Well, sort of

But works well enough. Don't forget RCD adaptor, especially in the snow/rain.

Well done you had me going for a bit ,when I saw the title. Thats the only drawback with a diesel , that it takes ages to warm up from cold.And I was only thinking the other day, in all the diesels I've driven I've never heard the radiator cooling fan running the engines run so cool.

Watch out all the custom car boys are going to want one now!

Great idea, but please take a look at his link: -

http://www.esc.org.uk/public/safety-in-the-home/garden-safety/

Extension cables should only be used fully unwound to prevent overheating

I use it at ~500W - ~800W only (don't want roasted upholstery ), and less than 3m wound left (2/3rds of the original reel was used for another project).

Though yes, at full power it is a consideration, especially for 2kW+ heaters.

2hrs - 3hrs is enough to melt the snow all round, and the heater works at under 50% duty cycle so it's about 10p-20p per defrost.

Edited 24 March, 201313 yr by dieselV6

Also reminds me of my first car ,a second-hand Hillman Husky ,with no fitted heater!

I bought a cosy car interior heater, which consisted of a wound heater element in a steel box.

Absolutely useless I think the interior car light gave off more heat ,and I’m not even sure it had one of those. Extras were thin on the ground in those days.

Another option is one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Engine-Preheater-240V-Coolant-Water-Heater-electric-Heating-ATO-ONE-/350627775651

It has its own pump to preheat the coolant and engine.

Cost of the solution you posted, while neater, is 5x existing setup in parts alone.

Anyway, in the UK, even this Spring Winter, the pre-heater is needed on maybe 20 nights and then only if you do not fancy scrubbing snow and ice at all.

I still intend to retrofit an aux electric heater at some point when outside temp is above 10degC (so in late July by the looks of it )