Even in the warm season, do not forget about the upcoming use of the car in winter. In harsh weather conditions, installing a 220V engine heater will be a reliable and simple way to prepare your car for a cold start.

Purpose and main differences

The engine starting heater is designed to maintain the required coolant temperature at a certain level. For example, a temperature of 40°C will provide the necessary conditions in the cylinder for a quick start of the engine, regardless of external conditions.

Structurally, the electric heater is an affordable design compared to independent engine starting devices. A conventional heater with the prefix “electro” is a heating element with power wires located in the engine body.
Among the advantages of such a device are:

1. Simple design, which will allow you to carry out the installation yourself.
2. Low cost, which is due to the design features.
3. Possibility of later modernization. If necessary, for passenger cars it will be possible to add a timer, fuse sensor and other optional devices.

Before installing an engine heater from a stationary 220V network, get acquainted with the design features. The design is based on a tungsten heating coil located in the cylinder block. Depending on the power, a small volume of antifreeze can be heated relatively quickly.

The main disadvantage is the high energy consumption. In just one night, individual models consume up to 10 kW of electricity. That is why progressive samples are equipped with sensors to periodically disconnect the device from the network.

It is worth noting that the type of engine does not affect the performance of the device. Whether a gasoline or diesel engine is installed on the UAZ, the device is installed in the same way. Here the difference is not as great as matching the tire and wheel sizes for SUVs. With some skill and compliance with safety measures, it is not difficult to assemble an engine pre-heater with your own hands. To avoid unsuccessful experiments, consider the example of an original 220 V car heater.

An example of a homemade heater

The operating principle of the heater is based on the free circulation of coolant in a closed circuit of the cooling system. A device for heating the liquid is built parallel to the radiators. Accelerated fluid circulation will be provided by an additional pump, where the natural speed of fluid movement will not be enough.

In order to make an electric engine heater on your own, you will need:

1. A piece of pipe. At one end you will need a hole for installing a heating element. At different ends of the pipe, holes are prepared for installing fittings.
2. Electric heating element. Power is selected taking into account the size of the engine and the capacity of the lubrication system - from 400W to 2kW.
3. Two fittings taking into account the diameters of the cooling system pipes.
4. Cable piece and plug for connecting the heating element to a 220V network.

The assembled structure requires installation at an angle. This will allow the antifreeze to move. Additionally, before installing the heater, ensure its thermal insulation.

Examples of industrial devices

Serial production of 220V engine heaters has been established both for domestic models and for installation on any car. Preheaters of the following models are suitable for installation on the VAZ model:

1. Device "Street child". The model is designed for installation on Volzhsky Automobile Plant vehicles, taking into account the dimensions of the pipes. The cost does not exceed 1.3 thousand rubles.
2. Product "Start mini". It has a simple design with the creation of natural thermosiphon circulation in the circuit. Cost – about 1,000 rubles. It has several modifications for installation on different motors.
3. Start type models – M1/M2, Sibir-M will also provide engine heating for domestic models. Price range from 1000 to 1800 rubles.

Among the new generation models, Severs-M heaters are distinguished, which are equipped with an emergency switch and are adapted to some popular models of foreign manufacturers.

If you need to choose a 220V engine preheater, you should pay attention to the products of the Hotstart company from the USA. Here you can find models of varying degrees of complexity:

1. TPS line. It has a wide range of vertical models depending on the diameter of the thermostat pipe or are available with a built-in thermostat. They are compact and maintainable.
2. Line of devices type CB, SB, CL, WL, EE. It features a horizontal layout, power from 1.5 to 5 kW, and is designed for installation with engines from 2.0 l to 10.0 l.
3. Model type HOTflow. If you need to install an effective heater with a pump, you should pay attention to the devices of this group. The power of the samples ranges from 1 to 144 kW.

Recently, the installation of an engine preheater has become possible with models from Chinese manufacturers. Moreover, such products are often equipped with special sockets. Those who have installed budget models know that the main inconvenience of 220V heaters is the need to open the hood every time they are connected. That is why the choice is often made in favor of an autonomous heater. Therefore, a remote socket is a significant advantage of some models.

