In what? 90 percent of motorists start the engine, not suspecting that as a result, its wear increases, starting becomes more difficult, battery fails etc. The problem is exacerbated in winter, in cold climates. However, there is a good way out of the situation - to use engine preheating, which for a real Russian winter is a solid plus in every respect.

Electric engine heating

If earlier the heating of the internal combustion engine, due to the operation of the engine at idle, was considered the only effective option, although not without drawbacks, today it is clearly inferior to the new method. And first of all it concerns the side, negative consequences natural warming.

Table of models of electric heaters

Block	branch pipes	Remote	External
"Defa" or "Kalix" - power 0.4-0.75 kW, price from 4 thousand rubles	"Lestar" - power 0.5-0.8 kW, price from 1.7 thousand rubles	"Severs-M" - power 1-3 kW, price from 2 thousand rubles	Keenovo flexible heating plate 0.25 kW 220 V, price - 3650 rubles.
Domestic "Homeless" - power 0.5-0.6 kW, price from 1.5 thousand rubles	"Alliance" - power 0.7-0.8 kW, price from 1 thousand rubles	"Start-M" - power 1-3 kW, price from 1.9 thousand rubles	"Keenovo" - power 0.1 kW 12 V, price - 3610 rubles.
Domestic "Start-Mini" - power 0.5-0.6 kW, price from 1 thousand rubles	"Start M1 / ​​M2" - power 0.7-0.8 kW, price from 1.4 thousand rubles	"Alliance" - power 1.5-3 kW, price from 1.6 thousand rubles	Hotstart AF15024 - power 0.15 kW 220 V, price - 9700 rubles.
DEFA, heaters of the 100th series 0.5-0.65 kW, price 3.4 thousand rubles	"Siberia M" - power 0.6 kW, price from 1 thousand rubles	"Xin Ji" (China) - power 1.8 kW, price from 1.5 thousand rubles	"Hotstart" - power 0.25 kW 220 V, price - 9700 rubles.

The most democratic in terms of price are electric preheaters. They are easy to maintain, and do not fail even in the most severe frost. However, they have the only drawback - they need a 220 V socket. Although the external ones from the Keenovo company also have a heater powered by the 12 V on-board network, the cost is from 3.5 thousand rubles.

Effective heating of the motor is possible only with the help of special devices that act directly through the cooling system circuit. So experts say, citing a lot of facts as evidence.

Block

For our motorists, in terms of affordable prices, heaters that are built into the cylinder block are suitable. They are also quite simple in terms of design, as they are endowed only with a connector and a heating element. Other attachments, clamps and additional components are not provided in such a heater.

Preheater Defa

The heaters of devices built into the business center are not very powerful, 400-750 W is the maximum. They do not give a quick result, and they are powered by a stationary 220 V / 50 Hz outlet, so you can use the heater mounted in the engine block only in the garage or by throwing an extension cord near the house. On the other hand, due to the fact that the BC is heated, the engine warms up in the center and evenly.

Advantages of built-in block heaters:

1. One of advantages of built-in heaters is an ability to work for a long time. Due to their low power, it is not necessary to constantly monitor them - they will not spoil the antifreeze, so you can leave them operational all night or day. If it is nevertheless necessary, it is recommended to control the heating process, at least for household, economical purposes. use a regular mechanical timer. It is inexpensive and versatile in operation. Of the shortcomings - buggy in the cold.
2. It should also be noted safety of use. As a rule, the kit includes a heat-insulating fabric that does not allow the insulation of nearby wires to melt and the energy to spread into the surrounding space, thus increasing the efficiency of the device.
3. Easy to install, also by the way, one of the advantageous features of such heaters.

Longfei Block Heater

There are only two disadvantages:

Long heating time and the need for a fixed socket 220 volt. Since, for example, at an ambient temperature of about 0 ° C, a 600 W heater will heat up the liquid for one hour. If the temperature is -10 ° C, then the time will increase to two hours. And if you buy a budget one with a power of 0.5 kW, then even longer.

Today, among the numerous models budget segment built-in heaters, electrical equipment from Defa and Kalix stand out. They cost, complete with a wire and a plug, no more than 4 thousand rubles.

The system can be easily supplemented with all sorts of useful equipment. For example, you can add a start timer, a remote control, a battery charger, a cabin fan heater, and more. However, this will already cost more than 25 thousand rubles, not counting the funds for installation.

