Oil pre-heater
Discussion
Came across this in Canada, been trialling it since last Feb in UK, to see how helpful in speeding up warm-up for least engine wear, esp. in cold weather, and so I can enjoy engine sooner.
Results.....
.Raises oil temp in dry sump tank to 80C before you start, which in ambient of 18C goes down to 40C after 2 mins running by which time the water temp has come up to 40C.
Just plug the cable from the car via a connector into a cable to the mains, and leave it on a timer, or connect it for an hour before you start.
The pad has strong adhesive to fix it to underside of tank and seems good as new after 7k miles. Quite simple, no 'stats or anything (I've no connection with the UK agent incidentally).
If interested, right size & wattage for Speed Six tank is Model 16-240, and cost me about £68 delivered. I also bought an extra end connector for a few quid to velcro to the end of the car-mounted cable, to seal it & hold it in place in my air vent.
http://www.engineheaters.co.uk/ Ask for David - phone 0870-8200080
Edited by tail slide on Tuesday 19th October 23:19
puckrup said:
Now that looks like an ideal solution. Can take me a good 45 minute run to get any decent temp into oil in winter (even in Summer in Scotland 
Does it run off DC via a plugtop adaptor? Where have you fitted the connector?
N
Ah, the joys of Bonnie Scotland!Does it run off DC via a plugtop adaptor? Where have you fitted the connector?
N
You can specify 240V or 110V mains AC, and I'm sure it would run off an invertor plugged to car's battery like any other AC appliance.
Connection as pic below. Extra end-connector is sitting on splitter, on which I have some h/d velcro which attaches to a velcro strip inside front of nose. Not strictly necessary but keeps it tidy.
Edited by tail slide on Tuesday 8th September 08:38
Targarama said:
Looks like quite a simple solution - well found.
Now has anyone discovered a cost-effective product to heat/pump the coolant around to warm the engine through itself? (i.e. not the heavy arrangements you get in cars for colder climates).
Thanks. Now has anyone discovered a cost-effective product to heat/pump the coolant around to warm the engine through itself? (i.e. not the heavy arrangements you get in cars for colder climates).
I was actually looking for a water heater first, but they were all heavy/bulky/not simple and didn't heat the bottom end or many of the bearings in the engine. This pad is promoted as an alternative to water heating.
The 5L of oil in the tank at 80C+ does transfer a surprising amount of heat to the engine quickly, you can see the water temp rise a lot faster than normal (though it always rises quicker than the oil, as the water's heated by it's proximity to the combustion chamber). You could go further and put a long pad under the sump as well (or instead) but you have to fill between the fins with an araldite-type filler first, which then would reduce cooling from airflow when hot.
I do run a simple tubular heater under the engine as well, which raises the temp of the engine/water itself by about 5C.
How about this: http://www.machomestore.com/catalog/product_info.p...
Most people have a wireless network, so if you were to install a power socket that was linked to your server/network, you could, using an App, turn on your oil pre-heater 30mins, before you head out! How cool....hot, would that be!?
Most people have a wireless network, so if you were to install a power socket that was linked to your server/network, you could, using an App, turn on your oil pre-heater 30mins, before you head out! How cool....hot, would that be!?
even better! : http://www.lindy.co.uk/remote-controlled-power-soc...
Mattt said:
Mine's just on a simple 24hr timer switch. I set it the day before I go out if I have an early morning run.
I have the same solution. Although I do quite like the idea of being able to operate it remotely especially because the garage is in a remote block about 80ft from the house. However how could you be sure that the remote had switched on properly unless you go and check it in the garage? The other link to a remote works up to 30M in open space so that wouldn't work for me.Good old fashioned timer it is then.
The concept of warming the oil before you set off sounds great. Anything that reduces the waiting time before playtime,especially in the colder weather has to be good news. Surprised that more speed six owners have not fitted one unless the are keeping it secret.Looks easy to fit and presumably relatively easy to find a dry hiding place for the cable - is there a downside?
Not meaning to sound too dense with this question but here goes;
What have people used to comment the cable to a standard 3 pin plug? I see a box type connector on the OPs pic - where do you get these from and is there any particular type I need to get? Is it then a case of fitting a bit of 3 core flex and a plug onto the other end?
What have people used to comment the cable to a standard 3 pin plug? I see a box type connector on the OPs pic - where do you get these from and is there any particular type I need to get? Is it then a case of fitting a bit of 3 core flex and a plug onto the other end?
when you order them from the website just select the 240v option,then just wire it up to a standard plug,mine was done by dulford,the plug is situated in the engine bay,drivers side,i used heavy duty velcro to keep it in place,when i want to plug it in i pass a extension socket through the bonnet vent,plug it in,& close the bonnet.
ive got a timer plug as well,so i dont have to get up 2 hours early if i go on a morning run.
in my opinion,well worth the £60 it cost,although i am on my 2nd one,1st one burned out,dont know why,but they replaced it free of charge,no quibbles.
ive got a timer plug as well,so i dont have to get up 2 hours early if i go on a morning run.
in my opinion,well worth the £60 it cost,although i am on my 2nd one,1st one burned out,dont know why,but they replaced it free of charge,no quibbles.
Being a complete numpty, I had to got the TVR specialist to do it during the last service. He got a lawn mower type connector from HomeBase. I got him to wire it to the passenger footwell. I connect the mower connection there. The other end goes to 3 pin plug which goes to a timer on the wall of my garage.
Timer is set night before so nice and warm in the morning.
In terms of its benefit, this warms the oil in the sump. When you start the car, the oil circulates around and transfers most its heat to the water which then warms up everything. Two to three hours heating and the oil temp is at 60C - 70C. A couple of minutes after starting, it is down to about 30C while water is up to 40C ish. It saves a bit of warming up time and ensures optimum oil temp from the go so that it lubricates straight off. You still need to drive the car through its warm up cycle even though oil temp is 40C to ensure proper mechanical sympathy during warm up but its so much better for the engine and gear shift is much smoother straight away.
Timer is set night before so nice and warm in the morning.
In terms of its benefit, this warms the oil in the sump. When you start the car, the oil circulates around and transfers most its heat to the water which then warms up everything. Two to three hours heating and the oil temp is at 60C - 70C. A couple of minutes after starting, it is down to about 30C while water is up to 40C ish. It saves a bit of warming up time and ensures optimum oil temp from the go so that it lubricates straight off. You still need to drive the car through its warm up cycle even though oil temp is 40C to ensure proper mechanical sympathy during warm up but its so much better for the engine and gear shift is much smoother straight away.
Glad many others found this mod useful.
We may soon find out exactly how much wear it's saving the bearings (& maybe rings) on start-up. Fingers crossed for zero measurable wear = 100,000 mile life!
This was one of STR8SIX's first new-build optimum spec S6 engines 2yrs ago, may reach 25k miles by the autumn, as I'm planning to use it much more on the road this year.
At that stage STR8SIX will do a partial strip & check bearings, as they and I are keen to see how it's been doing on road and track. Always run as Jason and Dom recommend, ie. warmed up thoroughly and then ragged!
We may soon find out exactly how much wear it's saving the bearings (& maybe rings) on start-up. Fingers crossed for zero measurable wear = 100,000 mile life!
This was one of STR8SIX's first new-build optimum spec S6 engines 2yrs ago, may reach 25k miles by the autumn, as I'm planning to use it much more on the road this year.
At that stage STR8SIX will do a partial strip & check bearings, as they and I are keen to see how it's been doing on road and track. Always run as Jason and Dom recommend, ie. warmed up thoroughly and then ragged!
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