Engine Prewarmer
Discussion
I have had an engine pre-warmer fitted. Had the work done at TVR power at the same time as warranty inspection. By doing it this way I have avoided invalidating my warranty for fitting non standard parts. (Power agreed to this in advance)
Unit itself pictured above. The socket is attached to the back of the number plate with Velcro. I run it off a timer
Takes about 45 min to warm the engine to 65 deg. This seems to be as hot as it can get. Kenlowe claim 80 deg in 20min for a 2l car. I assume the difference is due to bigger engine with more efficient cooling.
Just before start up water 65 deg and oil ambient temp
Immediately after starting water drops slightly. Engine sounds “warm” does not have that bag of spanners noise when started cold. Heater blows warm (ish) air immediatley
I drive about ¾ mile to drop my son at nursery. Still follow usual warm up routine. Water temp settles rapidly at 70 deg. Oil temp climbs very quickly to 50deg. By comparison water would normally have only got to 40-50 deg by this time and oil temp only up a couple deg from start.
The rest of the warm up from oil 50 deg to running temp is the same as before.
The whole process starts cooler and takes longer if it’s frosty out
Total cost (heater and fitting) around £500 ish
GreenV8S said:
Very good idea to reduce engine wear. Remember the transmission is still cold, though, and it still needs a while for the temperature distribution inside the engine to settle down..
That was my thinking, surely it would lead you to a false sense of security, Cold tyres etc ??
:non:
Oh, dear. I used to have one on a "Classic" Range Rover.
They're brilliant until their thermostats fail closed circuit, they boil away the coolant, their seals fail and the coolant spews all over your drive, the insulation melts and they trip your house RCD, so you oversleep, then you have to get back out of your whistle and into overalls to remove them in the blowing snow, then Kenlowe deny ever having sold it to you despite it being under warranty.
I'd never have another one. (I sold the replacement on eBay.) I suggest you fit a thermal fuse to yours.
They're brilliant until their thermostats fail closed circuit, they boil away the coolant, their seals fail and the coolant spews all over your drive, the insulation melts and they trip your house RCD, so you oversleep, then you have to get back out of your whistle and into overalls to remove them in the blowing snow, then Kenlowe deny ever having sold it to you despite it being under warranty.
I'd never have another one. (I sold the replacement on eBay.) I suggest you fit a thermal fuse to yours.
zumbruk said:
Oh, dear. I used to have one on a "Classic" Range Rover.
They're brilliant until their thermostats fail closed circuit, they boil away the coolant, their seals fail and the coolant spews all over your drive, the insulation melts and they trip your house RCD, so you oversleep, then you have to get back out of your whistle and into overalls to remove them in the blowing snow, then Kenlowe deny ever having sold it to you despite it being under warranty.
I'd never have another one. (I sold the replacement on eBay.) I suggest you fit a thermal fuse to yours.
They're brilliant until their thermostats fail closed circuit, they boil away the coolant, their seals fail and the coolant spews all over your drive, the insulation melts and they trip your house RCD, so you oversleep, then you have to get back out of your whistle and into overalls to remove them in the blowing snow, then Kenlowe deny ever having sold it to you despite it being under warranty.
I'd never have another one. (I sold the replacement on eBay.) I suggest you fit a thermal fuse to yours.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions...............
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