Looking for low tech engine "heater"

[Chris Lovell]

For years, I have been putting a 100 watt light bulb against the block of the Porsches and other cars during very cold (<-10 degrees) temps. I toss a quilted blanket over the engine (sort of have to sneak it into the engine compartment on the 911's). This seems to succeed in an increase of about 20 degrees in block temperature and is felt in easier cranking and less cold engine "scream".
I am interested in anyone's thoughts on another type of heat source. The lightbulbs break and have almost no surface area. I was thinking one of those electric humidity control metal wands they sell to put in closets, or some other heat source. Anyone have any ideas?
I know this is off topic but it may be useful to those of us who drive in the deep cold.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Go to any aircraft-supplies website--Aircraft Spruce, say--and look for an engine-sump heater. I used to have one on my Falco. It's typically a piece of flat, thin silicone rubber about six inches square with embedded heating wires, which gets glued to the bottom of the sump--you could put one on the oil tank instead, or additionally--and they work incredibly well. I would leave the airplane plugged in overnight and when I came out the next morning, the oil (wet sump) in a flat four-cylinder air-cooled Lycoming would be toasty and the heat would even have migrated to the cylinder barrels and heads. The units are thermostatically controlled--airplane engines are expensive even by Porsche standards--so nothing will ever get overcooked. I had mine on a timer so it went on at eight every night and off at eight the next morning, so if I decided on the spur of the moment to fly, the airplane would be warm in the morning. Hangar was in the Hudson River Valley--Poughkeepsie, then the other side of the river--to give you an idea of the climatic conditions.

Stephan

[derek murray]

how about a 300 watt magnetic block heater ($40.00 CDN)?

[cstreit]

There are devices that are made for that sort of thing. If you want to go on the cheap, use a small ceramic disc heater under the motor for 30 minutes when you get up.

[Tricky D]

Magnetic wouldn't work well on non-ferrous materials (magnesium, aluminum, etc).

[vash]

sump plate is steel. you would want the heat at the bottom anyways, to encourage convection.

[Rot 911]

Originally posted by vash
sump plate is steel. you would want the heat at the bottom anyways, to encourage convection.

He has a Carrera, no sump plate.

[project935]

Rig a drugstore heating pad to contact the bottom of the case. Give it some backing (thin plywood or thick cardboard) and lay it on a floor jack that you can roll out from under the car for easy install/removal.

[RickM]

JCWhitney has quite a few inexpensive options.

Even if the heater is magnetic a mechanical bond can be utilized as well. Syntheic oil helps in the cold as well

[vash]

Originally posted by Kurt V
He has a Carrera, no sump plate.

damn good point!