RE: Block heater
 

Does anyone have experience with block heaters?
My '98 Civic LX doesn't have a block heater, and I'm wondering if anyone
could offer some input regarding these two questions: can a block heater be
installed? - at roughly what cost?
I'm inquiring because it gets cold in Toronto, and I like to head up to my
cottage in the winter. I'd hate to be left with a frozen block.
Thanks for the help!

Re: Block heater
 

Ez wrote:
> Does anyone have experience with block heaters?
> My '98 Civic LX doesn't have a block heater, and I'm wondering if anyone
> could offer some input regarding these two questions: can a block heater be
> installed? - at roughly what cost?
> I'm inquiring because it gets cold in Toronto, and I like to head up to my
> cottage in the winter. I'd hate to be left with a frozen block.
> Thanks for the help!
>
>
normal glycol antifreeze at 50/50 mix will take you down to -39C. does
it get that cold in toronto? check your coolant density with a $1.99
tester from woolmort.

i think your biggest problem is cold cranking viscosity of your engine
oil, and that can be cured by using a true synthetic. but that said,
block heaters are available. check with your dealer.

Re: Block heater
 

jim beam <nospam@example.net> wrote in
news:jK2dnVvCI7QahmTeRVn-qg@speakeasy.net:

> Ez wrote:
>> Does anyone have experience with block heaters?
>> My '98 Civic LX doesn't have a block heater, and I'm wondering if
>> anyone could offer some input regarding these two questions: can a
>> block heater be installed? - at roughly what cost?
>> I'm inquiring because it gets cold in Toronto, and I like to head up
>> to my cottage in the winter. I'd hate to be left with a frozen
>> block. Thanks for the help!
>>
>>
> normal glycol antifreeze at 50/50 mix will take you down to -39C.
> does it get that cold in toronto?



Never. The lowest I've ever seen it in Toronto is -22F. You have to go up
to North Bay/Kapuskasing before you hit -40.

Interestingly, Kapusakasing, Ontario is where some automakers do their
cold-weather testing on new models.



--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

RE: Block heater
 

"Ez" <ezram@sympatico.ca> wrote in
news:Ts8Kf.444$XZ3.43767@news20.bellglobal.com:

> Does anyone have experience with block heaters?



I live in Ontario, Canada. It's warm right now, about +15F.



> My '98 Civic LX doesn't have a block heater, and I'm wondering if
> anyone could offer some input regarding these two questions: can a
> block heater be installed? - at roughly what cost?



Yes, one can be easily installed. Figure about 1 or 2 hours labor plus the
$30 or so for the heater. Coolant must be drained for this.



> I'm inquiring because it gets cold in Toronto, and I like to head up
> to my cottage in the winter. I'd hate to be left with a frozen block.
> Thanks for the help!



If you keep your coolant mixture to 60/40 antifreeze/water (or use Honda
premix) you will be just fine.

If you use the engine oil specified in your owners manual and don't do
something stupid like use 20W-50, starting will be no trouble at all.
Provided your battery is in good shape, that is.



--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Re: Block heater
 

Just curious: Have you ever investigated a heater which, on cold nights,
goes where the dipstick goes? It keeps the oil warm and so facilitates
(greatly?) cold starts.

I would also be googling for other options. Last I checked, it seemed like
there was a whole cornucopia of them.

"Ez" <ezram@sympatico.ca> wrote
> Does anyone have experience with block heaters?
> My '98 Civic LX doesn't have a block heater, and I'm wondering if anyone
> could offer some input regarding these two questions: can a block heater
> be installed? - at roughly what cost?
> I'm inquiring because it gets cold in Toronto, and I like to head up to my
> cottage in the winter. I'd hate to be left with a frozen block.
> Thanks for the help!

Re: Block heater
 

Ez wrote:
>
> Does anyone have experience with block heaters?
> My '98 Civic LX doesn't have a block heater, and I'm wondering if anyone
> could offer some input regarding these two questions: can a block heater be
> installed? - at roughly what cost?
> I'm inquiring because it gets cold in Toronto, and I like to head up to my
> cottage in the winter. I'd hate to be left with a frozen block.
> Thanks for the help!


--------------------------------

Your block heater replaces the lower block drain plug, and takes about
30 minutes to install. The only hard part is routing the wire thru the
grille. I wouldn't even drain the coolant, just do it really fast and
only a few ounces splashes out. Top up the reservoir to MAX with Honda
Premix and check it again next morning before starting out. Here's a PDF
document for a Honda CR-v '97- '01. Yours should be very similar. Maybe
somebody will post a proper link .
..http://www.hondasuv.com/pdf/crv/firs...lockheater.pdf

'Curly'

Re: Block heater
 

"'Curly Q. Links'" wrote:
>
> Ez wrote:
> >
> > Does anyone have experience with block heaters?
> > My '98 Civic LX doesn't have a block heater, and I'm wondering if anyone
> > could offer some input regarding these two questions: can a block heater be
> > installed? - at roughly what cost?
> > I'm inquiring because it gets cold in Toronto, and I like to head up to my
> > cottage in the winter. I'd hate to be left with a frozen block.
> > Thanks for the help!
>
> --------------------------------
>
> Your block heater replaces the lower block drain plug, and takes about
> 30 minutes to install. The only hard part is routing the wire thru the
> grille. I wouldn't even drain the coolant, just do it really fast and
> only a few ounces splashes out. Top up the reservoir to MAX with Honda
> Premix and check it again next morning before starting out. Here's a PDF
> document for a Honda CR-v '97- '01. Yours should be very similar. Maybe
> somebody will post a proper link .
> .http://www.hondasuv.com/pdf/crv/firs...lockheater.pdf
>
> 'Curly'

P.S. Next to the block heater, and / or synthetic oil, the next most
important thing to know about starting a frozen Honda is in your Owner's
Manual, where it tells you how to start in extreme cold (or at high
altitude) Hold the pedal half-way to the floor and crank it. The 'rules'
have changed since the early days of fuel injection. Many OLD WIVES
don't know this.

'Curly'

Re: Block heater
 

Well, actually, my cottage isn't far from North Bay and the coldest I've
seen there is -43 degrees with not a hair of wind. Fortunately I was driving
a car with a block heater at the time.

In the weather Toronto is experiencing at the moment, I have no issues with
starting, my only real issue has been a very high RPM for a few minutes
before the engine settles down. Now, I cannot attribute that to a fuel
problem, nor battery as I recently replaced the battery with the best one I
could find ( call me paranoid). The oil I use is full synthetic 5w-30, so I
cannot blame the oil either.

I haven't really googled at all with regards to this issue of mine, but I'll
give it a shot.

Thanks all for the help!

"jim beam" <nospam@example.net> wrote in message
news:jK2dnVvCI7QahmTeRVn-qg@speakeasy.net...
> Ez wrote:
>> Does anyone have experience with block heaters?
>> My '98 Civic LX doesn't have a block heater, and I'm wondering if anyone
>> could offer some input regarding these two questions: can a block heater
>> be installed? - at roughly what cost?
>> I'm inquiring because it gets cold in Toronto, and I like to head up to
>> my cottage in the winter. I'd hate to be left with a frozen block.
>> Thanks for the help!
> normal glycol antifreeze at 50/50 mix will take you down to -39C. does it
> get that cold in toronto? check your coolant density with a $1.99 tester
> from woolmort.
>
> i think your biggest problem is cold cranking viscosity of your engine
> oil, and that can be cured by using a true synthetic. but that said,
> block heaters are available. check with your dealer.