Unsafe methods of warming up a car using open flame sources and a soldering iron lamp have long been replaced by an engine pre-heater. This unit allows you to warm up the engine before starting the engine in the cold season, as well as heat the air in the cabin and defrost the windshield. Thus, the internal combustion engine heating apparatus makes it possible to increase the operational life of the power unit. Patented units operate in a temperature range from 0° to -45°C.

Device Features

Preheaters for cars are small devices whose purpose is to preheat the engine without starting it. Also, thanks to this device, the interior is heated, the windshield and wipers are defrosted.

The principle of operation of any device

The design of the device includes the following parts:

• fuel pump;
• heat exchanger;
• thermal chamber;
• liquid circulation pump;
• fuel drive.

The purpose of each component element of liquid pre-heaters is the same - to run heated coolant through the cooling system to warm up the engine.

In addition to these parts, the package includes a thermal relay that activates the functioning of the built-in fan, an electronic control module, and a switch.

The device is installed in the engine compartment of the car. Installing the pre-heater is quite easy:

• the heat exchanger is attached to the small circuit of the engine cooling system;
• The electronic module is connected to the car's electrical network.

Despite the ease of installation, it is recommended to entrust this task to a certified specialist. The point is the guarantee; it will cease to be valid if the installation is carried out by a person who does not have a permit or relevant document for this work. First of all, these nuances concern Russian-made products.

VIDEO: About the benefits of engine preheater

Types of devices

It is difficult to overestimate the necessity of a heater for a car used in the Russian winter climate. The device will be especially in demand for diesel engines, when when the temperature drops, the fuel acquires a thick jelly-like consistency. But for owners of cars that run on gasoline, the device will also be useful. The unit makes it easier to start the engine for the first time in cold conditions and protects it from rapid wear.

Electrical 220V

The electric engine preheater does not belong to the class of autonomous devices. The device is fixed in place of one of the bolts of the cylindrical engine block, and the device functions only when connected to an electrical source with a voltage of 220 V. Most modern cars already have this addition included, but as a rule, it has a reduced power, which forces car owners to resort to installation one more device.

This type of pre-heater is most in demand in northern countries, such as Canada, Scandinavia, etc. The fact is that in European republics the infrastructure is slightly better developed than in Russia. There, almost every parking lot has separate sockets, which is so necessary for the operation of the unit.

Equipment for passenger cars has a complex design, which includes:

• heating element with a power rating of 500-5000 W;
• electronic control unit equipped with a timer;
• battery charging module, if included;
• fan - needed to heat the interior or engine compartment;
• pump - not present in all modifications and is used for increased coolant circulation for uniform heating.

It is not difficult to understand how a pre-heater works - the principle is based on the simplest laws of physics, when warm liquid begins to circulate along the line due to a temperature difference.

The diesel engine preheater heating element transfers thermal energy to the fluid as it circulates through the system. In this case, the heating element is mounted in the lowest area of ​​the cooling system so that the heated antifreeze rises up, while the cooled one goes down.

If the package includes a liquid pump, the installation location is not important.

Autonomous pre-heaters

Autonomous engine pre-heaters are mounted in the engine compartment and operate using the following types of fuel:

• petrol;
• diesel;

The design of the autonomous engine preheater includes the following parts:

• control module that controls temperature conditions, fuel, oxygen, and gas supply levels;
• fuel pump;
• oxygen blower;
• miniature boiler with built-in combustion tank;
• liquid pump;
• There may be a relay, timer, remote control device, etc.

The operating principle of the preheater consists of several steps:

• the system is turned on using one of the starting methods;
• the fuel pump is activated, transferring gasoline, diesel fuel or gas into the combustion chamber;
• the spark plug helps ignite the incoming fuel;
• the flame heats the coolant;
• The coolant circulates through the system due to the operation of the pump.

When the temperature of the antifreeze reaches the desired value, a fan starts in the car interior. On average, fuel consumption when using an autonomous liquid preheater is 500 ml/h.

The disadvantages of the device are high energy consumption. And since the device operates from a car battery, there is a possibility that it may be completely discharged in the morning.

