Oil Sump Heating Wand

I used to have one for a car. Plugged into wall and stuck right into oil theough dipstick tube. That was probably 15 years ago so i sure they still have them

Carl, JC Whitney sells a "magnetic block heater" that works well, and then there is also the "dipstick heater".

http://www.autozone.com/autozo...temIdentifier=419954

 

http://www.jcwhitney.com/magne...6.jcwx?filterid=u0j1

 

 

Being that most probably the car is stored indoors, would a block heater be necessary? Maybe the use of multi-grade oil is sufficient?

Yeah, I'm wondering why you need a heater in the first place.  Fill it with 10w-30 and start it up.  Run that oil until Carlisle and then fill it with 10W-40 for the summer.

 

I ran my '57 oval through two winters, sitting outside in the snow, and never needed a block or dipstick heater.  It never liked starting up when cold, but what engine does?

That JC Whitney ad says their heater will "Liquefies engine blocks."  Is that a good thing?

 

 

Chris,

 

I have to smile at the image of my engine reduced to an unrecogonizable  lump of molten magnesium...

 

But of course they're referring to water cooled engine blocks...as you well knew. 

I've used that magnetic one for years and it works very well, if your sump is steel.  One thing, don't leave it on too long or it can bake the oil in that area and even cook it till it gets to be little charred chunks. You don't want those in your engine.

 I have a dip stick unit Ive never used.dont know if I will,but I have it any way as we travil a lot (but dont take it)I did install a toyota unit on my daughters prious, when she was up north, as for the multie weight oil I run 5-20 synthetic oil in my stuff all year long hear in fl where it's been in the 30's this week and kinda warm in the summer. if you have an extrenal oil cooler you should add a oil thermostat to the lines,and or make a cover for the cooler so it dosent have cold air going through it.(even with the fan off air will still remove heat from the oil cooler)

Carl, you're looking for a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. 

I drove my 1970 VW beetle for 10 years in all types of weather.  On many occasions I took it skiing and parked it outside the lodge I stayed at.  In the morning (below freezing temperatures) I hopped in, fired her up, and drove away.  When I sold my Bug she had 120,000 miles on the odometer and was still going strong.

 

JUST DRIVE IT.

Right! 10-30 oil from Oct-May, then 10-40 for June-Sept. ABD: Always B Drivin'.

the issue does exsist.but does it realy need the oil heated? well for faster warm up yes it would help,and most all engines run better warmed up.and I use my oil cooler for heat in my car so that would be real nice to have heat before I get where Im going(depending on temp it takes 3-8 miles befor I can feal any heat comning from the duckt). but do you have to do it? no.will thinner oil help ?yes, will synthetic oil help?yes.does it have to be pre heated??no