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zbug
Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2013
Posts: 84
Location: nevada
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 Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2016 4:48 pm Post subject: engine-block heater plug in |
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| does anybody out there plug there cars in at night to keep the case warm? I live in a cold climate, and want to drive my dub to work. It's a little difficult to start some mornings, especially with dual dells popping and farting (no choke). I looked around, and couldn't find anything on the subject, so I didn't know if anybody did it. So thought I would just ask. Thanks |
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slalombuggy
Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2010
Posts: 9147
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2016 5:14 pm Post subject: Re: engine-block heater plug in |
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Nevada....Cold.....HAHAHAHAHAHA. It was -29C this morning here.
I used to use a block heater when I drove my ACVWs in the winter so they would start when it was -40. I'm older and have a nice warm truck now. The block heater will do nothing to get heat up in your carbs and stop the cold stumbling you experience. Just let it idle for a bit and go.
brad |
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zbug
Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2013
Posts: 84
Location: nevada
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| Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2016 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: engine-block heater plug in |
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Yep. Northern Eastern Nevada. 5500 ft. Not Vegas. Nothing like up there, but we can hit -20C often during the winter. cold enough for me. A motor sure turns easier with warm oil. I also drive a nice warm truck to work that's plugged in. it's real hard on the rings in a diesel to start it cold, So I'm sure it's hard on any engine. I'm sure it would warm up MUCH quicker with warm oil in it,
See!! just today
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iowegian 
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9829
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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| Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2016 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: engine-block heater plug in |
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If the oil is warm, the engine will crank over faster---(but, unfortunately, it won't help your carbs.)
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1515716
I used one 50 years ago in Minnesota when an old VW was all we had to drive. |
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zbug
Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2013
Posts: 84
Location: nevada
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| Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2016 7:14 pm Post subject: Re: engine-block heater plug in |
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yep. I understand that. but it'll hopefully quit spitting sooner, and help the engine life.
Thanks for the reply, that's what I was looking for. I have a friend who's telling me that my bug is horrible in the snow. So of course I have to prove him wrong. maybe save some fuel at the same time. |
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iowegian
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9829
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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| Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2016 7:52 pm Post subject: Re: engine-block heater plug in |
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| zbug wrote: |
yep. I understand that. but it'll hopefully quit spitting sooner, and help the engine life.
Thanks for the reply, that's what I was looking for. I have a friend who's telling me that my bug is horrible in the snow. So of course I have to prove him wrong. maybe save some fuel at the same time. |
Studded snow tires on a Beetle---------unstoppable.
You betcha. |
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Digger89L
Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2013
Posts: 1130
Location: Western Canada (SK)
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| Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2016 8:26 pm Post subject: Re: engine-block heater plug in |
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Yes ....those oil pan heaters were life-savers back in the day!! These days, you can buy magnetic block heaters ..(http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/kats-engine-heaters-magnetic-heater-200w?cm_vc=-10005) ...perhaps one could be adapted to work on the carburetor area. Just an idea .....
_________________
"If you can't fix it with pop rivets, crazy glue and duct tape, or hold it together with zip ties, velcro or magnets, it REALLY is broken." |
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slalombuggy
Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2010
Posts: 9147
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2016 9:34 pm Post subject: Re: engine-block heater plug in |
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A buddy of mine had a van he drove year round. He used to put an interior car heater in the engine compartment to keep the engine warm.
brad |
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zbug
Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2013
Posts: 84
Location: nevada
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| Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2016 9:40 pm Post subject: Re: engine-block heater plug in |
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| I have a magnetized ones, but i can't get it to set flush onto anything, the one in the ad seems to look the best |
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 6371
Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 6371
Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 1:32 am Post subject: Re: engine-block heater plug in |
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I have come across several of these carburetor jet heaters:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/ads/Jet%20Heater.jpg
Their hard to find but I wouldn't call them rare.
_________________
Roads Scholar &
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018
1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc
1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse |
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 6371
Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 1:42 am Post subject: Re: engine-block heater plug in |
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I've been around VW's my whole life. Having grown up in the Manistee National Forest of Michigan we were known to practice our own version of snowmobiling with a Beetle. We would tackle the two track fire roads as long as we had four or five in the car to lift us out if we got stuck. didn't have to be all guys either, sometimes a girl or two would come along. You couldn't do that with "Merican Iron". VW's were cheap and plentiful. Sad to say; I've probably played a part in ruining more VW bodies than is my share. I'm making up for it now 
_________________
Roads Scholar &
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018
1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc
1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse |
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rsthj
Samba Member
Joined: December 16, 2015
Posts: 65
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 1:46 am Post subject: Re: engine-block heater plug in |
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I used to drive my '63 year round in Fairbanks, AK and used one of these:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1794062
Coldest I ever saw was -57°F and I never had a problem starting. Shattered my seats though. |
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 6371
Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 1:55 am Post subject: Re: engine-block heater plug in |
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| slalombuggy wrote: |
Nevada....Cold.....HAHAHAHAHAHA. It was -29C this morning here.
I used to use a block heater when I drove my ACVWs in the winter so they would start when it was -40. I'm older and have a nice warm truck now. The block heater will do nothing to get heat up in your carbs and stop the cold stumbling you experience. Just let it idle for a bit and go.
brad |
Lastly, Here's a pic of my 1965 Bus here in Southern California, just 90 minutes to the beach.
Like the OP i live at high altitude, just short of 7,000 feet. I've had a sump plate heater installed on this bus off and on over the years. When the snow gets this deep the heater is a bit hard to access.
_________________
Roads Scholar &
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018
1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc
1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse |
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 6371
Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 2:01 am Post subject: Re: engine-block heater plug in |
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brrrr, and don't slam the door very hard.
_________________
Roads Scholar &
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018
1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc
1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse |
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Digger89L
Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2013
Posts: 1130
Location: Western Canada (SK)
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 7:40 am Post subject: Re: engine-block heater plug in |
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Installing an interior car warmer under the rear deck lid might be a good idea, as slalombuggy mentioned. They do a pretty good job. On northern Canadian construction sites, they use these warmers to heat the outhouses ....really!
_________________
"If you can't fix it with pop rivets, crazy glue and duct tape, or hold it together with zip ties, velcro or magnets, it REALLY is broken." |
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Nevada Notch
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2005
Posts: 540
Location: Carson City Nevada
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 2:09 pm Post subject: Re: engine-block heater plug in |
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I can also attest to the cold nasty weather here in Northern Nevada although not as nasty as -20 but on occasion it dips around zero here every winter.
One cheap alternative that I used to use was an infrared heat lamp set to come on with a timer. I used to set it under the engine at night and set it to come on about 2 hours before I had to go out and start my bug. Fired right up with hardly and cranking. It also helps to warm up your heat exchangers too!
My baby now resides in the garage so I don't have that issue anymore!
_________________
1966 Euro
1600DP
Dual 34mm ICT's
99% Resto-Custom Daily Driver |
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