Installation procedure for a 220 V heater

The simplest solution to install a heater is to contact a service station. The cost of work in this case will not exceed 1.5 thousand rubles. However, in practice, self-installation is no more difficult than starting a two-stroke engine.

In general, the work algorithm for installing engine heating for passenger cars looks like this:

1. Antifreeze drain. There is no need to remove the entire volume - about 2 liters are drained and collected in a separate container.
2. Flexible pipes are disconnected at the installation site.
3. Heater is installed with connection to a closed circuit, in compliance with design features.
4. Final assembly. This stage provides for reliable fixation of pipes and power sockets.
5. Replenishing the coolant level.

At the final stage, it is necessary to check not only the functionality of the device, but also the normal functioning of the cooling system as a whole. After this, rest assured that the car is ready for winter use.

Heating the antifreeze is sometimes a very necessary measure, since in the winter season there are certain problems with starting the engine. Antifreeze can be heated in a variety of ways, but special antifreeze heaters are most common. You don’t need to look far for an example: in the Russian army, almost every vehicle has heating boilers, which are designed and operate on the principle of an antifreeze heater.

Antifreeze heater 220V - will help start the car in any frost

Advantages of using an antifreeze heater

The advantages of using an antifreeze heater include:

• Reliability, simplicity of design, ability to heat liquid even at very low temperatures
• Warming up the antifreeze before starting the engine
• Gradual and even heating, which reduces the likelihood of wear, cracks, and breakdowns
• Guaranteed engine starting even in the most severe frost
• Reducing the load on the starter and other parts after the engine has warmed up
• Reducing the volume of fuel consumed when turning on an already warm engine
• Bonus features of modern antifreeze heaters, which include warming up the car interior and eliminating ice on the windows

Antifreeze heaters can be used on two types of engines: gasoline and diesel. Based on their design, coolant heaters are divided into two groups:

• Gasoline devices
• Electrical devices

Electrical devices can operate from a network of twelve or twenty-four volts and from a network of two hundred and twenty volts.

How does an antifreeze heater work?

The design of gasoline antifreeze heaters is impossible without the use of a pump that moves the antifreeze through the system. Naturally, the heating process occurs as a result of fuel combustion. The fuel can be either diesel or gasoline. The heated coolant, under the action of the pump, moves through a small circle of the system, passing through the main radiator and through the interior heating radiator. Thus, the car interior is also gradually heated. After the antifreeze has completely warmed up, the liquid begins to move in a large circle of the car’s cooling system. At this moment, the engine heater turns off.

The electric antifreeze heater works using a tubular electric heater. It operates either from a battery or using a two hundred and twenty volt network. This is exactly how the 220V antifreeze heater works.

The electric coolant heater consists of the following structural elements:

• Hull part
• TEN (tubular electric heaters)
• Connector for connecting from the electrical network

Sometimes there are additional options associated with connecting to a two hundred and twenty volt network: the option of recharging the battery or blowing the car interior.

The principle of operation of such a device is similar to the principle of operation of an antifreeze heater with a pump: the coolant is heated to a certain temperature and begins to move around a large circle of the system. After this, the heating device automatically turns off.

Pros and cons of 220V antifreeze heater

This device has the following advantages:

• Low cost
• Easy integration and connection to vehicle mechanisms
• The battery does not discharge
• Possible presence of bonus options discussed above

In addition to the advantages, this device, of course, also has disadvantages:

• The need for an electrical outlet of two hundred twenty volts
• Inability to use during long trips, travel, etc.

In terms of time, when using this device, heating can be carried out in up to twenty minutes. Typically this is between five minutes and fifteen. The heating time factors are entirely dependent on weather conditions, as well as on the operation of the heater itself. Gasoline heaters will require no more than half a liter of fuel, and electric heaters no more than 0.5 kW.