There are also domestic block heaters, but their use is limited. For VAZ engines, a device with a price of 1.3 thousand rubles is suitable. You can buy Start-mini equipment for an even lower price, which is suitable not only for domestic cars, but also Japanese or Korean, such as Toyota or Hyundai.

We present for you popular models of built-in heaters.

Model	Description and features
"Start Mini"	Voltage 220 V, power 600 W, installed instead of the technological plug of the block with a bore diameter of 35 mm. The seating depth is 11 mm, the body height is 50 mm. The heater is suitable for cars: Toyota with 4A-FE, 5A-FE, 7A-FE, 3S-FE, 4S-FE, 5S-FE, 1G-FE, 1GR engine; Hyundai Accent with G4EC -1.5L engine; Hyundai Elantra XD with G4EC -1.5L and G4ED -1.6L engine; Hyundai Tucson with G4GC -2.0L engine; Hyundai Trajet with G4GC -2.0L engine.	1300 rubles
DEFA, heaters of the 100th series (from 101 to 199)	Power is 0.5 ... 0.65 kW, voltage 220 V, bore diameter 35 mm, weight 0.27 kg.	3400 rubles
Calix-RE 163 550W	Power - 550 W, voltage - 220 V, suitable for use with Duramax DAIHATSU Rocky 2.8D, 2.8 TD/FIAT Argenta 2000iE, 120iE/ FIAT Croma 2.0 turbodiesel/FIAT Daily diesel/FIAT Ducato 1.9 D, TD/1987-1998/ 2.5 diesel, turbodiesel/1995/FIAT Regatta/Regata diesel/FIAT Ritmo 130 TC/diesel/FIAT Tempra 1.9 turbodiesel/FIAT Tipo 1.9 diesel, turbodiesel/FIAT Uno diesel, turbodiesel/FORD/NEW HOLLAND FORD 1900, HYUNDAI H-100 2.5 D/1993-1998/D4BA, IVECO Daily 2.8Tdi/2002/diesel/turbodiesel, MITSUBISHI Galant 2.3 turbodiesel/ MITSUBISHI L200 2.2 diesel 2WD/2.5 diesel 2WD/MITSUBISHI L300 2.5 diesel 2WD /2.5 diesel 4WD/MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo 9 2.0 16V / 2006- /4G63, MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo VI, EVO VIII 2.0 16V / 4G63. MITSUBISHI Pajero 2.3 turbodiesel / 2.5 turbodiesel, SEAT Malaga 1.7D.	5000 rubles
Calix-RE 167 550W	Power - 550 W, voltage - 220 V, suitable for such cars: Matiz 0.8 / A08S, 1.0 / ¤B10S, Spark 1.0 / 2010- / B10D1, 1.2 / 2010- / B12D1, NISSAN Monteringssats, 300 ZX / VG30, Almera 2.0 D/1995-/DA20, Bluebird 1.6/1984-/CA16, 1.8/1984-/CA18 1.8 turbo/1984-/CA18, 2.0/1984-/CA20, Cherry 1.0/1982-/E10, 1.3/1982-/¤ E13, 1.5, 1.5 turbo / 1982- / ¤E15, 1.7 diesel / CD17, Patrol 2.8TD / RD28T, Prairie 1.5 / E15, 1.8 / CA18, 2.0 / CA20, Stanza 1.6 / ¤CA16, 1.8 / CA18, Sunny 1.3 / 1984- / E13, 1.4 12V / 1989-1991 / 1.5 / 1984- / ¤E15, 1.6 / -1988 / ¤E16, 1.6 12V / 1989-1991 / ¤GA16, 1.6 GTI 16V / ¤CA16, 1.7D / ¤CD17 1.8 GTI 16V / CA18 Monteringssats LT 31D/Perkins, VOLVO BM/VCE/VOLVO CE MonteringssatsEC 15C-/D1.1, EC18C-/2010-/D 1.1 EC20C - / 2010- / D1.1, EC27C - / 2010- / D1.6 EC35C - / 2010- / D1.6, ECR 28 - / ECR 38 - / ECR 58 - / ECR 88 - / ECR48C - / 2010 - / ¤D2.2, ECR58 Plus - / ¤D3.1, ECR88 Plus - / D3.1	4900 rubles
Calix-RE 153A 550W	Voltage - 220 V, power - 550 W, works with the following cars: FORD Probe 2.5i V6 24V / HONDA Accord 2.0i-16 / -1989 / B20A, Honda Legend 2.5, 2.7 / HONDA Prelude 2.0i -16V / 1986-1991 /B20A, MAZDA 2 1.3 (DE) / 2008- / ZJ, 1.5 (DE) / 2008- / ZY, MAZDA 3 1.4 (BK) / 2004- / ZJ , 1.6 (BK) / 2004- / Z6, MAZDA 323 2.0i V6 24V / MAZDA 626 2.5i V6 / MAZDA MX-3 1.8i 24V V6 / MAZDA MX-6 2.5i 24V V6 / MAZDA Xedos 6 2.0i 24V V6 / MAZDA Xedos 9 2.0i 24V V6 /K8-ZE, 2.5i 24V V6 /ROVER 825, 827- / -1995 /	7200 rubles

