Anyone know where to find an old stock R53 OEM block heater? My "new" Florida R53 needs to be adapted to the northern climate gently. MiniMania is sold out on these heaters and half an hour of google search brought up nothing useful. Magnetic heaters are no use with an aluminum oil pan, and putting a hot light bulb under the hood is more effective at starting fires than to keep the oil and coolant warm. 0W30 oil and a fresh battery obviously is good enough in my attached garage that rarely drops below freezing, but the new car will be kept outside in the cold quite frequently when not at my house.
Mine has lived outside since the day it was new and always starts just fine.....I wouldn't worry about it ......we get as cold as -10* F...... I'm sure a universal kit could be adapted if you really need one, I agree having the water and oil already partially up to temp would be better on the car, and you!
I'm mostly worried about the 1.5 mile trips my son is about to take during the coldest days of winter. The engine won't even get out of open loop mode before he parks it at school. This car is so nice, it hurts to think that these cold starts are going to happen. In 10 years, it has spent less than 10 nights outside of an air conditioned garage in Florida, and now it's going to do short commuter hops in freaking Wisconsin winters?
I see what you mean, yes a block heater would definitely help in that situation, either that or he just needs to take a longer commute. Something like this maybe? Lower Radiator Hose Block Heater 1 1/4" 600 Watt 3009-1020
I'll bet this would work, but it might be a bit of a PITA to install as I think the freeze plugs are on the back side of the block. For the $30 he's asking it would be worth a try tho.... BMW Engine Block Heater New | eBay
I have install instructions for the OEM block heater - 1 hour job it sez (so it's 3 hours). remove power steering fan, engine mount, and it's right there next to the oil filter mount. http://www.minimania.com/pdfile/NME7607_INSTR.pdf this goes with Engine Block Heater - (NO LONGER AVAILABLE) Mfg Part #12810306612 ECS Part #ES#2707976 Brand Genuine Mini 600 watts on the radiator hose heater sounds like it is very powerful. All the others I have seen so far are 200 watts. There are these flat mat heaters meant for batteries, which may be adaptable to the oil pan, but I don't think I can get it flush enough to actually transfer enough heat. ideally, the kid should leave the car in the garage and ride a bike, just like I do all year long, and my commute is 10x longer than his.
1.5 mile is going to cause severe "mayonnaise" production inside the valve cover.... It really needs to get up to operating temperature to burn the moisture off...
That looks identical to the BMW one I posted, if the freeze plug holes are the same size it should work fine.
Sure, nothing but 1.5 mile journeys where the engine never really heats up are indeed bad and can cause the mayo issue as you said. But, as long as the car is also used for longer distance trips where the engine and the oil get to full operating temperatures at least once or so a week, there should be no salad dressing produced.
One and a half miles! Heck, tell the bum to walk! I walk my dog two miles every morning, rain or shine.
I ride my bike to work, 26.8 miles every day, in Wisconsin, all year. Clearly not enough of a role model. More like that idiot dad who rides a bike in sub freezing temps when he has 3 cars at home. But hey, no mayo in my Mini.
Hey Fishmonger, you finally bought that second MINI? Congrats! The block heater is a nice feature if he remembers to plug it in and unplug it, but what good is it if the car is sitting in the school parking lot all day unplugged? Even with the heater the oil probably won't get up to temperature in the short distance he is driving. He needs to find a longer route to school. Maybe pick up a friend on the other side of town.
I've used this in the past. It's a heated dip stick. http://www.amazon.com/Warren-KAT15200-Oil-Dipstick-Heater/dp/B000BO74DG The car was warmed up as it was leaving the driveway. No difficult installation required. Unless it an F56 (no dip stick)
ha, yes, driving off while still plugged in is going to be one of those morning moments... yes, he needs a longer route. I'm trying to convince that letting the car idle for 10 minutes before going isn't a solution either, plus he'll see what that does at the gas pump as well. and what's up with Premium gas costing up to 50% more than regular??? Here in town one station charges 1.89 for regular and 2.99 for premium. A teenager will probably walk before burning off a dollar or more of gas just to warm up the engine And the thing is - it really doesn't burn off the moisture unless you go 10+ miles, more in winter.