Installation of antifreeze heater

The installation of this device will be analyzed using the VAZ model as an example. For correct installation you must have:

• Antifreeze
• Container for draining old coolant
• Branded clamps
• Heater
• Coolant hoses (reinforced)

To install the heater, you must perform the following steps:

• First you need to disconnect the wires from the battery. Next you need to drain the old antifreeze into a container
• After this, you should remove the cover of the intake fitting of the fuel pump and attach the hose that is included with the heater in its place. Do not allow the formation of bubbles and air gaps
• The device must be installed on the engine mounting bolt. To do this, you need to remove the nut on this bolt and install the bracket for attaching the heating element. The structure is secured with a standard nut. The heating block should be attached to the installed bracket
• Next, you should connect the antifreeze heater to the car’s cooling system. To do this, you need to remove the cap of the expansion tank. Then turn off the heating tap. The outlet pipe of the heating device is connected to the heater hose from the motor fitting. The resulting structure should be tied with a clamp
• The vehicle's cooling system pump connection is connected to the heater inlet connection. Also secure the structure with a clamp. The hose should be placed on the right side of the mudguard
• If there is an engine with an injector, then the heater feed element should be pulled from the drain pipeline. To carry out this operation, you need to unscrew the drain hose and put in its place a fitting with a tight gasket. The filter is installed directly into the fitting. The filter is connected to the fuel pipe via a hose. The connections made are subject to mandatory fixation.
• If the engine is a carburetor type, then the power supply is connected to the incoming connection of the fuel pump using the method described above
• Next, the gas exhaust pipe is put on the heater exhaust fitting. The connection is tied with clamps. The pipe is directed in the direction opposite to the direction of movement of the vehicle. The pipe is secured with bolts to the cylinder block bracket
• The air pipe is installed on the coolant heater in the same way. The tip should be installed as high as possible, but it should not interfere with the mechanism for opening and closing the hood
• The control panel of this device should be secured with a screw or self-tapping screw to the instrument panel. The wires should be routed through special holes in the shield. The contacts must be connected to the sockets of the pads on the heater
• After this, you should connect the electrical power supply to the sockets numbered one, two, three and four of the XS 4 blocks
• And finally, it is necessary to fill the antifreeze. The wires to the battery are installed in their original place. Next, turn the heating valve to the right all the way and turn on the engine. It is recommended to immediately check the device connections for leaks. Turn off the engine and add the required amount of antifreeze
• When working, pay close attention to safety precautions. Wires and hoses must be laid in such a way that there are no kinks or microcracks.
• By the way, it is also recommended to replace standard hoses with branded reinforced ones.

After all the actions taken, you need to turn on the engine and monitor the operation at idle speed. The heater should be turned off for five to ten minutes.

Cost of antifreeze heater 220V

The cost of this device, as a rule, ranges from three thousand rubles to twenty-five thousand rubles. It all depends on the manufacturing company, on the quality, on the store’s pricing policy, and so on. Heaters that are included in the engine block, as a rule, have a lower cost than antifreeze heaters with a pump. Service installation of this device will cost the owner an amount equal to slightly more than half the cost of the device itself.

An autonomous heater installed on the internal combustion engine reduces the warm-up time to several minutes. Many car owners will be skeptical about this prospect. However, in practice, installing a heater is much easier and more effective than waiting 10-15 minutes in a cold car.

Installing a heater for a 220V engine does not affect the engine itself, but the antifreeze, significantly increasing its temperature. This occurs due to a tungsten spiral and a special block.

The 220V engine pre-heater, connected under the engine, does not work constantly, but only until the engine reaches its operating temperature. Then, using a sensor, it turns off and the motor continues to operate as usual.

Owners of a diesel engine will appreciate the installation of engine heating from 220V, since it is much more difficult for this type of engine to operate at low temperatures. But installing heating on a gasoline car can be just as convenient as for a diesel engine.

Another significant advantage for which it is worth connecting a heater is the saving of gasoline and diesel fuel, as well as quick heating of the entire cabin, which is very important for owners of leather seats.

Known types of devices

It is quite possible to make an engine pre-heater with your own hands if you have some skills and abilities. But first you need to figure out what they are like in mass production.

There are two types of fuel heater:

• autonomous;
• electric.

Installing an electric heater is considered simpler. It has a low cost and its installation is very simple. It is based on a special block that heats the unit. Correctly connected engine heating works from 220 V. It often comes with:

• battery;
• remote control system;
• temperature sensor and timer.

