Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 20:28:40 -0600
Reply-To: Gnarlodious <gnarlodious@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Gnarlodious <gnarlodious@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: Oil Pan Heater (immersion vs. stickon)
In-Reply-To: <20040930005620.6019.qmail@web13524.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Several claims here are a little hard to believe, I'll respond to them
itemwise.
> Our oil pan heaters are thin, flexible heating pads that are permanently
> bonded to the oil pan.
> The heater has the special adhesive already on it, by simply peeling of the
> protective backing and
> pressing the heater firmly in place on a clean, flat surface, the heater is
> ready to be used.
My experience is that oil combined with heat wreaks havoc on the stickum.
Once the glue separates from direct contact heat transfer is drastically
slowed. And if a sharp object tears your heatpad it's dangerous when wet.
They do work well when stuck to a battery though.
> No special tools or skills are required. Everything for a complete
> installation is included with each heater.
I admit, installing the immersion heater is a bitch. This would work for
stopgap.
> An Oil Pan Heater is far superior to a block heater and more efficient.
Not true at all. The pad I used was only 50 watts and in cold weather
(0degF) could do no more than heat the oil a little. The only advantage to
the pad is you could leave it on all night, which you can't really do with
an immersion heater. But maybe they expect you to leave it on all the time.
> A block heater only "warms" a part of the engine.
But the important part, the liquid. And fast, at 400 watts. You can hear the
heater popping and crackling in there so you know it's working. The warm
liquid rises up to the combustion chamber where it does the most good.
Plus, your heater works a lot sooner.
> An Oil Pan Heater "heats" the complete engine starting at the bottom.
But this process takes hours, and only under ideal conditions. For example,
if it's windy you lose the heat as fast as it's generated because it's
trying to move outside in.
> The hot oil heats the crankshaft,
> which in turn heats the connecting rods, pistons and cylinder
> heads. Remember "heat" rises.
When you need to start you engine in 20 minutes you don't need a warm
crankshaft, you need a warm combustion chamber.
> We recommend the model 9.0 for your VW Vanagon.
OK, I see 125 watts in a 3 inch diameter stickon. I still say the immersion
heater is vastly superior but the stickon heater would be good for certain
applications, such as big trucks with high ground clearance.
> The price of the model 9.0 is $59.00.00 Cdn. Dlrs Shipping charges are
> included in price.
Woah, expensive too! what's that in $US?
> Web site http://www.padheaters.com/
-- Gnarlie
http://Gnarlodious.com/Vanagon/
