Starting diesel engines during cold weather can be frustrating if engines are not properly prepared for lower temperatures. Batteries that are weak may not crank the starter motor fast enough or long enough to start a cold engine. As the temperature goes down, so does battery capacity. A battery that has all of its power available at 80 degrees F will have only about 46% available power at 0 degrees F. Plus, the engine will be 2.5 times harder to start at 0 degrees due to thicker oil and resistance to movement of internal moving parts. In effect, an engine is about five times harder to start at 0 degrees F than at 80 degrees F.
Engine Block Heaters are used to heat the engine block and engine fluids of gas and diesel vehicles as an aid to starting in cold weather. The heater is operated using standard household AC power and the heat generated is distributed throughout the engine by the convective flow of the warmed coolant. The heaters are approved to North American and European electrical standards and designs are available for most engine makes and models.
Two basic types of heaters exist. The conventional heater is directly installed into the coolant jacket of the engine, and the conduction heater is installed against the engine block or into a dry port of the engine.
In addition to helping start the vehicle, Engine Block Heaters provide other benefits. The warmed engine produces significantly fewer emissions during and after starting. Heat output from the vehicle cabin heater will be quicker. And engine and starter system components will have extended life due to the reduction in wear associated with starting cold engines. The thermostat cycles the heater on and off based on the temperature of the coolant in the engine. This allows the heater to operate only for the amount of time necessary to maintain a given coolant temperature – more in cold weather and less in cool weather. This in turn reduces the electric power used, saving energy and money.
by Jack Van Cleve
