Engine Pre-heater Ideas please.

[Lofty79]

Where i live it gets extremely cold in the winter! Last year it was -27 for a good 3 weeks or so. This in my mind causes catastrophic cold grinding wear from cold start. Cant help thinking that heating the Block - Coolant - Oil would cut fuel consumption and extend engine life and reduce defrost time.

Any ideas how would be the best way to do this? Home made ideas plans etc etc. I know you can get dip stick heaters, magnetic sump heaters, coolant pump heaters, just want to find a cheap way to make or buy one.

Cant seem to find a decent uk supplier so that info would be great too. Worth a wee discussion?

Thanks for all your help

[kenney]

http://www.defa.com/heating.php3?lang=3&ndid=&aid=&tid=#

[Lofty79]

Just closed a deal on a kenlowe coolant preheater. It goes in heater matrix pipes and has a cylinder heater and a small pump. plugs into house electrics and gets coolant and indeed block up to near running temp in 30 mins, hot air at the dash and alot less wear in the engine.

Guy accepted £80 which i think is very fair. Just think its a great way to improve overall mpg, reduce engine wear, make it more pleasant on cold frosty mornings. Anyone else fitted this kind of thing? i suppose british climate isnt that bad but after last winter up here it seems like an absolute necessity to me

[Lofty79]

was wondering what any opinions were of preheaters on here? Waste of time? Or beneficial addition?

[Bratty]

Webasto do pre-heaters which do not use your car battery as a scource of power (a bad idea in winter!)

http://www.standheizung.de/

Expensive!!

Dunk

[Lofty79]

aye the one ive bought is a kenlowe and runs off the house electrics was near £400 new but hes had it for sale for a year so £80 just its 2 hours away, seeing if he will post it. hoping for some pleasing results in the winter months