branch pipes

In addition to devices built into the business center, there are also systems for in-section installation of thick pipes. They differ in the presence of an adapter case. Installation does not carry any special complexity, the return is not bad. but there is a minus– electric heaters from this series are designed for standard nozzle diameters.

Defa and Kalix produce not only block heaters, but also branch pipe heaters. They are also made in our country, being sold at a very low prices. But such options for heaters are intended only for VAZ, UAZ or Gaz models of cars.

There are also universal models equipped with a hardened case. However, they are hardly suitable for foreign cars.

Electric heaters have gained the greatest popularity in our country, as they are structurally easy to install and universalized. Their easy to cut into the contour using attachments. They are equipped with powerful heaters, the power of which reaches 2-3 kW.

Remote

Of particular note are electric heaters, called remote. They are more complex in design, imply the presence of hoses, thermostats, clamps, etc. domestic producers, such as Severs-M, Alliance and many others.

Longfei Heater Installation (Xin Ji)

A foreign manufacturer of such equipment is also popular in Russia. This is the US Hotstart TPS. The equipment costs at least 6.8 thousand rubles, but it can only be purchased on order.

Models with forced coolant circulation deserve special attention among electric heaters. The options for electric heaters were discussed above. with natural circulation.

So, the most famous among this series are systems from the same American Hotstart (price 23 thousand rubles). There are also cheap domestic options, costing no more than 2.4 thousand rubles. Chinese heaters are also known, such as Xin Ji, at a price of 1.5 thousand rubles. Their power does not exceed 1.8 kW.

Disadvantages of electric heaters:

1. Requires a 220V household outlet.
2. Mandatory opening of the hood to access the fork. These difficulties sin the old Russian models of heaters. Modern ones have bumper connectors.
3. The reliability of some models is not impressive. Particularly weak are the corps of domestic and Chinese heaters leaking antifreeze and leaking. An experienced installer initially puts the cover on the sealant.
4. Low quality additional equipment(again, we are talking about sets of Russian or Chinese made). It is advisable to replace attachments with imported hoses, plastic adapters with duralumin, flimsy holders with strong and wide clamps.

Advantages of electric heaters:

1. Installation of heaters is inexpensive, even in the capital's car services. approximate price- 1.5 thousand rubles. You can easily put it on your own, but you can’t do without specific knowledge.
2. The widest model range and unpretentiousness in operation.

heating plates

Also recently, the so-called heating plates, which are installed on the engine housing, cylinders, crankcase, and so on, have become increasingly popular. These heaters are used not only in cars, but also in other equipment - generating sets, microprocessor technology, engines of boats, diesel locomotives and electric locomotives and many others.

The heating plates work on the basis of heat electric heaters (TEHs). Most of them can be connected both to a stationary network with a voltage of 220 V / 50 Hz, and to the vehicle's on-board electrical network (12 V direct current). Power can be different, the interval is from 100 to 1500 watts. And the temperature developed by various plates is +90°С…+180°С. As for installation, the devices are attached with an adhesive film (the surface must first be cleaned and degreased).

Electric heating plates cannot be used for heating batteries. Other devices are used for these purposes.

A feature of the heating plates is that they are designed for continuous operation. That is, with their help it is impossible to quickly warm up / heat up the engine or its individual elements. Although there are separate high-power models that work with a time relay.

