Date:         Sat, 2 Jan 2016 12:34:43 -0600
Reply-To:     KI4TLF <ki4tlf@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         KI4TLF <ki4tlf@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Dodged a bullet -- blowed the oil filter right off
Comments: cc: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <5687D7C9.9030107@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

I spent 2 years outside of Grand Forks, ND.  My van regularly saw temps of -20F in winter.  A battery blanket and an inline coolant heater were used for those areas.  

I tried the dipstick heater, which didn't work too well. What I found that worked the best, was an infrared 150 watt spot bulb pointed straight up at the bottom of the engine.  It's the same bulb you see hanging over your fries at a fast food restaurant.  I put it and the coolant heaters on a timer for 2 hours prior to needing it.

It worked well.

Greg

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Rocket J Squirrel
Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2016 8:00 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Dodged a bullet -- blowed the oil filter right off

On 01/01/2016 11:03 PM, Mark Tuovinen wrote:

"If you are going to start your engine in cold temperatures use an engine heater, its better for your engine, your bank account, and the environment."

I'd love to use an engine heater, but prior posts to this list inquiring about heaters that work well with the 1.9 have not turned up a promising one. The ridged bottom of the block doesn't provide an effective surface for good heat transfer, the dipsticks are advised against, and Van Cafe's coolant heater thingy doesn't seem to me like it would do much to heat the oil in the block. Is there anything good?

It's 5 degrees F this morning, and while I'm fortunate I don't have anywhere I need to drive to today, tomorrow morning I have a radio show to put on and walking to the station when it's this cold doesn't appeal to me for some reason, possibly related to a decadent attachment to comfort.

Taxi ride, $8 each way.

So, walk, taxi, or start the van?

--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
Bend, Ore.