Thermal accumulator

This is a fairly new invention that can be seen in a car model such as the Toyota Prius. The device is a thermos in which the required volume of heated coolant accumulates. When the engine starts, this liquid enters the cooling system, which allows the cold antifreeze or antifreeze to be slightly diluted.

In general terms, in this way it is possible to increase the temperature of antifreeze by 10-20°C. This allows you to operate the car without putting much load on the engine.

Such batteries can retain heat for up to two days. An ineffective but very convenient method of warming up the engine does not require the use of fuel or electricity to operate.

The best models of engine preheaters

To accurately determine which engine preheater is best, it is recommended to compare devices from the most popular brands.

The most popular brand, since devices from this manufacturer are capable of heating not only the coolant, but also the engine and interior. The German modification Termo top E is a liquid device equipped with a timer.

At a temperature of -15°C, the unit performs its functions properly in no more than 25 minutes. The main disadvantage of the device is the price, which is 40,000 rubles.

A unit from a domestic manufacturer can warm up the coolant and interior. The package includes a remote control that operates within a radius of 150 m. The main disadvantage of this is the lack of feedback. In more detail, if the heater malfunctions, the driver will not know about it until he discovers that the car simply will not start.

The manufacturer paid special attention to the security system, which controls the functioning of the entire device. If a malfunction is detected, the device will notify the owner with an error code.

Severs 103-37-41

The non-autonomous unit operates only on a voltage of 220 V. The device is equipped with a thermostat. Heating to a temperature of 60°C requires one hour of equipment operation.

The benefits of preheaters

Professional drivers have long ceased to question the mandatory provision of any car with an engine pre-heater, regardless of the type of the latter. And if in Europe this type of equipment has been used for more than 20 years, in Russia it is only now that it has begun to become widespread. Previously, it was mainly used by drivers of heavy trucks and diesel vehicles.

The benefits of PPPD are unconditional both for the engine itself and for the driver, in particular, fatigue is reduced, operating comfort is improved, and the need for daily “witchcraft” in the form of blowtorches, removed batteries and other manipulations is eliminated.

The most important thing is that the device increases the service life of the car - one cold engine start equals, on average, 100-120 km of mileage in the warm season.

So, if we briefly describe the advantages of using DAAs, we can formulate the following theses:

1. Reducing the amount of fuel consumed. On average, a car starts 300-500 times during the winter, depending on the type of work. One cold start consumes up to 500 ml of fuel, respectively, in just 3 months of winter you can save about 150 liters of fuel (5500-6000 rubles).
2. Reducing the load on the power unit. More than 80% of the load on the engine occurs at the time of its cold start, when the viscosity of the oil is very high, it does not have time to lubricate the parts in time, and accordingly, friction of the moving parts occurs dry. On average, one cold start corresponds to 100 km of driving under normal conditions. Considering that there are more than 300 of them during the winter, it is easy to calculate how many kilometers your car will cover in just one season.
3. Increased vehicle operating safety. At subzero temperatures, human heat transfer increases. He becomes drowsy, fatigue increases, and attention wanders. All this is a direct road to an accident when it is impossible to react to the risk in time. A warm interior, a clean windshield, and heated seats are the key to not just a comfortable, but a healthy ride at any time of the year.

VIDEO: Studying the assortment - which is better to choose?

An article about preheaters for automobile engines - their types, purpose, operation. At the end of the article there is a video about which preheater to buy

The content of the article:

When creating new car models, designers make sure that the cars last a long time and are highly reliable. High-quality, full-fledged engine operation for decades is not a fantasy; modern cars have a very decent functional life.

In order to ensure long-term operation, a device such as a pre-heater is provided. Let's find out what its benefits are and how to choose the right model.

As the name of the device suggests, it is necessary in order to warm up the engine before it receives a full load. Running the engine “cold” leads to the following undesirable situations:

• oil thickens in the cold, and the oil pump cannot cope with its supply in the required volumes;
• the lack of oil supplied to the engine leads to the fact that those engine parts that should move in lubrication actually function “dry” and thus quickly wear out, becoming unusable;
• the air-fuel mixture in the cold is more difficult to ignite and burns more slowly;
• slow combustion of the air-fuel mixture leads to burnout of the cylinder block gasket, pistons and engine valves.

