Topic: Engine preheater - Winter

[Harry]

With winter on its way, preheating is looking good. Does anyone have any tips or experiences?

[Uncle Ernie]

I've seen two things, but never used either- a filler plug with a heating element instead of a dipstick. Sort of a variation of those tea heaters of yesteryear-
Electric blanket. Racers use them (especially made for that purpose in this case) to pre-heat tires, why not a blanket for your engine?

I know- pre-heat your oil on a hot plate!

[Bodi]

If it's inside, just putting a 60W work light on the floor under the engine overnight warms the block up quite a bit.
But do you really want to ride when it's so cold you don't want to start the motor?

[Philly550K1]

Tip: Denmark not first choice for biker, climate-wise. 

Experience: I start/ride my bike at least every few weeks in the winter, and have found that blowing a hair dryer at the fins for a minute makes it much less cranky.  Rather than committing electricity to an always-on contraption.  A fairly quick "a la carte" option, if you will.  Probably safer than licking it with a propane torch.  Or one's tongue, for that matter....

-jc

[Bob Wessner]

have a word with your wife 

It would probably be my last. 

[Gordon]

My wife would probably agree to it, but then I'd have to move out to the garage.

[egar]

I live in Florida, so the nice riding weather is coming up! Dang hot right now.

[Kixx007]

My engine heater hangs from the garage ceiling, and keeps everything in the garage at about 65 degrees all winter. But you probably wont catch me on my bike during a Michigan winter.

[Gordon]

Supersport,

I'm trying not to imagine some of the other things you might be doing with that bike. 

[Dragman836]

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 DIPSTICK ENGINE OIL HEATER 
 
 
JCW Shop > "engine heater" > DIPSTICK ENGINE OIL HEATER 
 
 
 
 
 
   

 
 
DIPSTICK HEATER - ENGINE OIL
For curved or straight dipstick holes
Fits cars and trucks including diesels
Dipstick warms crankcase oil for easier starts
Flexible stainless steel heater inserts into engine in place of regular dipstick. Extended heating element prevents hot spots. Includes 14" 2-wire cord. 120 volts, 60 watts. Not for vehicles with plastic dipstick tube or plastic oil pan.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                     
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Item Description Unit Item # Price Qty. Add InstallPRO Installation Order
Dipstick Heater Each ZX541417P  $16.99   
 
 


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[Dragman836]

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 OIL PAN HEATER KITS 
 
 
JCW Shop > "engine heater" > OIL PAN HEATER KITS 
 
OIL PAN HEATER KITS
Heating pad with self-stick backing installs quickly, easily and permanently to bottom of oil pan—no tools required
Choose from 2 sizes to heat 1-1/2 qt. to 12 qt. oil pans
Warm engine oil in cold weather for faster starts and reduced component wear
End those overnight winter engine start-up problems forever! Simply install the heating pad and plug it into your 120-volt household outlet. Large unit will heat 6 quarts of oil from -40° F to +60° F in about 2 hours. Efficient—use less electricity than block heaters. Kits include thermally-balanced heating pad, 6-ft. power cord, sandpaper, 3 wire ties, squeegee, tube of RTV silicone and instructions.
 
 
 
 
 
                     
Click product Item # for more detailed information
 
Item Description Unit Item # Price Qty. Order
Small Oil Pan Heater for 1-1/2 to 4-qt. Oil Pans, 2-1/4" x 4" Pad, 125 Watt Kit ZX814050T  $43.99   
Large Oil Pan Heater for 4-1/2 to 12-qt. Oil Pans, 3-1/2" x 4-1/2" Pad, 250 Kit ZX814051A  $63.99   
 
 


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[Harry]

Thanks guys, for your input. Sorry 'bout delay in writing, had a word with my wife and hve now recovered the use of my limbs. The part aboput bringing the bike in went down ok, it was the part about her moving out into the shed which annoyed her. Ah, well...

The JC Whitney setup looks good - I just gotta find a 120V->240V adapter. Will report back!

[theunrulychef]

I've also seen magnetic heaters - so it wouldn't be permanant.  I guess it might be a problem with our aluminum beasts.  Perhaps it could be fitted to the oil tank, or will that oil not circulate down into the block overnight? I rode all winter last year here in Philly (bike was parked outside), and the 2 things I did that worked pretty well were keeping my battery nice & charged (about once a week), and installing a cigarette outlet for my homemade electric vest http://webpages.charter.net/hondapotamus/heat.htm.

I was actually planning on getting some sort of heater for this winter.  Perhaps I'll build some sort of bracket, as the permanantly attached heater doesn't sound too attractive to me.

[eldar]

It gets to cold in North Dakota to ride. It hits the end of riding season about the middle of october maybe beginning of november. Then the cold is too much for any bike heater and besides, we always have ice which is just not good for the life of a bike.
Riding does not start again till MAYBE the middle of march.

[Gordon]

Get some studded tires for your bike, like the ice racers use.  Leave a rooster tail of snow behind you wherever you go!!

[Terry in Australia]

What about an Oxy/Acetylene torch? Ha ha, anyway, pre-heating the engine is one thing, how do you go about pre-heating your frozen roads Harry?

I've seen those speedway bikes with the spiked tires, but that doesn't appeal, and even if you land on frozen grass it's gotta hurt, so bugger that!

The weather is warming up here in Oz, it's already hotter than a Danish summer now, and in a few weeks the only ice I'll see will be that floating in my Bourbon, ha ha! Cheers, Terry.  

[Harry]

The weather is warming up here in Oz, it's already hotter than a Danish summer now, and in a few weeks the only ice I'll see will be that floating in my Bourbon, ha ha! Cheers, Terry.  

For an afternoon in a sauna with a bunch of hairy vikings to be evenly remotely attractive, the temperature needs to be at least 20 under freezing. Roll on the good times!! Eh, Terry, you´ll soon be my countryman-in-law, Mary will be guaranteeing the Danish Royal line any day now! Maybe we can trade our Hustlers ´n Penthouses, now we are family! I have a Finnish Lumberjack Special Playboy to trade!

Actually, the preheater would be for my XT600 with a steel oil tank (dry sump). If anyone has a link to a magnetic heater as described below, I would appreciate hearing of it!

[Gordon]

I kind of like the idea of just sticking a hot plate under the engine at night and putting it on a timer.  Maybe I'll have to try that this Winter.

[eldar]

Just make sure you do not have any oil on the bottom or else you might do more than warm the engine!

[Gordon]

Just make sure you do not have any oil on the bottom or else you might do more than warm the engine!

Fire is warm, isn't it? 

[eldar]

Well all except for the cold type?

[bistromath]

Hey, I had to make a block heater out of a camp stove when I couldn't get my 550 started up in the mountains.

Yes, fire is warm, but keep some water handy in case your carbs decide to burp some gas from the overflow =D

[Terry in Australia]

Terry, you´ll soon be my countryman-in-law, Mary will be guaranteeing the Danish Royal line any day now! Maybe we can trade our Hustlers ´n Penthouses, now we are family! I have a Finnish Lumberjack Special Playboy to trade!

OK "Cuz", you're on, send me that Finnish Playboy and I'll send you a largely un-read copy of "Juggs" (urrgghhh!) and if you can find a Danish Hustler or two, I've got a Spanish Playboy and Hustler that are well worth a look! Cheers, Terry.