New 500W Block heater or this?
 

http://www.padheaters.com

These guys ship the Model 16 pad heater, a battery warmer and Temp-sensitive switch for $125.

A new 500W block heater goes for around $100.

Whacha think?

Through rain, snow, freezing cold and blistering oil pan heat............yeah.........I believe that...........I really do............

I thought Sweden invented cold weather.

Sixto
87 300D

IMO the wattage is overkill. Assuming that the product works as described I like the idea of heating the oil rather than the water for moderately cold conditions. An expert should give you a better suggestion but I would think that closer to 100 watts would be better. You reach a point where the returns start diminishing rapidly.

For extreme conditions I think that this in addition to the water heater would be best. That way you have both coolant protection overnight and flowing oil when you start the engine.

How about putting this pad on a timer? Leave the coolant running overnight and turn on the oil pad an hour or so before you plan on starting the engine.

Here's an idea I like better. Purchase some high temperature flexible heat tubing like: <http://www.heatersplus.com/products/trace2.htm> and wrap one or two loops around the oil pan. This is a product rated to harsher conditions than oil pan should see and by not being on the bottom it is less likely to get damaged by road debris.

Had a heating pad on the side of my 1.6VW diesel, it started at -35C when plugged in (made up for no compression!!! for a winter).

"Heat The Complete Engine, Not just Warm the Cylinder Heads"
Except the cylinder heads is exactly where you need the heat.

MB stock block heater, no question in my mind, for a 123 car its a 400watt (probably a little less actually) heater.

I can get a 150w pad heater for $18 and the T stat for $10 at fleet farm. battery warmers cant cost $90.

last I priced a block heater it was $50.

150w is waaaaay too small, it isn't going to do doodly... The stock heater is twice that size. Remember the engine is radiating heat while you're trying to put it in. To my mind thats the best part of the block heater, it puts heat INTO the engine rather than on the engine....

A lower radiator hose heater for about $15 on ebay is the best choice in my opinion. Almost as effective as the original block heater and far easier to install.

Magnetic
 

Here is a magnetic oil pan heater that in conjunction with the block heater would probably work well.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/OUR-BEST-UL-APPROVED-MAGNET-MOUNT-ENGINE-BLOCK-HEATER/GP_2000836_N_111+10201+600001648_10101.jcw

Is a battery warmer worth the money? I have done some of my own research and found that this company is a little overpriced.

check out my thread on a coolant heater - cost me 50 bucks

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/238522-where-install-tank-coolant-heater.html

thanks
 

yeah, a bit too involved for me.

I stay with the KISS method. If I can get by with a pad/mag heater I will because it's cheap, easy and non-labor intensive.

My Benz mechanic told me that the aftermarket block heaters are 400W and the stock ones are 500W and much nicer looking, as he showed me one. It had aluminum heat wrap on the cord, and super beefy element.

But does a battery heater help?