The advantages of heating plates include:

• economy. Using electricity will cost you less than using liquid fuels.
• Reliability and durability. Most electric heating plates do not require maintenance or service checks and do not need to be handled by service centers. In this case, manufacturers, as a rule, establish significant warranty periods.
• Easy to install. Most heating plates are simply glued to the heated surface using the adhesive film that comes with the heater. Installation can be done independently, without seeking help from a service station.
• Abrasion resistance. The surface of the heating plate is coated special material, resistant not only to abrasion, but also to significant mechanical damage.
• Safety of use. This applies to both the driver and the elements of the car itself. The heating plates are well protected from moisture and small particles getting inside them (the degree of dust and moisture protection is IP65 for most models).

As for the disadvantages of heating plates, they should include:

• High price. The payoff for the benefits described above is high cost.
• Battery wear. Due to the fact that the plates use electricity from the battery to operate, the driver must constantly monitor the condition and performance of the latter. Up to replacing it with a more capacious and / or new one.

However, as practice shows, electric heating plates are very convenient to use, and their purchase justifies itself, especially in regions with a cold climate. Therefore, we would recommend that you, if possible, buy heating plates and use them for installation as an alternative to conventional engine preheaters.

Now we present to your attention several popular plates used by car owners.

Models	Description and features	Price as of autumn 2017
Keenovo Flexible Heating Plate 100W 12V	Specific power - 0.52 W / cm². Maximum temperature +180°С. A feature of the plate is the presence of a high-temperature self-adhesive surface on one side of the plate, as well as the presence of a porous surface on the other side to reduce heat loss. The size is 127×152mm with a 5mm jaw. The plate is designed for autonomous preheating engine with a working volume of up to 3 liters, has an adhesive layer that provides maximum adhesion between the plate and the surface at elevated temperatures. The plate has an additional layer of thermal insulation in the form of a porous sponge, which provides heating of the oil layer necessary for a warm start of the engine in about 15 minutes of operation.	3610 rubles
	The maximum heating temperature is +90°C. There is an additional rheostat for setting the temperature. Ideal for installation on the crankcase and engine block, hydraulic and transmission elements, as the dimensions are 127 × 152 mm. The coating of the plates is resistant to friction. Supplied with 100 cm cable as standard.	3650 rubles
Keenovo Flexible Heating Plate 250W 220V	Maximum temperature +150°С. Dimensions 127×152 mm. Ideal for installation on the crankcase and engine block, hydraulic and transmission elements, various types of pumps. The coating of the plates is resistant to friction. Supplied as standard with a 100 cm cable for power from a 220 V socket	3650 rubles
Hotstart AF10024	Power supply 220 V, power 100 W, dimensions 101 × 127 mm.	7900 rubles
Hotstart AF15024	Power supply 220 V, power 150 W, dimensions 101 × 127 mm.	9700 rubles
Hotstart AF25024	Power supply 220 V, power 250 W, dimensions 127 × 152 mm.	9700 rubles

Autonomous heaters

Otherwise, they are called fuel, as they operate on fuel. The principle of their operation is reduced to the following: the pump pumps gasoline or diesel fuel from the fuel tank into the combustion chamber. The mixture is ignited by a hot ceramic pin (the latter requires a small fraction of the current to heat up, unlike a metal one).

Eberspacher Hydronic D4W installed on a car

As a result of heating the heater, warm liquid circulates throughout the system, giving off heat to the internal combustion engine and the furnace radiator. As soon as the temperature reaches more than 70 gr. Celsius, the stove includes a semi-mode and a standby mode. That is, the device does not operate at full capacity, however, when the temperature drops below 20 gr. the cycle repeats, which explains the name - autonomous heater.

Autonomous heating system car engine has different modes of operation. For example, summer, when the air inside the car is blown occasionally by a fan. If such a system is involved, the presence of an air conditioner is not needed, because it is easy to lower the temperature in normal mode.

The autonomous heater is switched on different ways, but the timer was and remains the simplest. It is located inside the machine, it can be programmed and set for any duration of operation.

Turning on with a timer is very convenient. For example, if a motorist goes to work every day, then the timer can be set to the same turn-on time.

How Webasto Thermo works Top Evo

If a variable schedule is more suitable, then it is better to use the remote control to turn it on. It is capable of operating within a radius of up to 1 km. In other words, the heater can be turned on from the balcony of a multi-storey building.

Another control option is the GSM module. You can use it from a regular smartphone, controlling the operation of the module through commands. Theoretically, the GSM module can be connected from anywhere in the world, as long as the car is in the coverage area.

The most popular devices of this type in our country are Webasto and Eberspascher. Their models designed for both foreign cars and domestic cars With different type and engine size.

