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Thread: Testing OEM block heater: how hot after how much time plugged in?

  1. #1

    Testing OEM block heater: how hot after how much time plugged in?



    Mirage #2, The Even Fancier Metro, came with the OEM cartridge style block heater.

    I'll have to confirm this, but I think it's a 400 watt unit. (EDIT: confirmed below by klroger - it's 400w.)

    I was curious how fast it warmed things up, so plugged it in and checked the coolant temp every 10 minutes (via a ScanGauge).

    Elapsed time
    (minutes)
    Coolant temp (F / C) Temp change (F)
    from previous
    0 40 / 4 (ambient, cold soak) 0
    10 42 / 6 2
    20 49 / 9 7
    30 57 / 14 8
    40 62 / 17 5
    50 67 / 19 5
    60 71 / 22 4
    70 75 / 24 4
    80 78 / 26 3
    90 80 / 27 2
    100 82 / 28 2
    100.5* 100 / 38 18

    * That last reading was after starting the engine and letting it idle for 30 seconds. I figured the water jacket / block wouldn't be heated uniformly by the block heater, so circulating the coolant past the temp sensor would be a good idea to get a final reading. (I don't think that 30 seconds of idling actually added 18 degrees F worth of heat to the coolant).

    It looks like around the hour-and-a-half mark the amount of heat being added has slowed down a lot. And at some point it's going to reach equilibrium, losing heat as fast as it's added. Though we weren't quite there yet.

    Edit... graph!

    Name:  Block Heater Elapsed Time vs. Coolant Temp (2014 Mitsubishi Mirage OEM heater).png
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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 63.2 mpg (US) ... 26.9 km/L ... 3.7 L/100 km ... 75.9 mpg (Imp)


  2. The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post:

    Cobrajet (11-24-2020),Daox (11-25-2020),foama (11-07-2021),Fummins (12-20-2022),inuvik (11-24-2020),mohammad (11-07-2021),ThunderG (11-27-2020),Top_Fuel (11-24-2020)

  3. #2
    Senior Member klroger's Avatar
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    That's great, thanks for taking the time to do this. I can verify it is in fact 400 watts as I have a "kill-o-watt" meter that plugs into the wall outlet & I had my block heater plugged into it. It does show 400 watts on the meter...
    I didn't know what to do, so I didn't do anything

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2018 Mirage GT 1.2 automatic: 37.3 mpg (US) ... 15.9 km/L ... 6.3 L/100 km ... 44.8 mpg (Imp)


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    MetroMPG (11-24-2020)

  5. #3
    Thanks, klroger !

    Out of curiosity, how long do you usually plug in?

    I actually bought a 1000w external tank style coolant heater last spring, but haven't decided if I'll install it yet. I may use it in my Miata (yes, for summer usage). That car is very cold-blooded - takes forever to warm up, even with a 90% grille block.

    I can tell you that the ~800w tank style unit I had in my Firefly was fantastic. 30 minutes plug-in time was enough.

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 63.2 mpg (US) ... 26.9 km/L ... 3.7 L/100 km ... 75.9 mpg (Imp)


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    So I have looked at your numbers a couple different times the past two days, & I am trying to come away with something from it all.

    I tend to put the extension cord leading to my Mirage engine block heater on a simple outlet timer.

    It seems like 1.5 hours may be sufficient time for an engine block heater to kick in prior to starting your Mirage in the morning. At some point (2+ hours) you are probably just wasting electricity.

    Is that the conclusion, you reached? Where you searching for a conclusion? Obviously, a much colder day may require a bit more time, too!

  7. #5
    Yeah, that's basically what I was looking for: at what point do the diminishing returns seem to kick in?

    I don't generally use a timer because I don't drive on a fixed schedule. But I do have a remote control plug thinger, so I can leave the car plugged in and activate it from inside when I want to start pre-heating.

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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 63.2 mpg (US) ... 26.9 km/L ... 3.7 L/100 km ... 75.9 mpg (Imp)


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    Administrator Daox's Avatar
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    Great info Darin!

    The 400W block heater is nice and easy to install. But, those 800W or 1000W heaters are SO much nicer from my experience. Of course they are harder to install. I had to drain and refill my coolant.

    DIY: Install a 1000W circulating block heater & accessories / goodies
    Custom Mirage products: Cruise control kit, Glove box light, MAF sensor housing, Rear sway bar, Upper grill block

    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 47.2 mpg (US) ... 20.1 km/L ... 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.7 mpg (Imp)


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    MetroMPG (11-25-2020)

  10. #7
    My coolant temp in the mornings is always at least +12c regardless of the weather! I've never used the block heater
    If I did it'd probably be pulled out of the block with an extension cord dragging down the road.
    Mirage videos:

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE wussie cvt edition. 1.2 automatic: 37.7 mpg (US) ... 16.0 km/L ... 6.2 L/100 km ... 45.3 mpg (Imp)


  11. #8
    Senior Member klroger's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
    Thanks, klroger !

    Out of curiosity, how long do you usually plug in?
    I have mine on a timer set for 2 hrs. It may be excessive, but we do have some -35C nights. (I actually saw -40 once. Once was enough)
    I didn't know what to do, so I didn't do anything

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2018 Mirage GT 1.2 automatic: 37.3 mpg (US) ... 15.9 km/L ... 6.3 L/100 km ... 44.8 mpg (Imp)


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    Quote Originally Posted by Fummins View Post
    My coolant temp in the mornings is always at least +12c regardless of the weather! I've never used the block heater
    If I did it'd probably be pulled out of the block with an extension cord dragging down the road.
    I place a large object like a trash can next to my driver's door whenever I plug in. Otherwise, I would surely do the same!!!!!!

    I wonder how his temperature was +4C for his experiment if your temperature is at least +12C regardless of the weather?

  13. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Mark View Post
    I place a large object like a trash can next to my driver's door whenever I plug in. Otherwise, I would surely do the same!!!!!!

    I wonder how his temperature was +4C for his experiment if your temperature is at least +12C regardless of the weather?
    Trash can is a good idea.

    I have an insulated and heated garage. First thing I did when I moved to my house was have a reznor furnace installed in the garage. Well worth the money, as long we don't forget to close the garage door when we go to work when it's -30c again.


    Mirage videos:

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE wussie cvt edition. 1.2 automatic: 37.7 mpg (US) ... 16.0 km/L ... 6.2 L/100 km ... 45.3 mpg (Imp)


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