Hi Folks,

In the summer I fitted a sump heater. 250W from Canada which cost £50. "Proper" water pre-heaters too expensive. Have now had a chance to use it for a full week. It really does make a difference. On a timer for 2 hours, so about 50p a week, there is only luke warm air, but much better than the usual icy blast and it does clear the screen quite quickly. Temperature guage suggests warm-up time reduced only slightly, but engine is much smoother and looser from first moving off. Very pleased. HTH someone.

Could you please post a link to where you saw the heater advertised?

This is the one. Delivery was about a week.

IDP ProHeat Engine Oil Heaters FAQ

Unlike the illustrations, it came without a plug just three wires in a single flat lead. No problem to work out centre is earth - others to live/neutral. I used a three pin site-type all weather plug. A screw top plastic jar with bottom cut off acts as holder and is stuck through a hole cut into the grill area under the number plate. The whole is fixed in place using expanding foam. When on the road the screw top keeps it dry - and when left on the seat reminds me that I'm connected. I've a garage, but it's full of the usual junk. A hole in the door allows the plug through.

HTH

Edited 12 December, 200817 yr by viewer
missed out a bit!

Have you noticed any increase in mpg .

Does it increace the Bhp or make the car go any faster for example like go-faster stripes or fluffy dice?

Does it increace the Bhp or make the car go any faster for example like go-faster stripes or fluffy dice?

The simple answer to that is yes and no. HTH

Ha ha.

Does it increace the Bhp or make the car go any faster for example like go-faster stripes or fluffy dice?

I wouldn't have thought so, but you'll be able to thrash it sooner:P

Not quite as good as fluffy dice , but does make it faster for the first few miles. I live on top of a hill; in cold weather you can coast down the hill no throttle and just steer round the roundabout at the bottom as the drag is so pronounced. With the engine hot or with the heater, (still no throttle) you need to change down and brake to lose speed. It does clearly help mpg (according to the computer) over the first 10 miles. It is noticeably quieter too. BHP? This week I was more interested in the sudden slide into hard objects to think about such things.

Engine pre-heat is good to reduce initial engine wear. I was hoping to get a diesel-based pre-heater as using electricity just is not an option based on where I live, but those things are rather expensive..