The installation diagram for an electric engine heater is very simple, so every car owner can use it. The main disadvantage can be considered only the amount of energy consumed, which is quite high for such a device.

Do-it-yourself autonomous engine preheating is much more difficult to install. Its system is more complex and the cost is higher. They are turned on using a button and do not require a power supply. The installed autonomous heating operates from the fuel system or from a special gasoline tank.

The operation is based on the principle of air recirculation, which allows you to start the engine and quickly start moving, regardless of weather conditions and the power supply network. The device warms up the antifreeze, which then rises, enters the radiator, cools again and returns to the heater.

So the liquid circulates until it warms up the entire system and it reaches operating temperature. Autonomous heating, connected to the cooling system, can be installed in any free place under the hood of the car. It also quickly heats the interior.

Mounting and installation of the device

The prospect of not having to wait extra minutes on a frosty morning for the engine to warm up seems very tempting for car enthusiasts. Many motorists at this stage will wonder whether homemade heating exists. And how to install engine heating yourself?

To understand how to make an engine preheater, you first have to accept that it will run on electricity.

Therefore, the presence of an outlet in the parking lot will be one of the operating conditions.

So, a 220V engine heater assembled by yourself will consist of a heating element, fittings and several fittings. The heating element must be connected to a small circle of the cooling system and equipped with a pump so that the liquid can circulate when the engine is turned off.

Installing an engine preheater has fairly simple instructions, and for greater convenience, there are videos on the Internet that explain the procedure step by step.

The heating element is installed at the end of the tee, and a ten-centimeter pipe is mounted at the other end. It is necessary for faster heating of the system. Plugs are installed on the free outlet and the end of the pipe for further connection of hoses.

Now we connect the resulting part to the coolant circulation system in the car. To do this, you need to find the place where the hose breaks from below, where there is access to the stove, and install a homemade device. A wire of a suitable cross-section is connected to the contacts of the heating element, and at this point the first stage can be considered successfully completed.

Next comes the connection of the pump, with the help of which the liquid will circulate. The easiest way would be to use a pump from Gazelle, since it is universal and has a fairly affordable price. It is connected in front of the heater using an open relay to the car network or a regular outlet.

These are the main points for installing engine heating.

The danger of untested systems

If you have absolutely no skills to perform such work, the best option would be to purchase a ready-made device. In this case, the instructions that come with the unit will tell you how to connect the heating.

If you independently intervene in the system of an internal combustion engine and its cooling cycle, there is a risk of damaging some elements if you know firsthand about the internal structure of the car.

If the desire to figure it out and do all the work yourself is too great, then you should enlist help. Usually, an experienced motorist can figure out the part of the system where the heating is installed and tell you the location of the necessary parts.

The easiest to use, but at the same time the most functional device is considered to be a device for diesel engines. It costs modestly, but works effectively. Supports manual and automatic starting, works with antifreeze and antifreeze, and in medium power mode consumes less than a liter of fuel per hour of operation.

PZD is able to withstand temperatures down to −45 degrees. You can install it yourself using the instructions or by contacting the nearest car service center, where this work will be completed in a few minutes.

Remember that any intervention in the internal structure of the car must be qualified.

Before wondering how to install an engine pre-heater in the winter season, consult with a specialist. An experienced specialist will help you determine which model is best suited for your car, model, year of manufacture and mileage, or whether you should not install heating at all.

Each car is unique. And it’s not a fact that a heater that fits your neighbor’s car perfectly will also reduce the warm-up time for the engine of another vehicle. You should always rely only on the authoritative opinion of a specialist.

The most inexpensive type of engine preheater is electric, built into the cylinder block or placed next to it. Essentially, this is a modified electric boiler. Only its main task is not to bring the liquid to a boil, but to heat it to such a state that the engine can start quickly in the cold season.

With the first view, everything is clear: the power of the devices is only 400-750 W. Their purpose is to maintain a certain temperature regime directly in the cylinder block. Apart from the heating element and the wire leading to a 220 Volt outlet, there are no additional sensors, pipes or other devices here.

