garage19
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 posted on 28/12/04 at 09:08 PM |
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Locost engine pre heater and injector cleaner?
Whilst watching old films and filling my face, as you do at xmas, I had a couple of ideas.
First one was a Locost engine pre heater!
They say that most engine wear occures when the engine is cold and flash racing teams get round this by pre heating their engines so why can't
we?
Just need a bit of kit that you plug in 15 min before you roll out of the garage.
Very rough ideas at the moment but the bit that i'm stuck on is the quick release way to plug into my coolant system???
Would like to keep the electric pump and heater elements off the car for weight purposes.
The second idea is an injector cleaner/calibrater for running solvent through injectors, checking they're flow rates and matching sets with the
same flows. This one should be very simple but does anyone know where i can get a timer circuit/display such as the one used on your microwave? Do
maplins/RS do kits?
Probably both a little bit flash and over the top, but i do like my toys!
Any input would be welcome
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paulf
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| posted on 28/12/04 at 09:54 PM |
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You can get a large number of different types and sizes of quick release connectors suitable for water or hydraulics. The hydraulic type are expensive
but there are some for water that would do the job.Most industrial pipe and hydraulics supply companys would help you out, the type i am thinking of
are often used in the plastics industry for cooling water on moulds.
I would think the easiest way to connect would be into the heater circuit if you have one, or the equivalent part of the plumbing so as to heat the
engine only
I have considered this in the past for my daily driver and thought of using an old shower heater but current draw may be to high unless it could be
wired to use a lower power, maybe by series wiring of the elements. Or making my own heater unit with a heater element of the type used for boiling a
cup of water and encasing it in a tube somehow.
However my car is garaged at night now so never got around to it.
Paul.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 28/12/04 at 10:11 PM |
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I believe that pre-heaters are popular in Canada and Scandinavia - for obvious reasons! Might be worth a Google search...
rgds,
David
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paulf
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| posted on 28/12/04 at 10:17 PM |
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Kenlowe make them , i have seen some at shows but not very lowcost.
Paul.
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
I believe that pre-heaters are popular in Canada and Scandinavia - for obvious reasons! Might be worth a Google search...
rgds,
David
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wilkingj
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| posted on 28/12/04 at 10:25 PM |
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A Kenlowe Hot start is about £115, runs on 240volts, and is a permanant fixing on the vehicle. Downside is plugging in and out, and Not having a
240Volt socket in the works car park, or in on street parking bays.
Or..
Eberspascher or Webasto (I have the Ebby) pre heater. Runs off the vehicle fuel tank, either Petrol or Diesel, but you need the right model for the
fuel type.
Mine has a clock, and 3 programes x 7 days.
Mine is set to start at 06:55am, and when I come out to go to work the engine is warm( heats the Engine water), the heater has switched on, defrosted
the windscreen and heated the cab as well. Land Rover starts like its just driven 20 miles.. and runs well straight away.
Webasto is simmilar idea.
Good points are all above, self contained works anywhere...
Downside, you need a decent battery, mine last about 4 years before giving up on the next winter.
Much more expensive than the Kenlowe HotStart, Ebby is about £600, mine was £800 fitted.
Nice grin factor with the Ebby.. When running at full chat, (starts up slowlt pumping the water, and gets faster when its fully warmed up)
It Sounds like a Jet Engine running under the bonnet!!
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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krlthms
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| posted on 28/12/04 at 10:35 PM |
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The heaters in Canada and US are block heaters and are designed for very, very cold temperatures (-40 C).
If I understand this correctly, it would not be a good idea to heat the water, because unless you heat it to a high temperature, high enough to open
the thermostat, it will be diverted from the engine. (I think?). Also, farting about the water system would be a pain.
I suggest that instead you heat the oil. I am thinking that you replace your engine driven oil pump with an electric version, then attache an
adhesive heating element, of the type used in rear widows, to the bottom of your sump, on the outside. You could heat this with a battery charger,
or, better still, an onboard auxialiary battery. Then you will need to wire your oil pump so that it is turned on by the first stop of the ignition
key (i.e., the step before triggering the starter motor). This way your engine not only gets warm, but nicely oiled, before you let rip.
If I was considering doing this, I would also build a dry sump system to kill two birds with one stone.
Alternatively, you may be able to do something with a glow plug from a deisel engine, installed in the sump.
Totally over the top of course.
Cheers
KT
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heinlein
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| posted on 28/12/04 at 11:18 PM |
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Startup
Doesn't most of the wear at startup occur because of lack of oil and pressure not because of temperature; if so wouldn't a device such as
an oil accumulator, which stores pressurized oil before shutdown and releases with a flick of a switch just before startup, solve the problem.
When you're lying in the midst of the Afghan plains and the women come out to cut up the remains; just roll to your rifle and blow out your
brains and go to your god like a soldier.
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mangogrooveworkshop
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| posted on 28/12/04 at 11:22 PM |
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Just install central heating in the garage. The area where your engine is could have a grate with a radiator in it. No plugging in and nice for
working in the garage.
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NS Dev
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| posted on 29/12/04 at 12:15 AM |
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I have thought about this one before, just got too much else to do at the mo, but this seems the easiest thing to plumb in, making the heating jacket
using plumbing fittings and piping it up using cheap quick release hydraulic fittings from your local tractor dealer (not light unfortunately!)
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?ts=79055&id=22805 is a very convenient heater!
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krlthms
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| posted on 29/12/04 at 12:21 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by NS Dev
I have thought about this one before, just got too much else to do at the mo, but this seems the easiest thing to plumb in, making the heating jacket
using plumbing fittings and piping it up using cheap quick release hydraulic fittings from your local tractor dealer (not light unfortunately!)
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?ts=79055&id=22805 is a very convenient heater!
You would get the p**s taken out of you driving around with towel heater up your bottom (end that is)
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NS Dev
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| posted on 29/12/04 at 12:46 AM |
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Yes, but I'd plan on leaving that behind in the garage and having dry break hydraulic fittings on the water pipes!
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Peteff
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| posted on 29/12/04 at 01:11 AM |
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Is it worth the trouble?
Apart from bragging rights," Oh yes, I've got a pre-heater on mine". It's going to save you 47p and 20 minutes a year. I
haven't got a choke on mine and it's never proved a problem yet. I just go out 3 minutes earlier and blip the throttle a bit till it runs
smooth. It soon builds up oil pressure as it needs to turn a bit longer with no choke. How about the element from one of these dropped in your header
tank.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=36798&item=2496764443
[Edited on 29/12/04 by Peteff]
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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NS Dev
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| posted on 29/12/04 at 02:52 PM |
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Fair enough, can't really argue with that
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