Installing an engine block heater, D21

[volvo850]

Any suggestions on what to use or how to do the installation. We were 13 below last night and my baby sits outside. She cranked over though.

[seang]

Wasn't that a factory installed option?

[volvo850]

Original owners passed on that option I guess. I looked at the hoses and they were a little short with a bunch of curves to accommodate that inline hose heater. Maybe someone figured a way to do it aftermarket wise. I am not sure where the frost plug on these blocks. Thats the other option.

[seang]

http://www.wolverineheater.com/

[volvo850]

Very interesting, thanks.

[Rev_D21]

I have an inline heater I haven't installed yet.

[ihbase]

Looks like you cited windchill in your low temp- Hasn't dropped that far down even in my home country of Minnesota yet.

It is important to remember that steel doesn't feel windchill- so ambient air temp is the only consideration when weighing the time and expense of adding a block heater.

-mike

[volvo850]

I'll try posting the weather article from that morning. It was reported on channels 5/30 by the weather crew here in the springs. They made a big deal of it and stressed that wind chill wasn't included. Add another 20 degrees for that.

"Stunning low temperatures this morningBy Bea Karnes

Posted : Dec 9, 2009 10:08 AM

Record low temperatures--nope. As stunningly cold as it was this morning, it was colder back in 1919, so the record books won't change.

But you knew it was cold this morning--here's proof. We've gathered a list of temperatures. These are actual air temperatures, not wind chills. The wind chills were up to 20 degrees colder than the air temperatures.

Here's a look at readings from around Colorado:

Air Force Academy -18

Gunnison -18

Pueblo Airport -17

Monument -17

Denver -17

Limon -17

Woodland Park -16

Colorado Springs -15

Fountain -14

Trinidad -13

La Junta -11

Canon City -11"

End of the article..... Reporting does vary from location to location within the same city as it does for precipitation. You have to remember we have the mountains at our backs. A great avenue for the cold front to dump on us. I moved away from MN when I enlisted in the Air Force in '78 and haven't went back except for visits. Couldn't cope with the humidity and bugs anymore. Mike C.

[volvo850]

Anyway,Steady arctic temps are unusual here. I tell everyone we have mild winters, lived here 15 yrs now. The last ten days we have seen several sub zero lows and several days where the highs hadn't breached 10 above. My poor vehicles are outside. I liked the Wolverine stick-on heaters idea. Can't see room for the in-line heaters. For now I'll go to 5w30 and maybe get my battery checked. it may be about time to replace it. I still like the idea of keeping that oil as fluid as possible. My timing chain is original at 179000 miles and its not a job I'll do myself.