Video - self-installation of a 220 Volt electric engine pre-heater:

A “boiler” with a wire isn’t enough for you? Then it won’t be superfluous to buy an ordinary timer, if accuracy down to every second is so fundamentally important to you.

The most famous Russian heaters of this type are “Besprizornik” (from 1,200 rubles), “Start-mini” (from 950 rubles). The mentioned devices are mainly intended for, but are there any obstacles for domestic craftsmen?

To be fair, it should be noted that our car enthusiasts still consider a car, first and foremost, a luxury, on which too much money has already been spent. People are somehow not ready to “pamper” their iron horses with expensive heaters, and therefore the popularity of models whose cost does not exceed 2,000 rubles is growing. The same cohort includes models with the names “Lestar”, “Start M1”, “Start M2”, “Sibir-M”, “Alliance”.

Recently, units of this type have begun to be improved, equipped not only with timers, but also with an emergency switch, which, in case of overheating, stops the supply of electricity. The disadvantage of such structures is that they have become more difficult to install in the space near the engine.

Another point that makes using such devices not very pleasant is the need to open the hood lid every time in order to stretch the wire from the device to the outlet. True, the connector has now begun to be brought out under the bumper, which has greatly facilitated operation.

Video - 12 volt engine preheater (24V, 220V) in the form of flexible heating plates:

More “advanced” pre-heaters are autonomous, adapted to power supply from the vehicle network and designed for a voltage of 12 Volts. Along with a lot of advantages, such devices also have very significant disadvantages:

• the presence of internal devices that are subject to wear and require replacement;
• formation of deposits in pipes and combustion chambers due to insufficient fuel purification;
• installation requiring certain skills;
• high cost.

This last point is the main reason why the purchase of pre-starting autonomous heaters is constantly postponed until “later”. After all, not everyone can easily shell out an average of 30,000 to 90,000 rubles for a device, even if its usefulness is beyond doubt.

Those who installed it on their car leave very different ones, but among them there are quite a lot of positive ones.

Video - 220 Volt Severs+ engine pre-heater on a Mitsubishi L200:

May be of interest:

Scanner for self-diagnosis of a car

Winter time is quite problematic for car operation. During this period, lubricants, technical fluids and fuel have increased viscosity due to a decrease in ambient temperature. To bring them to optimal condition, it is recommended to use a 220V engine preheater.

This practice will reduce the force load on the mating structural elements. The engine will start faster, and active wear of parts will also be reduced. Installing a 220V engine heater is recommended from the time the ambient temperature drops to +10 C. The presence of an additional heating unit will allow you to start the engine already warmed up.

Effective electric heating of the engine in winter is based on increasing the temperature of the coolant (antifreeze), which circulates through the technical channels of the cylinder block. The installed additional equipment reliably copes with its task, ensuring high-quality operation of internal combustion engines in various types of vehicles:

• passenger cars;
• trucks of various modifications;
• bus depot.

Manufacturers offer designs for their models that can be equipped with an electric pump, or do not have such a unit in a cheaper version. In any case, this equipment needs to be connected to a household power supply. It is often used in covered paid parking lots or in a personal garage. Less often, open parking lots have remote stationary stands with sockets.

Products produced by popular manufacturers have a high degree of protection. You can leave them on all night or day without fear of any incidents. A modern 220V car engine heater is equipped with an automatic heating switch-off unit when the set temperature is reached.

As soon as the working fluid cools down to the threshold level again, the device will start again.

Choosing the right product

• Before installing a 220V engine heater, you need to determine its parameters. In such a situation, you need to focus on the presence/absence of a pump and the power characteristics of a particular product. The latter are selected in accordance with the engine size. Common to all designs are the following advantages:
• fuel is saved, which without a heater is spent on warming up;
• high degree of fire safety;
• easy operation;

compactness.

Even the largest built-in units weigh only a couple of kilograms with modest dimensions.

Presence of a pump in the device

Models with electric pump heaters allow liquid to be driven through channels during the heating process. This functionality ensures higher efficiency of thermal equipment. This saves time on achieving the specified parameters.

After being connected to the mains, the heating element built into the heater body begins to warm up. At the same time, the electric pump starts, sending warm antifreeze into the channels through the outlet pipe. Cool liquid flows from the cylinder block through the inlet to the heating element. Thus, a flow is carried out along a closed loop.