As follows from the list above, starting the engine in the cold is not only difficult (the fuel mixture “does not want” to ignite), but also extremely detrimental to the entire engine.

One way to get your car into working condition in the cold is to start the engine and let it idle for a while, thus warming up the engine to normal operating temperature. However, the problem in this case is still not completely solved: engine wear increases even when idling if the car is started in the cold.

Statistics collected by automobile design bureaus show the following disappointing figures: during the initial start-up of the engine in a cold state, its wear increases ten (!) times. It is believed that one cold start can be safely compared in terms of the load on the motor in terms of the degree of load and wear to a couple of months of operating the machine under normal conditions at a stable temperature of +25 degrees.

It is in order to avoid the maximum number of negative phenomena and save engine life that pre-heaters were developed.

Let’s make a reservation right away: in a climate where the daily temperature does not drop below +10 all year round, there is no need for this device. It is also not required if you do not use the car at all in winter. But in fact, the realities of our country are such that it’s still not worth using a car without a preheater.

This device is designed to set the desired temperature for the operation of the car engine, so that even in cold weather, all systems can operate without failure and without damaging car parts.

The pioneers in the development and use of the heater were the countries of northern Scandinavia and Northern Europe, where climatic conditions, although not as harsh as on our territory, nevertheless spoil a lot of nerves for car owners, forcing them to invent numerous ways to start the engine in the cold, avoiding in this case damage to the engine.

A modern preheater performs the following functions:

• warms up the engine to operating temperature;
• makes starting the engine in cold weather easier;
• heats the car interior;
• heats the engine compartment, thereby increasing the temperature not only of the fuel in the engine, but also of other working fluids, as well as parts associated with the engine.

The use of a pre-heater leads to the following results:

• a noticeable reduction in the degree of wear of engine parts during the winter period of vehicle operation;
• fuel economy;
• heating the interior, eliminating ice on the windows by the time the driver gets behind the wheel;
• for diesel engines - the possibility of additional engine heating.

The main advantage of using this device is that the driver is guaranteed to start the engine and drive away, regardless of whether it is frosty outside or not.

After we have understood the benefits of preheaters, it is time to pay attention to their diversity and figure out how to choose the right model.

First of all, you need to understand that heaters are:

• for car interior;
• for the engine;
• combined (heating both the engine and the car interior).

Let's look at the main types of heaters, their advantages and disadvantages.

Electric heaters

In fact, this is an analogue of a conventional boiler, which is built into a cylinder block. Its task is to heat the coolant. The principle of operation is based on the fact that warmer coolant rises, ensuring uniform heating of the entire volume of liquid.

Electric heaters are in good demand in Europe, but are not very popular in our country. The reason is simple: in Europe, almost every car park is equipped with electrical outlets, and the only question is whether the owner forgot to connect the heater.

For our country, the use of an electric heater is relevant if the car is left overnight in a garage equipped with a power outlet.

If you choose this type of heater, it is best to choose a model with a temperature sensor. In this case, the system will automatically turn off when it reaches the set temperature level and turn on again when the temperature drops.

There are also models equipped with an operation timer, but they are not as effective because they do not rely on temperature indicators.

Air preheaters

Air heaters are of dependent and independent types. Dependent air pre-heaters are powered by a running engine. As a rule, an independent heater is only enough to heat the engine itself - it is not able to heat the interior of the car.

The design of the air heater is relatively simple. It consists of a radiator system filled with heated antifreeze and a fan that supplies heated air. This device heats the cabin air very quickly. In modern models, the temperature is maintained using a temperature sensor.

The circuit of this type of heater includes an autonomous engine that pumps fuel into the combustion chamber, which is mixed with air and ignited by a spark plug. Such a heater uses from 0.25 to 0.5 liters of fuel per hour of operation, depending on the outside temperature and the size of the heated area.

Engine preheater built into the cooling system

The operating principle of this heater is very similar to the functioning of an autonomous air heater. The fuel ignites, the heat exchanger heats the coolant.

One of the important issues when choosing the type of heater is its location. If the heater is to be mounted under the hood of a car, you should start with an analysis: is there free space there? Not all car models allow you to squeeze at least something extra under the hood.

Modern manufacturers of heaters have launched a serious struggle to miniaturize their devices. However, it’s not worth investing in very miniature models: they have less power, and in our climate this can be a waste of money.

The most common option, from which, in fact, the production of pre-start heaters began, is a manually controlled unit. That is, before starting the engine, you need to manually activate the heater. After five to ten minutes the engine will warm up and the cabin will become warm.

Models equipped with a timer are also available. If the owner of the car drives it out at the same time, you can set a timer to start and no longer worry: by the right moment everything will be warmed up, all you have to do is get behind the wheel and hit the road.

Another option is remote-controlled heaters. The disadvantage of this model is the small range of the signal transmitter. The stated one kilometer radius in urban environments is greatly reduced due to the density of buildings and poor signal transmission.

To summarize the information provided, we can say the following:

1. A pre-heater is a necessary thing in our latitudes.
2. If you have access to power, electric models will solve the problem perfectly.
3. If your car's access to electricity is problematic, it is better to opt for an autonomous heater built into the cooling system.

The use of a preheater will allow the car to go much longer without expensive engine repairs.

Video about which preheater to buy:

The device mentioned in the title of the article enables the engine of a car or other vehicle without starting it. Such a device is used to preheat the engine, facilitate engine starting, and in some cases, to warm up the air in the vehicle interior.

The importance of an engine heater in Russian conditions is difficult to overestimate. The device is especially relevant for owners of cars with a diesel engine. On numerous forums you can often read that “the diesel fuel is frozen.” However, such a device will also not hurt owners of cars with a gasoline engine in the Russian winter. The heater brings the oil temperature to an acceptable level, and the car starts easily.

Electric heaters

This type of heaters is non-autonomous. This type of device was invented in 1949 by A. Freeman. The invention is patented. The heater is screwed in instead of one of the bolts of the engine cylinder block and is powered from a 220-volt outlet. In some cars, such devices are included in the package.

It is clear that electric heaters are popular in northern countries: Canada, Scandinavian countries. They are also used in Russia.

This type of heaters is quite complex. It has the following components:

• a heating element. Typically, its power varies from 500 to 5000 W. The heating element is placed in a sealed heat exchanger, which is mounted in the technological holes of the engine cooling system, or is connected to the cooling jacket using pipes.
• ECU with timer. A timer is needed to control the time the heater turns on and off.
• battery recharging unit, if they are provided for in the heater design.
• a fan necessary for heating the interior or engine compartment of a car.
• There are models with a pump, which promotes uniform heating of the engine.

The operating principle of an electric heater is simple and based on the most well-known laws of physics.

The heating element acts on the coolant. It begins to circulate until it warms up completely. The heating element must be installed at the bottom of the cooling system, since, according to the same laws of physics, warm liquid rises up and cold liquid goes down. If the heater is equipped with a pump, then the location of the heating element is not important.

Autonomous heaters

Autonomous liquid heaters are installed under the hood of a car and operate on one of the types of fuel: gasoline, diesel fuel, gas.

Components of a liquid heater:

• a rather complex control unit that controls a number of parameters: temperature, fuel supply, air supply;
• pump responsible for supplying fuel;
• air blower;
• a boiler with a fuel combustion chamber located in it;
• a pump responsible for circulating coolant;
• The system can also be equipped with a relay that turns on the interior heater fan. In this case, not only the engine, but also the interior is heated, which is very convenient;
• timer, remote control or other heater control module.

The operating principle of this type of heater is also quite clear. The system is started remotely or using a timer. The fuel pump comes into motion, pumping fuel from the car tank into the combustion chamber, and another pump pumps air. The spark plug ignites the fuel. The heat is transferred to the coolant, which begins to circulate thanks to the third pump. As soon as the liquid heats up to a certain temperature, the cabin fan turns on. The car interior begins to warm up. If the coolant reaches a high temperature, the system shuts down.

The average fuel consumption when using such a heater is 0.5 liters of gasoline per hour. It’s better to spend money on gasoline than to “do magic” in front of the car in the morning with a blowtorch and other improvised means, trying to start the car.

The disadvantages of liquid heaters include the following: in its operation, the system uses the energy of the battery installed on the car. If the battery is weak, then the liquid heater can completely drain it, and the car will not start in the morning.

In general, this type of heaters does not have serious disadvantages, but has great advantages.

Thermal accumulators

Toyota Prius is equipped with such devices. What are they? A heat accumulator is a thermos that collects a certain volume of warm coolant. When the engine starts, the collected liquid is injected from the heat accumulator into the cooling system. On average, the temperature of the entire cooling system fluid increases by 10-15 degrees, which makes it possible to operate the engine without much load. By the way, heat accumulators can keep coolant warm for up to 2 days.

It is obvious that the method has the right to life. Moreover, when using such batteries, there is no need to consume additional electricity or fuel.

Diesel fuel heaters

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, diesel fuel does not handle low temperatures very well. Therefore, heaters are also used to dissolve paraffins formed in diesel fuel.

Diesel fuel is heated by two types of devices: some of them are mounted on the diesel fuel filter, and others are mounted on the fuel system line or cut into it.

Popular models of preheaters

Webasto Thermo Top E

People who are even slightly interested in cars have probably heard the name Webasto. Yes, this is perhaps the most popular brand of heaters.

The Thermo Top E model is a preheater-heater, that is, it heats the coolant, engine and air in the cabin. Manufactured in Germany, like other Webasto products.

Thermo Top E is a classic example of liquid heaters, which have already been discussed. The device is relatively compact, suitable for installation even in small cars. It is important that even at the moment of its start-up the heater consumes a very small amount of electricity. Thus, you don’t have to worry about the car’s battery charge level.

An upgraded version of the heater timer allows you to turn on the heating device for a period of time from 10 minutes to 1 hour. When the frost is 10-15 degrees, the heater can easily cope with its task in 15 minutes.

During the hot season, the heater can ventilate the car interior, which is also very nice, especially for owners of cars that do not have air conditioning.

Everything is good in Webasto, except the price. Not every Russian car owner will decide to spend money on a heater from this company.

Teplostar 04TS

Teplostar is a domestic heater, which is produced in Samara. The model, on the whole, is very good. With the help of 04TS, the coolant and interior are heated, there is a remote control that operates at a distance of up to 150 meters. That is, if the car is parked under the windows of the house, then starting the heater from the remote control will not be difficult. The remote control has only one drawback: it is not equipped with a feedback system. There is a danger that if the heater fails, the car owner will only find out about it in the morning, sitting in a cold car.

It is gratifying that Samara manufacturers of heaters paid special attention to the safety of the device. Before starting, the ECU checks the functionality of all systems. If something is not working correctly, error codes are displayed on a special display. If for some reason the combustion in the chamber stops, the fuel supply stops. This is very important and valuable.

Severs 103.3741

Severs is a heater, which is also produced in Russia, but it is non-autonomous and operates from a 220 V outlet. The device has a thermostat that protects against engine overheating. Heating to 60 degrees is carried out in 1-1.5 hours. At a temperature of 85 degrees the system stops working. If the coolant temperature drops to 50 degrees, the heater starts working again.

It is noteworthy that the heater is protected from moisture and electric shock.

The only downside of Severs is that it needs an outlet. For car owners with their own garage, the device is very suitable. But for others it is of little use.

Defa Warm Up

Non-autonomous heater, which is produced in Norway. It warms up the engine, interior and, attention, can recharge the battery. The latter is very important, since in the cold the car battery significantly loses its power.

It has basic and universal kits that can be combined at your discretion.

Compared to the Severs and Defa heaters described above, of course, they are a little expensive. But the price is justified by the functional set.

Autoplus MADI UOPD -0.2-2

The device from Autoplus is a heat accumulator. It can be easily installed on a car of any size. All operation of the device is automated. The driver does not need to perform any manipulations. It is noteworthy that any car owner can install a heat accumulator on a car independently. No special skills are required here.

Nomacon PB

Nomacon is a diesel fuel preheater. It is mounted on a fine filter. In fact, there are no competitors to this heater in the domestic market. But Belarusians keep prices for devices quite low, while maintaining high quality equipment.

Results

Having examined the types of pre-heaters and familiarized themselves with their main popular models, we can draw one simple conclusion: in Russia you can and should use pre-heaters. Which ones exactly? It’s up to everyone to decide based on preferences, type of car and budget.

Already today, some automakers supplying their models to Russia offer as an option the installation of an autonomous pre-heater for the engine and interior. This thing, especially in the northeastern regions of the country, is practically irreplaceable, and the benefits from it are invaluable. But what should those Russian car enthusiasts do who do not have such a device in the list of car equipment? Fortunately, it is now easy to purchase and install a preheater for the engine and interior. The question is: is it worth spending money on it, and what is the practical use of this device? We will try to answer all these and many other questions in this article.

Question 1. What is a pre-heater.

A pre-heater is, as we mentioned above, a small device that is designed to warm up the engine without directly turning it on, the interior of the car, it can also be used to defrost frosty windows and wipers. The device itself consists of several elements: the so-called “boiler”, which includes a heat exchanger and combustion chamber, a fuel pump and fuel line, another pump whose function is to drive it through the system. In addition, this includes a thermal relay that activates the fan of the standard climate system, an electronic control unit and the device itself, with which the preheater is turned on.

It is installed in the engine compartment of the car. It is installed quite simply: the heat exchanger of the device is connected to the small circuit of the engine cooling system, the electronic control unit is connected to the vehicle’s electrical network. Despite the apparent simplicity of installation, this operation is best left to specialists.

Question 2. How does the pre-heater work?

Let's say you decide to install a preheater, buy the device and install it on your car. In this case, you will definitely be asked how exactly you want to turn on the device: directly from the car cabin, using a remote control (transpoder) or directly from a mobile phone (GSM module). The first option is the cheapest (on average 2,500 rubles with installation), its only disadvantage is that if you need to reprogram the pre-heater, you will need to go into the car again and reset the time. The second option is more expensive (on average 9,000 rubles with installation), but it does not have the disadvantages of the first option. Finally, the third option is the most convenient, since it does not require carrying an additional device with you, because all operations can be performed from a mobile phone. However, here you will have to spend money on purchasing a GSM module, the cost of which varies widely.

After the signal from the timer, remote control or phone arrives at the heater control unit at the time you specify, the device will start, and gasoline or diesel will begin to be sucked into its combustion chamber from the car tank through the fuel line. There, the fuel will mix with air, and the resulting air-fuel mixture will be ignited by the spark plug or ceramic pins. The generated heat accumulates in a heat exchanger, from where it is driven through a small circuit using a pump and heats the engine, facilitating quick starting. If the interior heating function is activated, then when a certain temperature is reached, the thermostat turns on, and the heat coming from the heat exchanger is directed into the vehicle interior, as well as onto the windows.

When the driver’s set temperature in the cabin is reached, the thermostat turns off the heater fan, turning it on again if the air temperature in the cabin drops. As a result, when the driver approaches the car, he receives a warm engine and a warm interior. All that remains is to start the engine and off you go!

Question 3. What types of preheaters are there?

Based on the type of device, preheaters are divided into liquid and air. Liquid heaters are used in passenger cars, while air devices are used in special equipment, trucks, buses and sea vessels. Air heaters are larger in size than liquid heaters, produce more heat and, accordingly, consume more fuel.

Liquid preheaters, in turn, are divided into several types. We note that they are designed to work with gasoline and diesel engines, as well as with power plants running on gas. Conventionally, these types can be designated as follows:

A – for compact cars;

B – universal;

Type “A” has the most compact dimensions of all presented, designed for installation on cars with small interior dimensions and engines up to 2.0 liters. Naturally, the fuel consumption of such heaters is the most economical. Type “B” is considered universal because it balances properties such as efficiency and size - such a device can be installed on both a compact car and a cargo minibus. Finally, the third type “B” is larger than the first two, gives off more heat and consumes more fuel. Its feature is an optimized fluid circulation mode, which allows you to quickly heat both a large engine and a larger interior.

Question 4. Pros and cons of preheaters.

Let us note right away that preheaters have more advantages than disadvantages. First of all, a car enthusiast who installs an autonomous pre-heater on his car provides himself with a ready-to-use car, the engine and interior of which are heated to optimal temperatures. Secondly, the use of a device for heating the engine helps to extend the life of the power unit, because most engines, although they are “trained” to start in the most severe frosts, are still stressful for power units, which reduces their service life.

The big disadvantages of pre-starting autonomous heaters include their relatively high cost. On average, such a device will cost 35-40,000 rubles with installation. The smaller disadvantages are increased fuel consumption, because heaters use fuel from the tank to operate. Whether it is worth spending money on this thing, which is generally useful in our climate, is up to each motorist to decide individually.

An engine preheater is installed on various types of passenger cars, heavy trucks, and special vehicles. Equipping with this device makes it easier to start an internal combustion engine, increases the service life of the power unit, and also increases comfort when using the machine in winter.

On car models that are not equipped with a standard engine heating system, it is possible to install this device. However, during installation, you need to choose the right heater for the engine and install it correctly.

Why do you need a pre-heater?

A cold start of the power unit reduces its resource by 400–500 kilometers. In addition, not every attempt to start a car in winter ends successfully. It is most difficult to start the engine in the northern latitudes of Russia, where drivers of heavy vehicles do not turn off the engine at night, thereby not allowing it to cool down. This affects fuel consumption and the resource of the power unit.

Previously, blowtorches were used to warm up the engine. The disadvantage of this method was that the flame could damage the car; in addition, working with this device required certain knowledge and skills.

To solve the problems of starting the engine in winter, you need to purchase a pre-heater - a device that warms the engine and interior before starting the car. It significantly increases the service life of the power unit, increases the comfort of traveling in a heated cabin and reduces fuel consumption.

Types of automobile pre-heaters

Automotive pre-heaters, depending on the type of power supply and area of ​​application, are divided into:

• Electrical.
• Autonomous.

In turn, autonomous heaters are divided into:

• Airborne.
• Liquid.

Engine preheating systems are also divided according to the type of fuel used by the vehicle. Different types of heaters are used for gasoline and diesel engines.

When installing, take into account the type of vehicle and the type of heater. If the device is selected incorrectly, heating the engine before starting will be ineffective or will lead to boiling of the brake fluid.

Electric pre-heaters 220 Volt

The electric heater has a simple device. The coolant is heated - subsequently, flowing through the pipes of the cooling system, it warms up the engine of the car. Most often, an electric heater has a cord that connects to a 220-volt outlet and a heating element.

The device, depending on the configuration, is equipped with a device for recharging the car’s battery, a timer with a thermostat, a fan, and a remote control.

Installation of such a device is quite simple and does not require a visit to a specialized service center. To complete this, you will need to carry out the following procedure:

1. Drain at least 2 liters of antifreeze.
2. Disconnect the pipe from the stove.
3. Install a heater. To do this, use the complete heater bracket.
4. Connect the car heater to the stove using hoses.
5. Connect the pipes to the stove and assemble the entire system.
6. Fill with antifreeze or antifreeze.

As for the nuances of use, in most cases, it takes no more than 30 minutes to fully warm up the engine. However, at extremely low temperatures, the time will increase to 1–2 hours. The heating device, which is connected to the car heater, warms up the engine, the systems connected to it, and the interior of the vehicle. The heater should only be used if the air temperature does not exceed -5 degrees. In other cases, there is no need to use the vehicle heating system.

Do not exceed the engine heating time, this may lead to boiling of the coolant. In addition, overheating may cause a fire.

The average cost of an electric heater varies from 1000–5000 rubles, depending on the brand, country of origin and functionality.

In Scandinavian countries, parking lots have bollards equipped with 220V sockets, which allows you to warm up your car at any time.

Autonomous engine preheating system

Autonomous heaters are much more convenient than electric ones, as they can function without being connected to a 220-volt network. However, such devices are more expensive and difficult to install. The device is a small chamber, inside of which a drip pin and a fuel-air mixture are placed. The chamber walls have a constantly circulating coolant, which, when warmed up, warms the engine, interior and helps to defrost the glass.

An autonomous type heater is mounted either in the vehicle’s cooling system or in the electrical power supply system. Equally applicable to both gasoline and diesel engines.

Autonomous heaters are divided into:

• Liquid.
• Airborne.

Liquid autonomous heating devices are intended for SUVs, minivans and compact cars. The pre-heating device, designed for small cars, is installed on cars whose engine capacity does not exceed 2.0 liters. It is highly economical. Heaters intended for use on SUVs and minivans are large in size and efficient. However, they consume much more fuel. You can also find universal heating systems on sale; they can be used with equal success on both large and small cars.

Air ones have much larger dimensions compared to liquid ones, but they also emit more heat. They are used on ships, aircraft, special equipment and large trucks.

Thermal accumulators

Thermal accumulators are classified as a liquid type of car heater. The essence of the work is that the tubes of the car’s cooling system pass through such a battery. During engine operation, excess heat accumulates in the battery and remains there for up to 48 hours. When starting a cooled engine, the pump turns on and when pumping antifreeze or antifreeze, heat is transferred to the cooling system.

The main advantage of such a device is high heating efficiency and long-term heat retention. Disadvantages include the complexity of installation and the need to replace components of the device. Over time, valves, tubes and control levers wear out. Another disadvantage of operation is its cost. On average, a heat accumulator will cost a car enthusiast 7–8 thousand rubles.

When purchasing a heat accumulator, you should not purchase models made in China or Russia. It is best to pay attention to devices created in Scandinavian countries. Such heaters can boast of high quality, good heat retention and operating efficiency.

Diesel fuel heaters

Under the influence of low temperatures, diesel fuel loses its fluidity. The diesel fuel becomes cloudy, crystallizes, and waxing occurs. As a result, the fuel becomes thick, which makes pumping it through the filters difficult or completely impossible.

One of the devices that allows you to protect diesel fuel from freezing is a preheater. Thanks to its use, the fuel in the tank and filter separator is heated. For these purposes, the following types of heaters are used:

• Heated fuel intakes and heaters in the tank.

One of the most common options. After warming up, diesel fuel enters the fuel line. Heat is retained due to the supply of heated diesel fuel from the return line.

• Bandage heaters (have the shape of a flexible tape).

The fine filter is warmed up, the device control button is located in the car interior. After reaching operating temperature, the heater turns off automatically.

Popular models of preheaters

Among the models of preheaters, the following devices are especially popular:

Device made in Germany. Refers to compact heaters, economical in energy consumption. Powered by car battery. In the cold season, it warms up the engine quickly and efficiently. In summer, it can ventilate the interior of the vehicle.

• Teplostar 04TS.

Domestic heater produced in Samara. Operates from a 220V outlet, simple and effective in operation and maintenance. Many motorists will be pleased with the relatively low cost of this device. A special feature is the device’s remote control. Also, in the event of a malfunction, the operation of the preheater stops.

Norwegian heater of non-autonomous type. In addition to the main function - warming up the engine, it can recharge the battery (this option is useful, since in the cold the battery significantly loses its power). The buyer has the opportunity to purchase a basic and extended kit and combine them at his own discretion.

When purchasing a preheater, you should not skimp. Diesel heaters or heat accumulators, if assembled poorly, can quickly fail, and technical fluids can get into the engine compartment of the car. This will cause smoke or fire.

To summarize, it is worth saying that using a heater significantly speeds up the process of starting a car, saves fuel, and also makes traveling in a car more comfortable by warming up the air in the vehicle interior.

Below is a video about car pre-heaters