From Russian manufacturers Teplostar loudly declared itself, producing products that are almost twice cheaper than their foreign counterparts.

Table of autonomous heater models

Disadvantages of autonomous heaters:

1. Difficulty of installation. This is not an electric heater that you can easily install with your own hands.
2. High cost. They are even higher basic models, without additional components. In addition, the installation of such equipment is highly appreciated - at least 8-10 thousand rubles. And the more difficult it will be to find a place under the hood for installation, the installation will be more expensive.
3. Battery dependency. You should always keep a recharged and reliable battery under the hood.
4. Some models are dependent on fuel quality. It is recommended to pay attention to this, regularly carry out diagnostics and cleaning.

Advantages of autonomous heaters:

1. Offline mode, no need to depend on external power sources.
2. Super efficiency and the possibility of long continuous operation. Before operating temperature car interior and internal combustion engine on cold winter days can be heated at a fuel consumption of less than 1 l / h in just 40-50 minutes.
3. A wide range of ways to engage and program.

It will now be much easier to make a choice in favor of one or another heater. If financial resources allow, then it is better to establish standalone option. For other cases, you can choose a good and quite effective electric heater.

Many manufacturers of foreign cars, focusing the sale of their cars on Russian market, offer models with an installed autonomous pre-heater for the engine and interior. This option is especially valuable in regions with a long winter season of operation. Do not be particularly upset by those motorists whose cars are not equipped with a factory pre-heater for the engine. Buying it and installing it on any brand of car is currently not a problem in any region of the country. More relevant here is the question of how effective this equipment is and whether it is worth the costs that are necessary to purchase and install it.

For this, you need preheater engine in winter

What does a pre-heater look like and what does it consist of?

Depending on the purpose and principle of operation, the starting preheater can be a device of various sizes and power used to heat the engine without cold start. In addition, it can be used to heat the interior, windshield and wipers. Stand-alone equipment includes a boiler with a combustion chamber and a radiator, a pipeline system for transferring fuel, pumps that pump fuel and coolant. It also includes a thermal relay that controls the climate system fan, an electronic control unit and a heater starter.

Liquid Preheater Thermo Top

Types of car preheaters

1. Autonomous engine preheater

According to the purpose and device, autonomous starting preheaters divided into liquid and air types.

Autonomous liquid preheaters

Video: Webasto or Hydronic (Webasto or Hydronic) which is better

Are intended for heating of both the engine, and salon. They are called so because they work by burning gasoline or diesel fuel from a car tank. They are mounted in the engine compartment and connected to the system liquid cooling motor. The heated air is distributed through the internal air ducts of the car. The system is economical in terms of fuel and electricity consumption, does not produce much noise during operation. It is applied to heating of all types of engines internal combustion- gasoline, diesel, gas-cylinder and combined.

Autonomous air preheaters for internal combustion engines

Designed to accelerate the increase in air temperature only in the cabin. They are installed in the cab of the car and are used mainly in passenger minibuses, shift trailers and kungs, and long-range trucks. They can heat the air in the cabin to a predetermined temperature. They also operate silently and consume little electricity. Unlike liquid devices, air devices have large dimensions and performance, so their fuel consumption is slightly higher. The most popular brands of German-made liquid heaters in the country are Webasto Thermo Top Evo 5 and Eberspasher Hydronic.

The principle of operation of the liquid pre-heater of the engine

This is how standalone works liquid heater engine

The device is activated from a remote control, timer or cell phone. The start pulse, falling on the electronic unit, generates a control signal that supplies the supply voltage to the actuator motor. The motor rotates and drives fuel pump heater and fan. The pump starts pumping fuel into the burner, where an air-fuel mixture is created with the help of an evaporator and an incandescent pin.

The combustible mixture injected by the fan is ignited in the combustion chamber by a spark plug. The heat generated during the combustion of the fuel is transferred through the heat exchanger working fluid engine cooling systems. The liquid circulates in the cooling circuit under the action of the booster pump of the preheater included in this circuit. The heated liquid in the process of circulation transfers the received heat to the engine housing.

When the coolant temperature reaches 30 degrees C, the radiator fan of the car's cooling system is automatically activated. begins to enter the salon. When antifreeze or antifreeze is heated to 72 degrees C, the fuel supply to the burner is reduced by half, and the system switches to a reduced operating mode. The liquid is cooled to 56 degrees and the whole process is repeated cyclically.