Typically, two-watt heater models take about 30-50 minutes to reach +70 C. The exact time directly depends on the ambient temperature and external weather factors, which include the presence of wind in an open parking lot, precipitation, etc. In garage or box conditions, the car warms up faster. After this, the car is ready for use.

The advantages of the pump design are the following factors:

• less time is spent on heating than pumpless samples;
• the temperature rises more evenly throughout the motor, since the channels cover the entire block;
• Temperature deformations are not allowed during the initial cycle.

The disadvantages of these products are the following features:

• additional power of the device is spent on moving the liquid, so for most models this parameter cannot be lower than 1.5 kW, otherwise it will not be possible to bring the liquid to the desired operating mode;
• the presence of a circulation pump increases the cost of the product, and also increases the likelihood of its breakdown due to the presence of an additional unit;
• the electrical appliance consumes more energy, which affects operating costs;
• some models require connecting the pump to an additional 12 V power supply, for example, from a battery.

A popular model of this type is the Severs+ device. It is offered to customers in a two-kilowatt modification. The device comes complete with a universal mounting kit. Detailed written instructions and important parts for attaching to the motor are included. Device characteristics:

• dimensions of the finished unit 86x86x180 mm;
• connection cord 150 cm;
• power 2 kW;
• current consumption 220 V 50 Hz;
• external coating with anodized protective aluminum;
• built-in thermostat that operates at 80 C;
• thermal shutdown occurs at 140 C;
• The sealed housing prevents the penetration of heated liquid to electrical components.

The device is certified and meets all electrical safety requirements.

Design Features:

• the horizontal type of installation does not allow antifreeze to penetrate into the electrical part, increasing operational safety;
• a built-in ball valve generates a flow to circulate liquid through the heating element in the desired direction;
• The thermostat keeps the liquid in the desired mode;
• The thermal switch is an additional protection against possible malfunction of the thermostat.

We recommend choosing models with a bumper connector. This feature allows you to quickly connect equipment without opening the hood. In such a situation, the plug is usually mounted behind the radiator grille or in the bumper area.

Without built-in pump

Buyers can preheat the cooling system before starting a 220V engine in a configuration without an electric pump. It is the more common type of this equipment. Such units do not require additional maintenance, but at the same time have a high degree of reliability.

The advantages of pumpless models include the following factors:

• stable performance in any conditions;
• connection exclusively to a household outlet;
• ease of installation of the device to the cylinder block;
• reduced power consumption by the device.

The disadvantages of such a scheme are:

• circulation is carried out solely due to the temperature difference, passing mainly in a small circle;
• requires longer warm-up time;
• You need to carefully choose the model, as there are low-quality copies.

An example of such models is Hotstart products of the CB, CL, SB, SL series. They are in demand in cars with high-power diesel engines. The body is made of durable aluminum alloy, die-cast. Devices are connected from a 220 V or 380 V network.

Installation method for passenger cars

Installation of the 220V engine preheater is carried out at the lowest point of the cylinder block housing. This part contains a threaded plug. In VAZ models it is convenient to use the area near the beam, where the beam is attached to it. Most mounting kits include special brackets.

Important! You must first drain the coolant, as the system will be depressurized.

The heater body has an index arrow indicating the point where liquid enters it. This pipe must be connected to the outer jacket of the power plant housing. From this hole, antifreeze will begin to flow into the channels of the block, and then move to the upper pipe going to the pump from the radiator.

The kits include a special fitting. It needs to be screwed in instead of the drain threaded screw (plug). The upper pipe is cut and divided using a tee. It is important not to confuse the direction of fluid flow, since the technological angle of inclination allows antifreeze to move freely through the updated channel system.

After all the pipes are installed, fill the system with antifreeze and check the tightness of the joints and sealing of the clamps. We test the heating of the installed thermal system.

Mounted liquid engine heaters are more cost-effective devices compared to stationary bulky models. They are also more economical in energy consumption and have a lower price tag. The widespread use of such equipment has proven its effectiveness in operating vehicles of various classes.