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Technical => Matt Shaff's Engine Shop => Topic started by: ss4 on February 13, 2014, 08:44:14 AM

Title: oil heater
Post by: ss4 on February 13, 2014, 08:44:14 AM

what are the thoughts on an Oil heater on a wet sump system?  Or does a simple drive around the pits or on stands cover this?  only running a straight up alchol stack injection on a small chevy.

I was looking at a pad or better yet the immersion type.  I have also heard of a magnet style but can't locate.

Title: Re: oil heater
Post by: msundstrom on February 13, 2014, 09:33:46 AM

I use an immersion heater , works ok but is slow. Spud has a killer system he made, works very well for him.
Mark S

Title: Re: oil heater
Post by: George on February 13, 2014, 11:29:23 AM

I ran an immersion heater in the oil pan. It's 450 watts 120vac. I also put block heaters in each side of the engine block and ran about 2 gallons of water. I would pre-warm the engine before starting. Helped a great deal with oil milking. I also built a thermocouple that was installed in the oil pan drain plug hole to monitor oil temps.

Title: Re: oil heater
Post by: dreracecar on February 13, 2014, 12:12:46 PM

Since I run a bag on my pan, the oil is not exposed to the elements, sort of like wearing a jacket. The biggest thing I see people NOT doing is trimming back on the fuel shut-off when warming it up. Fire it up and get all 8 pipes running and slowly shut the lever till the RPM starts to come up and stop right there. Heat will build quickly without going thru a bunch of fuel and blubbering.Before you shut it off, go back to full rich, wack the throttle to be sure it comes up clean and goes back to idle, then shut the fuel off.

Title: Re: oil heater
Post by: 32bantam on February 15, 2014, 04:40:41 AM

I tried the "stick-on" heaters and they worked great until I put the diaper on........the oil soaker pads started to char from the heat!
I'm now using a Stephs oil pan immersion heater....that works well. If you wanted it to heat up faster you could install 2.
Steve

Title: Re: oil heater
Post by: masracingtd1167 on February 16, 2014, 06:51:52 AM

I also use the pad heater on mine and it works very well . When I am warming mine up in the morning I pull the fuel shut off part way to build some heat in the motor . I drive my car to the lanes to build more heat and it seems to work well for me . Alcohol motors love heat I try to stage at 170 degrees and cross at around 180 .

Title: Re: oil heater
Post by: wideopen231 on February 16, 2014, 10:07:16 AM

Going to have one in new pan I am working on. Figure easy to make allowance for it now.When its warm out I will just pull it and cap off.

Title: Re: oil heater
Post by: ss4 on February 17, 2014, 07:17:46 AM

thanks for all the input.  I have to pull my pan to repair a small leak, so I think I will add a bung while I am there.  I already have a sticky pad so I will start with that initially.