Heating block

[brianz]

At what temperature does it make sense to get one?

Where I live we have 1 week/year colder than -20 Celsius. I think that’s more or less where at least it used to matter. I’m looking at longevity of engine - less concerned about warm up times.

Their show up as accessories on toyota website. Dealer can install for around $500 cad.

 

[TheBat]

Here in Winnipeg we seem to get them added automatically on all vehicles, plus the extra $500 added to the price.

Honestly I never plugged in my 4Runner and it was parked outside for the past couple of winters. Never had a problem starting even at -40. There was a time here when every single vehicle was plugged in overnight or they probably didn't start in the morning on the coldest nights. Maybe the last 20 years it seems to not be as big a deal anymore for new vehicles.

If all you get is -20C I'd save the $500, you won't need a block heater.

 

[EOD Guy]

Battery blanket may be a solution.

 

[brianz]

Battery blanket may be a solution.

yeah, i had a Toyota BZ4X ev. It started out with a range of 430km. After 1 year on a full charge it was reporting ~330km. I don't know how much that was due to cold winter. I think Toyota has their hybrids quite figured out, but I don't mind investing a bit to help out a bit in the cold. Right now I'm leaning to not getting a block heater. The battery should keep itself warm though hopefully - I don't know much about how that works in the hybrid TBH.

 

[EOD Guy]

yeah, i had a Toyota BZ4X ev. It started out with a range of 430km. After 1 year on a full charge it was reporting ~330km. I don't know how much that was due to cold winter. I think Toyota has their hybrids quite figured out, but I don't mind investing a bit to help out a bit in the cold. Right now I'm leaning to not getting a block heater. The battery should keep itself warm though hopefully - I don't know much about how that works in the hybrid TBH.

It's the 12v battery that'll prevent the engine from starting. Let me qualify that........ If the voltage in the 12v battery drops below the min voltage, the computers won't come online and if that happens the hybrid battery won't start the engine regardless of how much energy it has. I don't know how cold it gets in the great white north but I imagine get gets pretty cold. I do know very cold temperatures have an effect on battery voltage until the battery warms up. IMO if it doesn't get cold enough to thicken the engine oil, a block heater isn't needed. That same temperature may have an effect on the battery's Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) and I think the OEM battery, at least in the lower 48, is 600 CCA, I have replaced my battery with an 800 CCA. (not due to cold but it went flat 4-5 times)

 

[rjmh]

There are two things that happen when it’s cold. 1) fluids thicken requiring more battery power to crank the engine 2) useable battery power is reduced. Traditionally plugging a car in meant the block heater heated the oil pan and allowed the oil to flow on the cold start. 0w oil has pretty much eliminated that requirement. A block (oil pan) heater doesn’t do anything to the battery.

Overnight cold on a new battery isn’t usually a problem. A couple of days at less than -20C is going to be a challenge.

A battery blanket is a good solution for that situation.

Also a block heater needs to be plugged in for some time to have much effect.

If you car is garaged a battery maintainer is also a good thing during the winter.

A benefit of the block heater is that warm oil may provide a quicker warmup of the engine which warms the battery and also the hybrid battery.

The remote start is your friend on a cold morning. With a turbo you also want things to warm up a bit before you ask for much from the engine.

My worst cold morning was when I went out to start my jeep YJ put in the clutch and the clutch pedal snapped.

 

[brianz]

My 12v battery went flat. It set off some brake actuators from the low voltage. I have a good portable battery booster - don’t think I’d leave the driveway without one.

 

[DudewithaLC]

Mine also came with a heater installed. DEFA engine heater. I had it on my last vehicle as well and it works great. Has a Bluetooth app as well if that's important to you to check on the working status. You can also connect a cabin heater and a battery heater to the system if you like.

Frontpage

We are the world leader in electrical preheating and charging systems and the largest provider of EV charging solutions in the Nordics.

www.defa.com

 

[mkg]

Block heater is standard in Ab as well.. along with the giant front nipple they have to install as part of the PDI. I asked for it to be tucked away... but they werent allowed. I hid it on my 4Runner, may get around to it on the LC. Just clip in and out.