engine.
The mechanic that installed it said he put in a 1500 watt heater. I guess they come with different sized heating elements. It warms our radiator and you can put your hand on the block and feel that its not cold. The power cord also gets pretty soft.
The same mechanic also said its not good to run the engine with the block heater plugged in. No idea why. He mentioned it can ruin/short the block heater.
See you in a few.
-Sean
Wandering the country in a 1984 Eagle 10S.
www.herdofturtles.org (http://www.herdofturtles.org)