Block heaters anyone
- Thread starter BluMicaR
- Start date
redspeed3tk
Member
- :
- 2007 speed3
a block heater is deff old school just put the right oil in and go with it..i have only had a hard start with my last car at negative 25 and that was damn cold
redrocketz
Member
I think he is talking about it being warmed up so he doesn't have to wait for it to warm up. I may be wrong though...
As far as I know there is still no block heater solution for this engine, I'm guessing mazda stuck the turbo in front of where it would normally go into the block? Most people have installed oil pan heating pads, you could also get an in-line coolant warmer. When I was going to order my heating pad from mazda the parts guy advised against it, stating they didn't work very well and weren't a mazda part so it wouldn't be covered under my warranty. wtf? He said he would talk to mazda about a better solution and then I never heard from him again. Awesome!
BTW I don't think any of these will make your car warm right away, they'll just allow it to turn over easier and warm up a bit faster. You could always get a little electric heater for the interior (I've actually had friends do this), though it would probably send your power bill through the roof.
BTW I don't think any of these will make your car warm right away, they'll just allow it to turn over easier and warm up a bit faster. You could always get a little electric heater for the interior (I've actually had friends do this), though it would probably send your power bill through the roof.
^That's what I was talking about; I read having a warm block at startup really can affect mpg and the winter mix combined with the chill air are giving me some real crap mileage. I guess the concept is oil is much more viscous at low temps and it requires more effort on the part of your engine to warm up across the board. A block heater would keep the coolant and oil warm so by the time I'm at the end of the block the temp needle is at nominal. There are some that are 'car specific' and I was wondering if anyone knew of one... I'm not familiar with block heaters in general, just reading up and would like to find a solution; perhaps the ones that go in via the dipstick, however I'm not certain whether or not it would have to be removed prior to starting and that's a P.I.T.A....
Block Heater
Had one installed in our '08 M3 - it's on a 'timed' AC outlet, programmed to come on for 3 or 4 hours in the early morning hours.
It makes for easier cold winter starts, and less warm up time when the temp occasionaly gets down to -20C. What you save in fuel for warm up, you probably lose in the hydro bill, but it should prolong engine life.
It's only used periodically as it doesn't go sub zero that often during the winter season,
and synthetic oil also makes for easier cold weather starts !
Had one installed in our '08 M3 - it's on a 'timed' AC outlet, programmed to come on for 3 or 4 hours in the early morning hours.
It makes for easier cold winter starts, and less warm up time when the temp occasionaly gets down to -20C. What you save in fuel for warm up, you probably lose in the hydro bill, but it should prolong engine life.
It's only used periodically as it doesn't go sub zero that often during the winter season,
and synthetic oil also makes for easier cold weather starts !
I see that the block heaters are available from dealerships in canada but not in the USA. I Would kind of like to get one for those super cold mornings that we occasionally get although I just moved to a place with a garage so it really shouldn't be an issue for me.
I installed a block heater in my STI that was not garaged and it really made a big difference on super cold mornings to have that oil a little warmer right at startup. By the way, I'm sure it's the same on the mazda, but the subaru block heater goes directly into a plug hole on the bottom of the engine and warms the coolant which in turn warms the whole block. It doesn't do a whole lot to directly heat the oil but it still makes a big difference. The subaru block heater was 400 watts. At an average electricy cost of $0.11/kWhr, the subaru block heater takes about 5 cents an hour to run. That's nearly nothing and a lot less costly than the gasoline you'd use driving on a cold block. And you really only need to run it for a few hours before you leave in the morning so figure about 15 to 20 cents per day.
this is the Mazda block heater:
and this is the subaru one:
I installed a block heater in my STI that was not garaged and it really made a big difference on super cold mornings to have that oil a little warmer right at startup. By the way, I'm sure it's the same on the mazda, but the subaru block heater goes directly into a plug hole on the bottom of the engine and warms the coolant which in turn warms the whole block. It doesn't do a whole lot to directly heat the oil but it still makes a big difference. The subaru block heater was 400 watts. At an average electricy cost of $0.11/kWhr, the subaru block heater takes about 5 cents an hour to run. That's nearly nothing and a lot less costly than the gasoline you'd use driving on a cold block. And you really only need to run it for a few hours before you leave in the morning so figure about 15 to 20 cents per day.
this is the Mazda block heater:
and this is the subaru one:
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People definitely didn't stop using them. They are still heavily in use in cold climates. Up north, a lot of businesses even have electrical cords outside so that customers can plug in while they are parked there.
Modern block heaters don't heat the oil. They heat the water, which then convects throughout the block. With my Subaru, the heater on the bottom would result in a roughly lukewarm intake manifold on top. The whole block gets warmed by the water.
Modern block heaters don't heat the oil. They heat the water, which then convects throughout the block. With my Subaru, the heater on the bottom would result in a roughly lukewarm intake manifold on top. The whole block gets warmed by the water.
I guess I am from California. They died out quick here.
Exactly! This is a far better design than early "dip stick" heaters.
imverytired
Member
the heater that gets put in the speed 3 is in fact not a block heater. due to the location of the turbo a conventional block heater cannot be used. if you have a plug in your engine bay (like I) then chances are is connected to a polar pad. IMO the polar pad is far better. The PP is glued the the bottom of the oil pan thus heating the oil first then up through the block and heads. This is more effective due to the fact that heat rises and a block heater is roughly half way up the engine. This way both your oil and your coolant is kept warm. This doesn't mean that you can just jump in your car and peel out. You still need to let the engine come up to opperating temperature first. Also you wont feel any warm air untill you engine is up to temp. Remember block heaters and polar pads are just there to stop the engine from freezing. They are nor for keeping you car at opperating temp. Last winter at -47C (edmonton alberta) my car started easily but took an additional 5min before it was up to temp. If you want a polar pad you can buy them from your local auto parts store. My MS3 came with one from weber mazda but my wifes car came from ontario without one so i got one fron canadian tire for 50$ and 20mins of my time to install.
except that you're wrong. Mazda of Canada offers the block heater for the Mazdaspeed 3. It's on their website. It threads direclty into a coolant gallery. There's a picture of it right up above from the vehicle configurator on mazda.ca.
You're both right. To clear this up, Mazda didn't have a true block heater for our cars right away. So dealers were charging to put heating pads on the oil pans. I think it was around last fall when the DISI-specific block heater became available, that's when I got mine (for free!). The best was when I bought the car and the salesperson informed me that you couldn't get a block heater for it, then she told me that I didn't need one because it had a turbo...(headshake
oh, I see. Yes, dealerships can DEFINITELY install non-Mazda parts like a Polar Pad. This thread in fact starts out with the search by a canadian for a block heater since Mazda Canada didn't offer one yet (when it was started).
My bump several days ago acknowledges that there is now a Mazda Genuine offering.
My bump several days ago acknowledges that there is now a Mazda Genuine offering.
How did you get a free one? I'm in Edmonton, and want to get one for my MS3 as well.
x2. I didn't have time to let the car heat up last night and it was not a fun ride.
My dealer made a big spiel when I bought the car about how their prices include floor mats, block heater, locking wheel nuts, etc. Then they wanted to charge me for an oil-pan heating pad because it wasn't a mazda part. I waited until the proper block heater came out and mentioned that it was supposed to be included in the original price so it was installed free of charge.
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