By design, the liquid autonomous pre-heater of the engine is similar to the saloon car heater and is a liquid fuel burner (gasoline or diesel fuel). Even in terms of cost, they differ slightly, not to mention the principle of operation. However, according to the installation site and the principle of heating, they are radically different.

In heaters, the burner directly heats the air supplied to the passenger compartment, and in the preheater, it heats the coolant, which, in turn, heats the body of the engine and the standard stove. In order for the interior heating to work effectively, do not forget about setting the stove control knob to the minimum "warm" mode. In this case, the heater control circuit will automatically turn on the fan at the right time, which will blow warm air into the passenger compartment through the standard air duct system. The result of this work will be noticeable from afar, the car windows will be dry and transparent on a frosty morning. It will be warm and cozy in the cabin, the wipers can be left on at night, it is possible to sit down and immediately go out onto the road.

A convenient function is the remote control of the engine preheater operation. It can be turned on using the button on the car key fob while at home. This should be done at least half an hour before departure (depending on the frost on the street), so that the coolant and the engine have time to warm up to the desired temperature, and the process of starting the engine went without complications. There are systems with automatic start from the built-in timer, on which it is necessary to set the desired switching time before locking the machine.

2. Electric engine preheater

The device and layout of the electric engine heater

An alternative to a stand-alone system is an electric heater, which is a spiral electric heater inserted into the cylinder block of the power unit and powered by an external 220V power supply. The executive element in this system is a small electric spiral installed in the cylinder block.

When installing the spiral, the anti-ice plug is removed from the cylinder block, and the spiral is mounted instead. Under the influence high voltage current flows through the coil, and it heats the antifreeze. The circulation of liquid in the cooling system occurs due to natural convection. It is less productive than artificial treatment with a pump and takes much longer. The most prominent representatives of the electric heater are the Defa WarmUp and Leader Severs models.

This installation is most acceptable when parking cars in garages and parking lots equipped with electrical outlets. If you leave the car on the street or in the yard, then you will not need such a heater, since there will be nowhere to connect it. The downside is that it consumes a lot of electricity. To ensure economical operation of the device, it is equipped with a timer that allows you to set the required liquid temperature.

When the set value is passed, the spiral is automatically switched off or switched on. Accordingly, in this case, the working fluid cools or heats up, which, in the process of convection, keeps the motor warm. The standard options for the electric motor heater are:

• heating of the working fluid in the engine cooling system;
• interior heating due to the supply of warm air through a regular stove;
• battery charge.

The principle of heating the motor in an electric heater is the same as in an autonomous system. Heat is also transferred to the motor by heating the working fluid in the cooling system. The difference lies in the method of heating using an external power supply. This also makes it possible to apply additional option- which is especially in demand in winter conditions, when low temperatures contribute to its discharge and decrease in capacity.

3. Thermal accumulators

The principle of operation of heat accumulators is based on the accumulation of hot working fluid in the cooling system and keeping its temperature unchanged for a long time (2 days). In such a system, when the engine is started, hot antifreeze or antifreeze circulates briefly along a reduced circuit, quickly warming up the engine. The classic representatives of such systems are Avtoterm, Gulfstream, UAPD-0.8.

What gives the use of preheaters

Professional drivers recognize the presence of an autonomous or electric engine preheater as a prerequisite for the configuration modern car guaranteeing the necessary healthy working conditions in winter period operation. For trucks operating in Europe, this principle has been respected for a long time. In terms of driving safety, their use contributes to increased comfort and reduced driver fatigue. Among other things, heaters help to increase the efficiency and durability of the motors. This is achieved through:

Video: Engine preheater

1. Reducing the number of "cold" engine starts. It is estimated that on average each driver makes 300 to 500 "cold" starts per year. At the same time, special studies in this area, carried out by well-known European companies, found that, in terms of one “cold” start, the use of engine preheating reduces fuel consumption by 100 to 500 ml. The amount of saving depends on the outside temperature and the duration of the warm-up. Thus, according to rough calculations, the use of preheating from autonomous heaters allows you to save in one winter season from 90 to 150 liters of gasoline or diesel fuel.

