Oil tank heater?

DUK · 12-10-2005, 07:16 AM

What are the ideas on oil tank heaters, like the blanket style or even a bung insert? Always feel its better to start a sump system with warm oil. Here is the blanket style I'm thinking of.

Thanx, Duke

KNS · 12-10-2005, 07:43 AM

Nice idea but the oil in the engine is still cold...

john walker's workshop · 12-10-2005, 07:48 AM

the engine oil is 90% on the bottom of the case, where it gets sucked up and put back into the tank. the engine draws from the tank right away.

DUK · 12-10-2005, 07:49 AM

If you could turn the motor over and prime the system with the ignition off you could get warm oil in there before you start. Thats what we do on race engines, just didn't know if anyone had problems with this? The blanket would be exposed to road debris from the rear tire so I was thinking of making a guard and possibly putting a thermostat on it so I could plug it in for a few minutes and not worry about it.

AndrewMac · 12-10-2005, 04:38 PM

Does it really get cold in North Carolina? It was bagel, nada, zero farenheit here this week and my SC fired right up. I use the Mobil quasi syn oil in winter because it flows much more easily at low temps. But with that it will also leak where there was a seep and the rate of consuption increases a bit.

I mean, is the purpose to get the engine warm more quickly? I can see this in the Midwest and northern climes as a way to ensure the oil flows quickly to the bearings etc. with dino or syn oil. But at about 25-or more farenheit I can't see it matters, especially if the car is driven regularly. Driven regularly some of the oil will hang around where its needed between runs.

Which is one reason I'd rather buy a high mile Porsche driven daily but maintained than a 'queen' that gets started and run for 10 minutes once a week. That's killer to a motor

HFR_Racer · HFR_Racer's Garage

Duke:

I've been considering the same thing... I'm thinking of using a probe style heater inserted into the main opening of the oil tank. I'll plug it into a 110V outlet in my garage. I agree that keeping the oil warm will aid in start-up circulation and should reduce engine wear. My 911 runs pretty cold even on a hot summer day so warm oil on start-up can't hurt.

I'll keep you posted on my heater search..

DUK · 12-27-2005, 04:26 PM

HFR Racer, be careful with the probes as they like to varnish and cake oil on them and then break off and plug filters. Also they tend to heat the oil too fast and if there isn't enough oil in there it will combust.

HFR_Racer · HFR_Racer's Garage

I was thinking about an immersible NEMA 4 rated probe that would be temperature controlled. The probe would be removed each time I drove the vehicle since it would stick down the main fill tube of the oil tank.

p911dad · p911dad's Garage

You might try www.aircraftspruce.com and check out the aircraft engine heaters they offer. For about $140. + you get a system that is tried and true and completely thought out to get balky Lycomings and Continentals started on cold mornings. They keep the oil warm and ready to flow for the price of running a light bulb. An added plus is you won't risk burning down the garage with some homemade setup.

DUK · 12-28-2005, 04:49 AM

Thanx gmeteer, I knew I had seen these somewhere.

Rot 911 · 12-28-2005, 05:24 AM

Sounds like a lot of work for a problem that doesn't exist, at least where you live. I just switch to 10W40 oil in the winter.

p911dad · p911dad's Garage

Duke, I'm not trying to hijack your thread, but you got me thinking about my days in general aviation in the winter-time. Up here in the cold north preheat is the easy way to get a Cessna or Beech started when its 10 below and the north wind is blowing hard. By the way, the plane likes to be in a hanger, too. We also use a kerosene salamander type that blows hot air into the cowl before cranking it over, which gets the cylinders warm. One particular time I remember not pre-heating and being in the usual big hurry to get going(it's cold, remember!), I just primed the bejesus out of it and the gas was running out of the carb(which is on the bottom of this particular aircraft engine) all over the ramp. When it fired it also backfired and set the ramp on fire(under the airplane!!!) My boss came screaming out of the office yelling to keep cranking, and it finally started and sucked the fire into the carb and MAN I got that thing movin!! No damage, but I had to get some clean pants before we took off.
Sorry for the aimless story, but the oil heater thread got me thinking of winter around those cranky beasts. One of the reasons for keeping the oil warm in aircraft vs cars is until very recently single grade oil was in general use, as the multigrades were not approved(why I don't recall), and the oil would get like molasses in the depths of January. Definitely not good for a very expensive piece of machinery. Up in Alaska the oil sometimes gets drained out while still warm and put back in warm just before starting-now that's cold!
Luckily it almost never gets that cold in NC! With 10/40 oil and the synthetics available engine damage from cold oil is no longer really an issue, even here in NY State(not talking metro here, where it's always summer) or north into Quebec or Ontario. Stay warm! Glenn

Wil Ferch · 12:01 PM

If this kind of thing is a concern.. I would focus more strongly on pre-pressurization vs. pre-heating...although the oil has to be of a viscosity to flow at low temps.

90+% of an engines's wear is when it spins-on-start... "creating" pressure in the process....

Wil