Pros and Cons for using 12v circulating pump w/ block heater

[Dreamscape]

I have been thinking of using a 12v circulating pump in the coolant line to move the heat generated from the block heater on my 8v71 throughout the whole system to the front heater.
I know a Pro heat would be better, thinking of a cheaper alternative for now.
I think it would work OK, what do you think?

Happy Trails,

Paul

Dreamscape

[TomC]

I you're thinking of powering the front heater while the engine is off with the block heater, all that you will do is to get some heat for awhile until the heater cools the engine off.  If you have a 1500 watt block heater, that produces about 5800 btu's.  The front heater produces somewhere in the 30,000 btu range, so cooling the engine back off.  The block heater is barely big enough to heat the engine.  If you're in a blizzard with lots of wind, the engine will only maintain luke warm water-which of course is enough to keep it from freezing.  In a nutshell, you can't power the front heater without the engine running.  Using a Proheat, Webasto, etc would be better.  They produce somewhere in the 60,000 btu range which will power the front heater.  Good Luck, TomC

[Dreamscape]

Excellant answer Tom, I had not thought of that. The heat recovery would be minimal to say the least.

Guess I'll save the bucks for the Pro Heat. NIMCO has some used take-outs for about 350.

Paul