2. Reducing heavy duty applications that increase engine wear. The vast majority of engine wear occurs during its start-up period. This is due to the fact that at the time of a "cold" start, the viscosity of the engine oil is increased and the lubricating properties are reduced. At the same time, the friction of the surfaces of moving parts is increased and wear in the connecting rod-crank and piston assemblies is increased. One "cold" start reduces the resource of the power unit by 3-6 hundred kilometers. The Russian climate with 100 days of sub-zero temperatures a year can reduce engine life by 80,000 km in one season.

3. Improving safety and driving comfort. Cold contributes to increased body heat transfer and fatigue. Drowsiness and lethargy increase, the driver's attentiveness decreases. The driving mode becomes more irrational. In addition, the risk of contracting such occupational diseases as cervical, lumbar osteochondrosis, acute respiratory infections increases.

In place of unsafe methods of warming up a car with the help of open sources of flame and a soldering iron lamp, an engine preheater has long come. This unit allows you to warm it up before starting the engine in the cold season, as well as heat the air in the cabin and defrost windshield. Thus, the internal combustion engine heating apparatus makes it possible to increase the operational life of the power unit. Patented units operate in temperature conditions from 0° to -45°С.

Device Features

Starter heaters for cars are small devices, the purpose of which is to preheat the engine without starting it. Also, thanks to this device, the passenger compartment is heated, the windshield and wipers are defrosted.

The principle of operation of any device

The design of the device includes the following parts:

• fuel pump;
• heat exchanger;
• thermal chamber;
• circulation liquid pump;
• fuel drive.

The purpose of each constituent element of liquid preheaters is the same - to run a heated coolant through the cooling system to warm up the engine.

In addition to these details, the package includes a thermal switch that activates the operation of the built-in fan, an electronic control module, and a switch.

The device is installed in engine compartment auto. Installing the preheater is quite easy:

• the heat exchanger is attached to the small circuit of the engine cooling system;
• the electronic module is connected to the car's electrical network.

Despite the ease of installation, it is recommended to entrust this matter to a certified specialist. The point is in the guarantee, it will cease to be valid if the installation is carried out by a person who does not have permission or a corresponding document for these works. First of all, these nuances relate to products Russian production.

VIDEO: About the benefits of an engine preheater

Varieties of devices

It is difficult to overestimate the need for a heater for a car used in the Russian winter climate. The device will be especially in demand for diesel engines when, as the temperature drops, the fuel acquires a thick, jelly-like consistency. But for owners of cars operating on gasoline, the device will also not be superfluous. The unit facilitates the first institution of the engine in cold conditions and warns it against imminent wear.

Electric 220V

The electric pre-heater of the engine does not belong to the class of autonomous devices. The device is fixed instead of one of the bolts of the cylindrical motor block, and the device functions only when connected to a power source with a voltage of 220 V. Most modern cars already have this add-on in the configuration, but as a rule, it is characterized by reduced power, which forces car owners to resort to installing another device.

This type of preheater is most in demand in northern countries such as Canada, Scandinavia, etc. The fact is that in the European republics the infrastructure is slightly better developed than in Russia. There, almost every parking lot has separate sockets, which is so necessary for the operation of the unit.

Equipment for passenger cars has a complex design, which includes:

• heating element with a power rating of 500-5000 W;
• electronic control unit equipped with a timer;
• battery charge module, if available;
• fan - needed to heat the cabin or engine compartment;
• pump - not present in all modifications and is used for enhanced circulation of the coolant for uniform heating.

It is not difficult to figure out how the preheater works - the principle is based on the simplest laws of physics, when a warm liquid begins to circulate through the main due to the temperature difference.

Preheater heating element diesel engine transfers heat energy to the fluid as it circulates through the system. The heating element in this case is mounted in the lowest region of the cooling system so that the heated antifreeze rises up, while the cooled one goes down.

If the package provides for the presence of a liquid pump, the installation location is not important.

Autonomous preheaters

Autonomous engine preheaters are mounted in the engine compartment of a car and operate using the following types of fuel:

• petrol;
• diesel;

The design of an autonomous engine preheater includes the following parts:

• a control module that controls the temperature regime, the level of fuel, oxygen, gas supply;
• fuel pump;
• oxygen blower;
• miniature boiler with built-in combustion tank;
• liquid pump;
• there may be a relay, timer, remote control device, etc.

The principle of operation of the preheater consists of several steps:

• the system is turned on by one of the start methods;
• the fuel pump is activated, transferring gasoline, diesel fuel or gas to the combustion chamber;
• the spark plug helps ignite the incoming fuel;
• the flame heats the coolant;
• the coolant circulates through the system due to the operation of the pump.

