Date:         Sat, 30 Sep 2000 00:24:20 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: re. heat in vw vans, block heater for WBX
Comments: To: Gary <glee@ULTRALINK.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <001201c02a94$3d87a4c0$7174fea9@glee>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

The people who live where it's really cold sneer at them, though -- first
of all they're only 250 watts instead of a kilowatt or so, and second they
have very poor thermal coupling to  the case as they are a simple flat
plate without even corrugations to fit in between the fins of the case.

I'm sure they're useful in marginal conditions -- sure hope so, I have one.

david

At 00:09 9/30/2000, Gary wrote:

>Yes, you can get block heaters for the WBX.  Both of my vans have them, 84
>and 87.  Its an external heating element plate which fits under the case,
>near the drain plug.  It heats the case and oil.  Its a VW Canada only item
>I think.
>If anybody needs one and can't get one, I have a few heaters from  late
>model jettas which are similiar.  You would need to make brackets to hold it
>in place.
>
>I park in an unheated garage and have never had to use the block heater
>though.
>
>Gary Lee
>Calgary, Alberta, Canada

David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"