Hey wondering if anyone knows the wattage of a 4th gen block heater. I found an outdoor timer hugely discounted, but it's rated 8A/1000W, which from random googling sounds like is 10-20% more than the typical block heater, but I'm wondering if anyone has any real specs.

Thanks

 

What does a timer have to do with a block heater?

 

The A32 never came with an OE block heater, only the A33.

 

To turn it on an hour before you leave for work so you don't have to walk out into the -20 F winter in your coat and pjs

 

I would assume that wouldn't be the case in Canada as I haven't seen a car sold here without a block heater as standard equip.. well.. ever.

 

my '99 ES is from Quebec and has no block heater, but it does have an automatic starter. As far as I know, it somehow automatically turns on in the middle of the night when it gets reeaaal cold and heats the car up.

 

You know what they say about assumptions.

Check the FSM, no factory installed block heater. That started with the A33.

 

Block heaters are ment to be powered up all night long.
They will not heat up an engine block in an hours' time.

The timer would be useless.

 

i have a block heater and i think it takes 500 to 700 watts, I'll check it out though and get back to make sure. these work great:

http://www.amazon.com/P3-Internation...1098185&sr=8-1

 

When does night start? right now it starts around 5pm... in a couple months it might start at 7pm.. so it having the block heater on 'all night long' works just as well if that night is 14 hrs long, or 12 hrs long.. who's to say 10, 8, or 4 hours long isn't long enough as well? Well actually 8 hrs is long as enough as well as I sometimes just plug it in before I go to bed.

Anyhow I ended up purchasing a block heater specific timer.

 

Block heaters are NOT ment to be powered up all night! That is totally useless! Here in Finland,as temperature in winter is usually under -10Celsius it is enough to use block heater about an hour before starting. It is stupid to keep it on all night,youre just wasting energy. Also block heaters should be used whenever the temperature drops under +5Celsius. It is a proven fact that it reduces wearing of engines inner parts(bearings etc) and makes huge save in mpg also. Whenever you start your car in -5celsius or below without heating it first you waste about a coffee cup of gas. Thats something to think about.

 

I hate to say it but I only tend to plug in when it's -20C/-4F or less ( a few weekends ago I didn't plug in and started each day at -35C/-31F.. eep (0w30 synthetic helps). Maybe I'll start keeping it plugged in all the time now during the winter (on a timer). Average winter lows here are -12C.

 

That's probably true and the FSM would be printed for the american market. Up here in Canada (alberta at least) it is mandatory (law) that all cars come equipped with a installed block heater.
My first car was a 1978 Chevy mailbu and it had a block heater installed.

I plug cars in when the garage is -20 celcius or colder. So far it's been no colder than -17 degrees in there.

And the block heater is meant to warm up the oil I believe so that cold starts are easier on the motor. I have been told that 1 hour is good enough. But I will run the timer for 2 before work when it's really cold in the garage.

 

The FSM covers Canadian models as well (see DRLs, etc). It's possible they're all dealer installed, not factory (which would be why the FSM doesn't show it).

 

^^ that's what I'm thinking, that it seems 'factory' but they're actually all dealer installed.

 

i checked it tonight and it takes 410 watts - i thought it was more