When the temperature of the antifreeze reaches the desired value, the fan starts in the car interior. The average fuel consumption when using an autonomous liquid starting preheater is 500 ml/h.

The disadvantages of the device are big expense electricity. And since the device is powered by a car battery, it is likely that in the morning it can be completely discharged.

Thermal accumulator

This is a fairly new invention that can be seen in such a car model as the Toyota Prius. The device is a thermos in which the required volume of heated coolant accumulates. At the time of starting the engine, this liquid enters the cooling system, which makes it possible to slightly dilute cold antifreeze or antifreeze.

In general terms, in this way it turns out to increase the temperature regime of antifreeze by 10-20 ° C. This allows you to operate the car without much load on the engine.

Such batteries can retain heat for up to two days. An inefficient, but very convenient method of warming up the engine does not require the use of fuel or electricity for operation.

The best models of engine preheaters

To determine exactly which engine preheater is better, it is recommended to compare the devices of the most popular brands.

The most popular brand, since the devices of this manufacturer are able to heat up not only the coolant, but also the engine, interior. The German modification of Termo top E is a liquid apparatus equipped with a timer.

At a temperature of -15°C, the unit regularly performs functions in no more than 25 minutes. The main disadvantage of the device is the price, which is 40,000 rubles.

The unit of a domestic manufacturer can warm up the coolant and the interior. The package includes a remote control that operates within a radius of 150 m. The main drawback of this is the lack of feedback. In more detail, if the heater fails, the driver will not know about it until the moment he discovers that the car simply does not start.

The manufacturer paid special attention to the security system that controls the operation of the entire device. If a malfunction is detected, the device will report this to the owner with an error code.

Severs 103-37-41

The non-autonomous unit operates only from a voltage of 220 V. The device is equipped with a thermostat. Heating to a temperature of 60°C requires one hour of equipment operation.

Benefits of preheaters

Professional drivers no longer question the mandatory equipment of any car with an engine preheater, regardless of the type of the latter. And if in Europe this type of equipment has been used for more than 20 years, then in Russia it has only now begun to become widespread. Previously, it was used mainly by drivers of heavy trucks and diesel vehicles.

The benefits of PPPD are unconditional both for the motor itself and for the driver, in particular, fatigue is reduced, operating comfort is improved, the need for daily “witchcraft” in the form of blowtorches is eliminated, removed batteries and other manipulations.

The most important thing is that the device increases the service life of a car - one cold start of the engine equals, on average, 100-120 km of run in the warm season.

So, if we briefly describe the advantages of using DAAs, then we can form the following theses:

1. Reducing the amount of fuel consumed. On average, during the winter, a car starts 300-500 times, depending on the type of work. One cold start consumes up to 500 ml of fuel, respectively, in just 3 months of winter, you can save about 150 liters of fuel (5500-6000 rubles).
2. Reducing the load on the power unit. More than 80% of the load on the engine occurs at the time of its cold start, when the viscosity of the oil is very high, it does not have time to lubricate the parts in time, respectively, the friction of moving parts occurs dry. On average, one cold start corresponds to 100 km of run under normal conditions. Considering that there are more than 300 of them during the winter, it is easy to calculate how many kilometers your car will “wind” in just one season.
3. Increasing the safety of driving. At sub-zero temperatures, human heat transfer increases. He tends to sleep, fatigue increases, attention is scattered. All this is a direct road to an accident, when it is impossible to respond to the risk in time. Warm salon, clean windshield, heated seats - the key to not only comfortable, but healthy driving at any time of the year.

VIDEO: We study the range - what is better to choose?

The most inexpensive type of engine preheater is electric, built into the cylinder block, or placed next to it. In fact, this is a modified electric boiler. Only its main task is not to bring the liquid to a boil, but to heat it to such a state that the engine can start quickly in the cold season.

With the first view, everything is clear: the power of the devices is only 400-750 W. Their purpose is to maintain a certain temperature regime directly in the cylinder block. In addition to the heating element and the wire leading to the 220-volt outlet, there are no additional sensors, pipes and other devices here.

Video - self-installation electric engine preheater for 220 volts:

Is a “boiler” with a wire not enough for you? Then it will not be superfluous to buy an ordinary timer, if accuracy up to every second is so fundamentally important to you.

The most famous Russian heaters of this type are Homeless (from 1,200 rubles), