Starting a car in winter is difficult for anyone who does not have an engine preheater. This device is designed to heat the coolant, which, in turn, heats the engine elements, which contributes to easy starting even at critically low temperatures. The operation of the RPM makes it possible not only to facilitate the start of the internal combustion engine, but to increase its resource and, in general, increase the comfort of operation in the winter period.
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Briefly about the main |
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For vehicles with an internal combustion engine capacity of 2.5. Can be scheduled to run using a timer. |
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For passenger cars, pickups and vans with petrol engines up to 2 liters. |
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Designed for a car engine with a volume of up to 4 liters with a liquid cooling system at low temperatures (up to - 45 ° C). |
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Works from a network. You can connect an electronic timer. For engines up to 4 liters. Power depending on modification 1-2 kW. |
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A set of equipment designed for maximum ease of starting a car at any sub-zero temperatures. For control - Futura mini-timer. |
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Autonomous liquid unit 12 Volt, 5 kW for engines up to 4 liters with a liquid cooling system at temperatures down to -45°C. |
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The power is 5.2 kW, which is enough to connect both according to the classical scheme and according to the scheme of a regular cabin heater. |
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Component model, convenient in that it is smaller, more powerful and suitable for installation in very limited space. |
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Power 15 kW. Suitable for trucks and buses. |
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It is structurally divided into two main units - a pump and a fuel pump. Can be placed anywhere. |
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Accelerates power from 7 to 30 kW. Consumes from 0.7-3.7 diesel per hour. Include/switch off from the panel, control of temperature - ry automatic. |
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You don’t need to start the engine - you can turn it on right from the evening and maintain the temp until the start of the movement. |
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It operates from a standard 220V network and warms up the engine to the temperature recommended by the manufacturer in about an hour. |
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After starting the engine, the electronic control unit automatically turns on the diesel fuel heater if its temperature is below 5°C. |
Varieties of engine preheaters
According to the principle of operation of PPD for gasoline and diesel engines, they are divided into two main groups:
- autonomous;
- electrical.
Autonomous
They use the fuel of the car itself as energy. They are more convenient, do not depend on external sources, but are more expensive. If there is no standard heater, a ready-made installation kit is installed at the service station.
Electrical
This option requires a 220V power supply. The principle of operation is similar to that of a conventional boiler, in which the coolant is heated. The circulation is carried out by gravity (the heated one rises, and the cold one goes down).
Autonomous liquid heaters are installed under the hood of the car and operate on one of the types of fuel: gasoline, diesel fuel, gas.
Longfei with pump 3 kW
Heats the coolant and makes it move through a small cycle, warming up the power unit even without its idle operation, without wasting fuel. Heating element is used for heating, circulation - centrifugal pumping equipment. These elements are located in the body of the device and operate from a household power supply with a voltage of 220 volts.
Longfei 3 kW
This model has a thermostat and power control system. When the coolant reaches the upper temperature limit, the equipment turns off. As soon as it cools down to the lower set limit, the heating and the pump automatically turn on. As a result, the engine is always ready to start and start moving.
Longfei's miniature autonomous heaters are designed to meet the needs of the market. Their dimensions are only 8 × 7.7 × 11.8 cm. The heaters are securely fastened to the branch pipes with the help of clamps, without requiring special fastening for this. They are fixed in a consistent way by cutting into the inlet tube of the interior stove. The model evenly warms up the engine at high speed. Electronics has high protection against moisture and is reliable.
The price of Lunfei is from 2390 rubles.
Eberspächer HYDRONIC 3 B4E is installed on petrol engines. Power 4 kW. On-board network voltage - 12V. Very easy to install and operate, the kit includes a CD with a description of the installation process and technical specifications.
Infinitely adjustable heating power, increased protection against water and salt, accelerated heating of antifreeze, reduced current consumption, low noise level. According to the official website of the manufacturer, this is one of the best options for a passenger car.
The heater "Binar-5S" is designed to warm up a gasoline engine up to four liters before starting. Used at low temperatures down to -45°C. It can work in two modes: heater and preheater.
Specifications:
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Heat output, kW |
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Supply voltage, V |
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Fuel consumption, l/h |
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coolant |
antifreeze, antifreeze |
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Power consumption of the pump, W |
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Cycle duration, min |
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Weight, kg |
Starting heaters for passenger cars are presented in a large assortment, consider the most popular models of 2018. The Webasto t400vl heater is designed specifically for the Russian market. A distinctive feature is the ability to warm up not only the car engine, but the creation of a comfortable temperature in the cabin.
WEBASTO Thermo Top Evo Comfort+ The power of the Webasto brand unit is 5 kW, which is enough for normal operation on gasoline engines with a displacement of up to 4 liters. The set of delivery does not provide for a regular control body. Higher coolant temperature, early start of the adp5 fan, faster heating due to fluid pump control and better heat transfer "work" for maximum efficiency. Severs is a budget volatile heater that runs on a standard power supply. Includes thermostat to protect against engine overheating. Heating up to 60°С is carried out in 1-1.5 hours. At a temperature of 85°C, the system stops working. If the temperature of the coolant drops to 50°C, the heater starts up again. It is noteworthy that the heater has protection against moisture and electric shock.
The only downside of Severs is that he needs an outlet, so you can use such a device only if there is an electrical outlet. DEFA WarmUp 1350 wFutura - the maximum pre-heating system for the engine, interior and car battery charging. The system is controlled through the Futura mini-timer.
The kit includes:
The big advantage is that the device consists of blocks-modules and armored connecting cables. By choice, they can be installed either as separate blocks or as a whole complex. How to warm up the engine when there is no outlet nearby? Option one is to burn your own fuel. This is how autonomous preheaters are arranged: these are small stoves that burn fuel taken from the tank and heat the built-in heat exchanger. Such a starting preheater is easy to automate - connect a timer to it, a control output from an alarm. Teplostar prelaunch BINAR-5S (gasoline)The BINAR-5S engine preheater is a domestic analogue of the well-known German Webasto, which compares favorably with it in price and with a wider operating temperature range - up to -45°С. It is installed on passenger cars with a liquid cooling system running on gasoline.
The operation of "BINAR-5S" is controlled through an alarm system, timer remote control or through an application via a GSM modem. This makes it possible, on command or according to a schedule, to heat the antifreeze in the car to a temperature of 85 0C, followed by shutdown or reheating at low power. A set of equipment designed to be connected to a cabin heater or as a separate unit for easier starting a car in winter.
It is installed on all types of equipment, including commercial vehicles and trucks. The kit includes:
Users in the reviews pay attention to the fact that Thermo Top Evo Comfort, although it is intended only for heating the engine without a passenger compartment (there is a more expensive version of Top Evo Comfort + for this), wires for the interior heater function are also included in the cable braid.
The petrol version has a maximum heating output of 5 kW at the start of the engine warm-up cycle. During operation, the power of the engine heater is reduced to 1.5 kW, which leads to a decrease in fuel consumption and battery charge. Diesel at sub-zero temperatures becomes thick, like jelly, as a result of which it becomes extremely difficult to start the engine even at -10 ° C. Someone chooses diesel of special winter grades, but it is not sold at all gas stations. Others choose a diesel engine preheater. One does not interfere with the other, but together it will create ideal conditions for any frost. TEPLOSTAR 14TS-10, 20TSG, 15TSG are new models with a capacity of 12-20 kW designed for buses and trucks that run on diesel fuel or compressed natural gas. It is installed even on Kamaz
Teplostar Diesel engine-heater 14TC-10-12-C Such heaters provide warming up of the engine of the motor vehicle and salon in a cold season. The main advantages of cars (diesel), on which the installed heater "TEPLOSTAR":
Liquid Hydronic 35 is designed for installation in buses, trucks, container structures, special equipment, ships. The heating power is 35 kW, which contributes to the fastest and most efficient heating of the engine, car interior, cabins, cabs of trucks.
Hydronic is structurally divided into two main units - a pump and a fuel pump, which allows you to install it in any chosen place, which saves space. This design is optimal for installation in vehicles with a lack of free space under the hood. APZH-30D - pre-heater for diesel engine. The heater requires 24V power to operate.
Specifications:
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MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo VI, EVO VIII 2.0 16V / 4G63
MITSUBISHI Pajero 2.3 turbodiesel /2.5 turbodiesel, SEAT Malaga 1.7D
Duramax DAIHATSU Rocky 2.8D, 2.8TD.
Daewoo Matiz 0.8 / A08S, 1.0 / B10S
Spark 1.0/2010-/B10D1, 1.2/2010-/B12D1
NISSAN Monteringssats, 300 ZX / VG30
Nissan Almera 2.0D / 1995- / DA20
Bluebird 1.6/1984-/CA16, 1.8/1984-/CA18 1.8 turbo/1984-/CA18, 2.0/1984-/CA20, Cherry 1.0/1982-/E10, 1.3/1982-/E13, 1.5, 1.5 turbo/1982 - / ¤E15, 1.7 diesel / CD17,
Nissan Patrol 2.8TD/RD28T
Prairie 1.5/E15, 1.8/CA18, 2.0/CA20,
Stanza 1.6 / ¤CA16, 1.8 / CA18
Suzuki Monteringssats, Alto 1.1/2002-/F10D
Toyota Monteringssats Carina 1.8 diesel / 1C
Toyota Corolla diesel *** / Lite-Ace diesel /WEIDEMANN Monteringssats T4512CC35 - /3TNV82A
VOLKSWAGEN Monteringssats LT 31D / Perkins
Volvo BM/VCE
Volvo CE Monteringssats EC 15C-/D1.1, EC18C-/2010-/D1.1 EC20C-/2010-/D1.1, EC27C-/2010-/D1.6 EC35C-/2010-/D1.6, ECR 28 - / ECR 38 - / ECR 58 - / ECR 88 - / ECR48C - / 2010- / D2.2, ECR58 Plus - / D3.1, ECR88 Plus - / D3.1
Ford Probe 2.5i V6 24V
Honda Accord 2.0i-16/-1989 /B20A
Honda Legend 2.5, 2.7
Honda Prelude 2.0i -16V / 1986-1991 /B20A
Mazda 2 1.3 (DE) / 2008- / ZJ, 1.5 (DE) / 2008- / ZY
Mazda 3 1.4(BK)/2004-/ZJ, 1.6(BK)/2004-/Z6
Mazda 323 2.0i V6 24V
Mazda 626 2.5i V6
Mazda MX-3 1.8i 24V V6
Mazda MX-6 2.5i 24V V6
Mazda Xedos 6 2.0i 24V V6 /
Mazda Xedos 9 2.0i 24V V6 /K8-ZE, 2.5i 24V V6
Land Rover 825, 827-/-1995.
Branch pipe electric heaters for internal combustion engines
In addition to block ones, which are mounted directly into the block, there are branch pipes, which are installed in the section of the pipe.
Such a heater is only suitable if the diameter of the nozzle corresponds to the diameter of the device.
The manufacturers START (M1 / M2), DEFA and Calix also have branch pipes. They are also not difficult to install with your own hands.
Such modifications of branch pipe preheaters are suitable only for domestic VAZ, UAZ and GAZ cars.
Remote heating devices for cars
One of the types of electric heaters is remote. The design is more complicated than that of the previous types. The kit includes hoses, clamps, thermostats.
Brands of domestic remote starting preheaters Severs-M (1-3), Alliance, Severs +, Atlant Smart, Atlant + and others.
An analogue of foreign-made Hotstart TPS (HOTSTART), as a rule, is already standard in cars. Its cost is about 8 thousand rubles.
There are also models with forced circulation of the coolant. All previous versions of electric motor heaters had natural circulation.
American Hotstart worth about 25 thousand rubles. Russian analogues with forced circulation are much cheaper, about 2.5 tr. These are Atlant, Atlant+, etc.
And, how not to mention the world-famous Chinese manufacturers - this is XIN JI, whose power is not more than 1.8 kW.
heating plates
The ability to heat the engine with special heating plates is gaining popularity. They are installed mainly on the cylinder block body and on the crankcase.
The principle of operation of the heating plates is similar to that of electric heating elements. There are models that operate on a 220V network with a frequency of 50 Hertz, and there are those that operate on 12 Volts.
Plate power range from 0.1 to 1.5 kW. Temperature range from +90 to +180 degrees.
Do-it-yourself installation is also possible. Having previously chosen a place for installation, it is necessary to clean it of dirt and degrease this place and glue the plate.
Important! The heating plates must not heat the battery.
Such heating elements will not be able to quickly heat the coolant and the engine, they are designed to work in a long mode. 
Advantages of heating plates for internal combustion engines:
- Reliable and durable. Do not require repair. The warranty period is long.
- Easily mounted. There is no need to contact the service for installation. The kit includes an adhesive tape that must be glued to a cleaned and degreased place.
- Safe. Moisture and dust resistance increase the life of the plates.
- Wear resistant. Not afraid of moisture. The plates have a protective layer.
- Profitability. The cost of electricity is less than the cost of fuel (gasoline, diesel fuel).
Disadvantages of heating plates
- The high cost of such an engine heater.
- When the plates are powered by a car battery (battery), it is subject to increased wear.
The spread of preheating plates is due to the fact that their use is very convenient.
| Model | Characteristics | Cost, rub. at the beginning of 2018 |
| Flexible heating plate Keenovo (Kinovo) 100W 12V | Max. temperature +180 degrees. Overall dimensions 152x127 mm with 5 mm sponge. Suitable for engines up to 3 liters. | 3600 |
| Flexible heating plate Keenovo (Kinovo) 250 W 220 V | Heats up to a temperature of +90 degrees. Same dimensions as the previous model. Included is a cable 1 m long. For installation on the engine crankcase, BC, transmission units. | 3600 |
| Keenovo Flexible Heating Plate 250W 220V | Can heat up to 150 degrees. The sizes are the same. 1m cable available. | 3600 |
| Hotstart (Hotstart) AF10024 | Power 0.1 kW. Voltage 220 V. Dimensions: 127x101 mm. | 8000 |
| Hotstart (Hotstart) AF15024 | Power 0.15 kW. Voltage 220 V. Dimensions: 127x101 mm. | 10000 |
| Hotstart (Hotstart) AF25024 | Power 0.25 kW. Voltage 220 V. Dimensions: 127x101 mm. | 10000 |
Conclusion
Having studied the advantages and disadvantages of heaters, we see that autonomous heaters are better. Therefore, if there is a financial opportunity, it is better to install a reliable autonomy right away. Among the electric ones there are convenient plate heating elements.
The video shows a test of the popular VIBASTO engine heater.
The problem of engine wear is one of the biggest headaches of every car owner. The start-up in the winter season is especially strong for the life of the power unit, when, due to frost, the motor needs much more power to start working. In order to prevent a sad outcome, it is enough to use a 220V engine preheater with a pump. However, not everyone knows which model is better and why. To help you deal with this, we have created our own ranking, which presents the best models on the market.
No. 7 - Simate (Simat) (PRC) 
Our list opens with a product created by Asian engineers - Simate (Simat). It is quite easy to install, in other words, like most other electric car heaters. Inexpensive in terms of price (from 1500 rubles), the model is equipped with an efficient pump, which ensures efficient pumping and, as a result, heating of the coolant. At the same time, it does not matter in which car you use the heater - in a car or a truck. The device is equipped with a special thermostat and overheating protection, so its service life is much longer than that of competitors. The same can be said about the safety of operation.
Simate engine preheater
No. 6 - Hot Start (USA) 
The American company Hot Start is one of the market leaders and has been known for 75 years for producing only the best 220V engine preheaters with a pump. The company's products can reduce the cost of a motorist for fuel, fuel and lubricants and various repair services, since it significantly increases the life of the engine. Each, without exception, the model is made in accordance with international standards and certified according to ISO 9001, which guarantees the quality of workmanship and a high level of safety. You can buy a device at a price of 2000 rubles, and for your money this is an excellent choice.
Hot Start Engine Preheater
No. 5 - Start-Turbo (Russia)
A Russian-made product cannot boast of ease of installation, and for high-quality installation, an inexperienced car owner will have to seek help from a special center. However, this disadvantage is fully compensated by the excellent technical performance of the heater and its reliability. For example, antifreeze is heated up to 49 degrees, after which an emergency shutdown occurs until the temperature drops. The time required for the car to start is significantly reduced, and after it there are no various noises and malfunctions that are familiar to every driver. Even in winter, for the first time after launch, the car will drive at a decent level of traction. The price starts from 1800 rubles.
Engine preheater Start-Turbo
No. 4 - Longfei 
Contrary to many negative reviews, Longfei products are one of the most popular on the market. The opinions of users differed - some praise the performance indicators and affordable price, while others, on the contrary, complain about frequent marriage and various malfunctions. Thus, when buying a device, you do not know whether you will be lucky or not. However, it is worth noting that if luck is still on your side, you will have at your disposal one of the best heaters on the market.
The power of the model is 3 kW, the coolant is heated by a heating element, and the antifreeze is run by a centrifugal pump. Power is supplied by connecting to a conventional 220V power supply, while there is a small drawback - the cord of the model is short, so you have to fork out for an additional extension cord. The question of dimensions disappears - Lunfei can be equally well used for both cars and trucks. In stores, the price of this heater is usually equal to 4300 rubles.
Longfei engine preheater
No. 3 - Atlant (Russia)
The bronze medalist of our rating was another product of domestic engineers - an electric engine preheater Atlant. It is assembled, I must say, quite reliably and firmly. If you disassemble the device, you can find that there are gaskets between the contacts that prevent the risk of short circuits. All body materials are of high quality and not flimsy. The wires are made of copper, and the frame of the motor is made of metal plates. The heating element is a monolithic plate with longitudinal ribs.
In work, Atlant shows itself worthy - heating occurs quickly, due to which the time required for the machine to start is reduced by 2-3 times. After starting, the car drives confidently and quietly. This is precisely the reason that the domestic product has collected so many laudatory reviews in its address. If you are looking for a decent heater, then Atlant is the best choice. You can buy it at a price of 3150 rubles.
Engine preheater Atlant
No. 2 - Severs + - (Russia)
The Severs preheater is the pride of Russian engineers who managed to create a truly successful product that is an ideal combination of price and quality. The device is built into the car's cooling system and when connected to the network, the heating element, which is located in the housing, begins to warm up the circulating antifreeze. At the same time, the circulation pump is also started, pumping the heated liquid through the cooling system. When the required temperature mark is reached, the thermostat automatically switches off the heating element and the pump. As soon as the indicator drops below the set mark, a restart occurs. This results in the coolant temperature always being within the specified range. According to measurements, after half an hour of operation of the heater, the temperature of the coolant is 70 degrees - and this is a lot in comparison with competitors. Device power: 2 kW. As for the price, everything is quite democratic here - 2100 rubles.
Severs+ engine preheater
#1 - OWL
The result of the work of German engineers, the OWL heater, topped our rating. It is assembled extremely reliably, all components are of the highest quality and equipped with the necessary safety equipment. Due to its compact dimensions, namely the small width of the body between fittings of 3.5 cm, it can be installed directly on hoses without resorting to adapters. brackets and tees. OWL is suitable for all vehicles and engines.
Installing the device is not difficult even for a novice car owner. This is a huge advantage of the model over domestic devices. OWL is equipped with a built-in thermostat that turns off the heating system when the temperature reaches 60 0 C. When it drops to 40 0 C, the system turns on again. The device performance of 1.1 kW was called optimal by many experts, since at such values the heat from the liquid spreads in the cylinder block slowly enough not to provoke sudden temperature changes and local boiling of antifreeze in those places where it comes into contact with the heating element. This model cannot be called affordable, after all, its price is about 7,000 rubles, but this is due to a decent level of reliability and good performance.
Engine preheater OWL
Forecasters promised that this winter in the European part of Russia would be "real Russian." If so, it makes sense to take care of how to start the engine after an overnight stop at -30 and below.
On the verge of falling
Minus 30 degrees Celsius is a psychological and ... technical milestone, after which many cars may already have problems starting engines, and their owners will have worries about this. And although Siberians and northerners do not get tired on the forums to measure the minimum temperature for the successful launch of their cars, even AvtoVAZ does not guarantee that their seemingly primordially Russian creations will start at this temperature. However, most modern (and not only) cars overcome this temperature limit quite successfully. But frost below -35 ° C is already a really serious test. And such temperatures are quite possible on the western side of the Urals.
The same Siberians and northerners have long been accustomed to the fact that it is simply impossible to successfully operate cars without any preheating systems in winter. What are the options?
autostart
Probably the most popular way is the so-called autorun. Briefly the essence for those who hear about it for the first time. Autostart is a device (usually combined with an alarm) that starts the engine without turning the key or pressing the Engine Start button. Starting is possible either by pressing the corresponding button on the alarm key fob, or by the algorithm embedded in the autostart device.
The simplest designs start the motor at certain intervals (one, two, four hours), let it run for 10-15 minutes, turn it off and then start it again. Even at minus 40 ° C, a well-insulated motor does not have time to cool down to a critical temperature in 2 hours.
More advanced designs have a temperature sensor and start the motor at its signal, after cooling to a predetermined temperature. Typically, such a sensor is mounted on massive metal parts of the engine. But there are, let's say, strange devices in which the sensor monitors not the temperature of the motor, which, in fact, should not cool down, but the temperature in the cabin.
Obviously, autostart based on engine temperature is more practical than interval start. Again, with high-quality insulation of the engine compartment, at -40 ° C, it will work, at most, four times a night, or even less often, especially if you set the threshold temperature to -20 ° C. But such a threshold temperature is a risky business. Including because a cold start at -20°C and at -10°C are two big differences in terms of starting wear. And under certain circumstances, the threshold of -20 ° C may not guarantee another successful launch. Personally, on my cars equipped with a temperature autostart, I almost always set the threshold to -10 ° C.
The advantages of autorun are obvious. At a very low cost, we get a completely autonomous device, which is almost guaranteed to allow you to start the engine in any frost.
The cons are not so obvious, although some of them are very critical. For example, it is highly recommended not to leave a car at autorun for a day or more. The thing is that in the exhaust system such a product of fuel combustion as water accumulates. Or rather, ice, which can clog the exhaust tract in a day, followed by the absolute impossibility of starting the engine. The car will need to be towed to a warm box / garage, and then holes should be drilled to drain water from the muffler and resonator. Although sometimes they get by with installing the car at an angle with its nose up - water (when it thaws) is spit out at start-up and subsequent intense “gasping”.
The next minus is the peace of mind of the environmentalists. Indeed, in starting and warm-up modes, the exhaust is very, very dirty. It is for this reason that autorun is prohibited in the so-called civilized countries.
And a few more downsides. This is not very large, but still noticeable fuel consumption per night. Well, the breakthrough of gases into the crater, and increased carbon formation during the operation of a cold engine on enriched mixtures. In addition, let's not forget that a car running on autorun can be stolen with certain tricks. Moreover, if there is an immobilizer in the ignition key, you have to put the so-called “immobilizer crawler”, in which another car key with “its own” electronic label is placed - a good gift for a hijacker, isn't it?
Finally, it must be remembered that formally parking a car with a running engine in residential areas and in courtyards is prohibited.
But the horror stories about the fact that you can forget a car with a manual transmission in gear, followed by unauthorized movement at startup, are groundless. After all, with a competent installation (and with the “Manual transmission” mode set in the settings), the readiness of the car for autorun is realized only if a certain algorithm for leaving the car is observed. After removing the key, the motor remains running and stalls only after closing all the doors. If the door is opened after that, the autorun mode is deactivated.
Electric heating
It is of two types: either installed in the cylinder block, or comes as a separate unit connected by hoses to a small engine cooling circuit. This method of engine preheating is the cheapest, safest and most harmless in terms of wear and engine life. And it has the only, but obvious and significant drawback - dependence on the presence of an outlet in close proximity to the car.
The thermostat, set to 50-70 ° C, will not allow the coolant to boil, and in case of loss of antifreeze, the thermal switch will turn off the power.
In the Scandinavian countries, this method of preheating is 99% common. Almost all private properties and public parking lots are equipped with terminals with sockets, even the parking lot near the water park in Helsinki. Well, the author of this article is not only aware of the “snot” of wires hanging from windows and balconies to parking lots in cities like Surgut (hello to especially zealous commentators of the article “Warm or not wait?”), But he himself used such a “line power transmission” during the winter in Novosibirsk, living in an apartment on the 7th floor. Yes, from the point of view of fire and electrical safety, this is not good, but the realities are forcing. The main thing is to use wires in a rubber, and not in a PVC sheath, and equip such a line with a separate “automatic” fuse. Well, hope they don't get cut off.
Autonomous heater
The most efficient of autonomous heating methods, but also the most expensive, sometimes obscenely. Especially against the background of the current exchange rate of the euro and the dollar against the ruble. Webasto or Eberspacher Hydronic is an excellent rescue in almost all frosty situations. Only with frequent switching on and short trips can the battery be discharged, because such devices take energy for their work from the on-board network. There is a more affordable domestic alternative - Binar-5. Rumor has it that the manufacturer has already overcome the childhood illnesses of his offspring, and the latest models work quite reliably.
exotic
Once, at minus 38 °C, I started the F20A engine of a Honda Accord after pouring four liters of boiling water onto the intake manifold. And another time, at about the same temperature, I put a flexible 5-liter container of boiling water on the valve cover of the Ford Fiesta engine and covered it all with a blanket. After 5 minutes the engine started. But exotic is exotic.
Already today, some automakers that supply their models to Russia offer the installation of an autonomous pre-heater for the engine and interior as an option. This thing, especially in the north-eastern regions of the country, is practically irreplaceable, and the benefits from it are invaluable. But what about those Russian motorists who do not have such a device in the list of car equipment? Fortunately, now it is easy to purchase and install a pre-heater for the engine and interior. The question is different - 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 starting preheater.
The preheater is, as we mentioned above, a small device that is designed to warm up the engine without turning it on directly, the car interior, it can also be used to defrost frosted windows and wipers. The device itself consists of several elements: the so-called "boiler", which includes a heat exchanger and a combustion chamber, a fuel pump and a fuel line, another pump, the function of which is to drive 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 mounted quite simply: the heat exchanger of the device is connected to a small circuit of the engine cooling system, the electronic control unit is connected to the car's electrical network. Despite the apparent ease of installation, this operation is best left to specialists.
Question 2. How does the preheater work.
Let's say you decide to install a preheater, buy a device and install it on your car. At the same time, you will definitely be asked: how exactly do you want to turn on the device: directly from the car cab, using a remote control (transpoder) or directly from a mobile phone (GSM module). The first option is the cheapest (on average - 2500 rubles with installation), its disadvantages can only be attributed to the fact that if you need to reprogram the preheater, you will need to go back to the car and rearrange the time. The second option is more expensive (on average - 9,000 rubles with installation), but it does not have the disadvantage of the first option. Finally, the third option is the most convenient, since it does not involve 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 specified, the device will start up, gasoline or diesel will 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 released heat accumulates in the heat exchanger, from where it is pumped through a small circuit with the help of a pump and heats the engine, contributing to a quick start. If the interior heating function is activated, then when a certain temperature is reached, the thermal switch is turned on, and the heat coming from the heat exchanger is directed to the car interior, as well as to the windows.
When the temperature set by the driver in the cabin is reached, the thermal switch turns off the stove fan, turning it on again if the air temperature in the cabin drops. As a result, when the driver approaches the car, he gets a warm engine and a warm interior. It remains only to start the engine and go!
Question 3. What are the types of preheaters.
According to the type of device, preheaters are divided into liquid and air. Liquid heaters are used on passenger cars, and special equipment, trucks, buses and ships are the lot of air devices. Air heaters are larger 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, fuel consumption of such heaters is the most economical. Type "B" is considered universal because it balances such properties as efficiency and size - such a device can be installed both on a compact car and on 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 in an optimized fluid circulation mode, which allows you to quickly heat up both a large engine and a more voluminous interior.
Question 4. Pros and cons of starting preheaters.
We note right away - the advantages of starting heaters are greater than the disadvantages. First of all, a car enthusiast who has installed an autonomous pre-heater on his car provides himself with a car ready for operation, the engine and interior of which are warmed up to optimal temperatures. Secondly, the use of an engine heating device helps to extend the life of the power unit, because most engines, although they are “accustomed” to starting in the most severe frosts, are still stressful for power plants, which reduces their operational life.
The big disadvantages of starting autonomous heaters include their relatively high cost. On average, such a device will cost 35-40,000 rubles with installation. The smaller minuses are an increase in fuel consumption, because heaters use fuel from a tank for their work. Whether it is worth spending money on this thing, which is generally useful in our climate, is up to each motorist to decide individually.
