Engine Block Heater
 

Googling didn't help too much, but are there any good engine block heaters for a 911sc so I can have things warmed up before going for a drive?

Or an oil pan heater?

I'm just tired of cold start issues so figure if I never drive it cold, it'll go through a lot less wear

If you are a DIY, you might be able to adapt a tank style heater to work in the 911 oil tank. Industrial supply stores might have something that would work, but it would have to be able to survive in hot engine oil. But, the bigger picture is what kind of temperatures does your car experience? Even those folks who live in the frozen North usually keep their 911's in garages that don't get all that cold. Multi-grade oil pumps well at pretty cold temperatures, so is there really a need for an engine heater?

I'm in Texas and switched to 10w40 oil, but the car is still so sensitive before it's fully warmed up. Maybe I'm not just used to this car yet.

Seems to me a tuneup and complete checkup of the CIS might be in order. A 911SC should be able to start up from cold and run well without being unusually sensitive.

Preheat isn't a bad idea, but these cars were made in Germany for less than tropic conditions.
Idea:
Reiff Preheat Systems aircraft engine preheaters

Thanks. I'm trying to retune it but it will still refuse to start some days when cold, other days it'll just stall at lights or bog while driving. When warm, it's a perfect quick car with no issues.

When I say cold, I mean a mere 60 degrees in the early mornings.

jmo, it sounds like a issue in your start-up between your fuel and ignition. The cold start circuit (choke) isn't preforming properly.

A small space heater under the engine would do.

Not the best pictures but we put on in the race car it has an electrical plug that just pushes into the silver fitting.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1414701468.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1414701489.jpg

definatly a problem that needs looking into.

Sounds like an issue that needs fixing. Get a set of guages and go through your CIS settings. sounds like cold WUR issues. especially if it bogs at a light. when cold .
fuel pressure may be wrong for driving conditons ( engine temp )

Thanks everyone. I'm definately going to get a set of gauges bc I don't want to take any shortcuts but sometimes I find my entire garage empty and need the 911. Was looking for a good backup solution. MJHanna, that's very very interesting!

Fix the starting problem........no need for an engine heater.

I agree you have a cold start issue that needs to be addressed, but you can add one if you want to, put ours in to reduce wear on the engine during start up and helps get the engine temps up quicker for the race.

60 degrees is cold? as above there are other issues

I've used this while living in KS. Works like a champ!

No affiliation: ZeroStart - 340-0017 - Magnetic Heater

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/s...cYJn3&usqp=CAY

Fall Temperature........
 

GTRP,

If you think 60°F is cold, wait till you get frost on your windshield and start the engine on the first try. I live outside Philadelphia where the climate is much colder than Texas. A properly tuned and maintained CIS engine would start regardless of weather. Check your fuel pressures (residual, control, and system) and any significant sources of air/vacuum leak if you want your CIS to run well. Keep us posted.

Tony

CIS was used on Volvos for several years, so it was meant to handle Scandanavian winter temperatures.

And some more.........
 

In the 80's CIS were also used in Mercedes Benz, Saab, BMW, etc.

Tony

We got 2 inches of snow overnight and more falling now, none of the aircooled cars had an issue starting this morning as I shuffled them around the garage. You should work out why your cold enrichments are off.

These are a low cost way to try an oil heater
 

Take a look at these - cheap and easy to apply for a trial to see if it helps.

https://www.wolverineheater.com/Model-9-p/9.0.htm

Well when i was younger now that was a long time ago. I had an old car that hated the cold never did want to start below 60 so being a kid and all what I did was now it does sound crazy but I put a LIGHT under the hood not just any light but a flood light now the darn thing started every morning. I know it sounds dumb but it worked LOL Must have been thinking it was day time all the time.

Take it to a good shop and get it fixed. No point in trying to learn how to troubleshoot it, buying all the tools needed, etc. Go down that path and you'll still be working on it months from now, when you could have been driving it.

If you are in the DFW area, I'd take it to Mayo Performance.

JR

An engine block heater is a nice idea for very cold starts but you'd also want a heater for the oil tank as well. If you heat the block only, within seconds of starting the car you'll have gallons of cold "thick" oil being pumped in from the tank.

I don't know if nice, warm oil in the engine and cold oil from the tank being asked to flow together as the engine is warming up is a concern or not (probably isn't) but I'd want all the oil warmed up together.

In any case, as soon as your thermostat opens up on a cold day, there is a couple of quarts of cold oil from the fender cooler and lines flowing to the engine.

I have a Motor Mitten, basically an electric dip stick. Send PM and I can forward some photos this evening...

You don't say at what temperature that cold start becomes an issue. This makes a difference as to what your issue is.
- If you are at above freezing the comments about "Fix the cold startup" are very valid.
- If you are at minus 0° zero then preheating becomes a serious issue.

The above listed silicone pad oil tank heaters are a great idea to reduce cold start engine wear/ a second pad on the bottom of the crankcase would really help startup.

He did mention a temperature. 60 degrees... He doesn't need a heater, he needs to fix his CIS system. Where he lives, it never gets really cold.

JR