engine block heaters for race cars?

[aggie97]

Has anyone used one of these aftermarket engine block heater "blankets" or dipstick tube heaters?

We are going to be storing our race cars in a new building that is not insulated and since we can't run antifreeze, we are worried about the blocks freezing up.

I have been considering the following:

1. "blanket" over the entire car and put a small space heater set at 35 degrees. Somewhat dangerous and not sure it will protect well.

2. silicone heater pad on the oil pan which heats the oil, and then the whole block but most are only rated at 150w which might not be enough?

3. Dipstick heater. Heats the oil but again is only 120-150w and won't this cook my oil over time?

4. Lower radiator hose heater. Basically an inline heater that should heat ALL the water in the motor/radiator but at 600W, it's an electricity hog.


Items 2, 3 and 4 do not have thermostats or automatic controllers so I would have to keep making trips out to shop to turn them on and off.


What have you seen or done in the past for stuff like this? Heating the shop is just not the answer but we hope to insulate it by next winter. Big shop and very expensive to insulate.

Thanks!

[mk5.0]

Just drain the water....

[homealone]

I have had good luck with the freeze plug type. My truck had one for those pesky Alaska winters and I used one on my Jag to solve the cold start/running issues it had. Down side to it is the cord is there all the time.

[KBScobravert]

We used drop lights with 100w bulbs for boats in storage. Put them on a timer to run 12 hrs during the night.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

[dcs13]

I have the magnetic style heater for my tractor. Just attach to the block and leave her plugged in...worked fine for me for a number of years

[fitzwell]

Dipstick heater will create condensation in the lower end..

[slow55]

I would just drain the water. My car used to stay in the inclosed trailer all winter and never had a problem.

[330CubeGt]

Water wetter additives don't work?

[aggie97]

Just drain the water....

That is a pain the butt to do each time. trying NOT to do that!

[aggie97]

I have the magnetic style heater for my tractor. Just attach to the block and leave her plugged in...worked fine for me for a number of years

That would be great...except both motors are aluminum and so are the pans! I found one that uses 3M sticky tape....but that won't last long.


What if I put the dipstick heater down into the radiator? would that be enough heat?

[Cooter]

draining the water doesn't really seem like that big a deal...

pull it off the trailer, drain the water, drive it into the shop. fill 'er up before you run it again

[Wish4svts]

draining the water doesn't really seem like that big a deal...

pull it off the trailer, drain the water, drive it into the shop. fill 'er up before you run it again

This... Put a drain plug on for quickness. And since you don't run any additives, drain it on the ground.

[Cooter]

that's why I recommended draining it before you pull it into the shop

[aggie97]

Racing radiators we have dont have drain plugs. Have to pull the lower hose which is a pain. The radiators are also not in stock orientation so it is very difficult to "burp" air from the system. So noy as easy as a street car. Ive considered the heaters that go in a freeze plug but the only two cars i have had that had them ended up having problems with leaks. The lower radiator hose heater seems like best choice but is two more points of failure in the cooling system.

Basically looking for effective and easy.

[Sleeper]

siphon it out with vaccume?