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gathermewool t1_iurdiiq wrote

Reply to comment by Lovv in 30 minutes of car preheating in sub-zero conditions produces as much particulate emissions as driving 97km in a gasoline car, or 20km in a diesel car “These findings do not suggest to stop preheating cars; instead, we could reduce the emissions by using similar methods that are in place for engine” by giuliomagnifico

Yes it does. If the block is heated, the coolant is heated. Turn the car on and you don’t have to wait for the initial bit of heat to help with melting the frost. You’re not going to have 100C heat, but it may be sufficiently above freezing to help. Even if the heater isn’t on long enough to provide enough heat to melt the ice, you’re closer and will spend less time idling to get there than if you didn’t have a heater.

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Lovv t1_iurgfib wrote

Agreed that this would shave some time off -

But for me it takes significantly longer to heat my interior than it does to start the engine.

So you might shave off 30 seconds or so of pre heat but it still would take a good 10 mins to warm up the car and by that time the engine is ready to go anyway.

My point being is that if you're going to take 10-15 mins to warm up the car and thaw the windshield does it really matter to preheat the engine and shave 1 or 2 minutes off the time to heat the interior.

The only way I'd see it working is to install an interior heater in parallel with the engine heater and imo it's kind of sketchy to have an electric element in your car while unattended.

I guess you would have to consider the extra cost for carrying around the extra weight from the two components in the car as well.

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gathermewool t1_iurqilg wrote

I’m not personally concerned with interior temps. The practical benefit to having a preheated block, to me, would be three fold mostly:

  1. Lower fuel costs/emissions
  2. Lower engine wear
  3. Helping on the rare days I need to de-ice the windshield.

Even on days where it’s well below freezing and I need to drive for a decent distance I usually leave the heat off until the coolant reaches operating temp. I honestly don’t like the warm, dry air blowing on me when I’m already bundled up and comfortable. Even when the fam is in the car I do this. The kids are bundled up just like me and usually have their own blanket to keep them nice and cozy.

Heating up the interior is only something I’m concerned about on long trips. Eventually then cold will creep into my feet or I’ll want to take my gloves and scarf off to get more comfortable, but that’s always well after the coolant is up to temp anyway.

/

I bought electric block heaters for both of our vehicles, but then things worked out for us and we moved to a house with a garage. It never gets much colder than freezing, since it’s attached, so I haven’t felt the need to install them. There would obviously still be some benefit, but it’s not as pressing of a concern now. I’ll likely install them when I do the first coolant exchange. They install in the block drains, so it’s s bit of a job, too.

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Lovv t1_iuruhat wrote

I have a garage but I do not use it as there is a lot of salt use where I live. Salt and water are much worse for your care than salt and ice.

Anywho thanks for the discussion.

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happyscrappy t1_ius3bz7 wrote

Ice melts too slowly regardless. Get a scraper for the ice/frost.

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gathermewool t1_iusnamw wrote

I mentioned it somewhere else, but I only run the engine to de-ice when it’s substantial. That doesn’t occur often.

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