Frosty Starts

[littlebrooklyn]

Silly question I know, but how come with the Merc you can't turn the engine on in this cold weather to clear the windscreen and also lock the car so that you can go and wait inside the house whilst the car warms up? With our last car we were able to do that, now we have to stand at the window to make sure no one sneaks in and drives it away

 

[television]

Young lady, that's the worst thing you can do to your car. Our cars of the last 10 years are designed to be driven for rapid warmup. apart from giving your cat a short life, the enriched fuel washes any oil off the bores. It also takes 3 times longer to reach normal temperture. Its very bad for nature and global warming. You are not allowed to do it in some Countries.

why not fit an engine warmer, just plug your car in on a time switch, walk out in the morning and its all nice and warm. Engine warmers are cheap to buy and install and all of our cars are made to take one, you just screw it into the block water jacket.

Malcolm

 

[littlebrooklyn]

Would an engine warmer remove the ice from the windscreen though? At the moment we use a kettle of water.

 

[flagstaff]

i hope you don't mean a kettle of *boiling* water ...

 

[blassberg]

Engine warmers are cheap to buy and install and all of our cars are made to take one, you just screw it into the block water jacket.

Malcolm you have my attention. Can we have an "engine warmers for beginners" paragraph with approx prices / types please?

 

[television]

In answer to the all above, there is a blanking on the block, take it out and screw the heater in. You have to put a connecting socket somewhere, I had mine behind the towing panel and left that off during the cold weather. If you have been to Sweden, Norway, Danmark or Germany or the like you may have noticed little round black things on the side of bumpers, that's the socket.

These are MB parts,10 years ago in Sweden I paid £100 all in. No doubt someone else will come on and tell you where they put theirs.

The end result is that you get in your car, start up turn on the heater/defrost and you have instant warmth and defrost, a hot car from the start.
Running cost are low, around 100 watts,so to leave on all night it would use 1 unit of electricity, use a time swich, and it would need to be on for 3 hours, either way the saving on fuel and engine damage not forgeting comfort is worth it.
We are so backwards over here, Parking lots overseas often have power points to plug your car into.
Someone else will come on and tell you more.

Regards to all. Malcolm.

 

[littlebrooklyn]

i hope you don't mean a kettle of *boiling* water ...

Haha I know I'm female, but I'm not quite that stupid....yet

 

[Silver Arrow]

I had one on my Diesel Suburban in Southern California. Never used it though!

 

[clive williams]

Malcolm you have my attention. Can we have an "engine warmers for beginners" paragraph with approx prices / types please?

Ebespacher also do a diesel fuelled version, which acts like a mini-furnace to heat the water up. It's set on a timer and when you get in everything is toasty warm. The advantage is that you don't need an electricity supply and relying on the Councils providing socket outlets all over the place. Can you imagine the mayhem if they tried it and we have all these cars with power cables attached. The vandals would have a field day!!!! It worries me just to attach the battery charger over night.

in case nobodys noticed. We are suffering climate change and therefore we ought not to need these devices soon. It'll be just like So. Cal.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[kahuna500]

Hope it's not going to be like So. Cal - lived there for 13 years. Earthquakes, rattle snakes, black widows and scorpions! Also tasteless food in massive portions.

I have a client in Sweden and they have the power outlets in their car park for the heaters. The Swedes don't seem to use them until it gets down below -10 though - probably a macho thing.

 

[television]

.

I have a client in Sweden and they have the power outlets in their car park for the heaters. The Swedes don't seem to use them until it gets down below -10 though - probably a macho thing.

-10 in sweden and you seldom have frosty windows as the air is dry I would rather be in Sweden at -10 than here at 0. Swedes macho, no not really, very sporty and very clever people.

Malcolm

 

[Grrrmachine]

I have one of these fitted and Im sure it will come in very useful - we dont have the power sockets in car parks over here, but with this years winter predicted to be -30, I'll definately be using it at some point. For those who are unfamiliar:

http://www.allegro.pl/show_item.php?item=72089960

Yes, I know, the auction is in Polish, but the gist is that it fits W123 AND W124s, and takes 20-30min to heat up to a useable standard. 500 Watts.

And this price is $24 or 14 Pounds (not including postage)

 

['89 250TD]

cylinder block heater

Grrrmachine, I'm interested in fitting one of these block heaters to a 1989 250TD.

Is there anyone selling these in Poland that I can deal with from the UK?

Thanks, Mark

http://www.allegro.pl/show_item.php?item=72089960

Yes, I know, the auction is in Polish, but the gist is that it fits W123 AND W124s, and takes 20-30min to heat up to a useable standard. 500 Watts.

And this price is $24 or 14 Pounds

 

[blassberg]

http://www.rthursby.co.uk/acatalog/Landrover_Preheat_Engine.html

I know its a Landrover link but £600+

 

[blassberg]

in case nobodys noticed. We are suffering climate change and therefore we ought not to need these devices soon. It'll be just like So. Cal.

maybe not? http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/4485840.stm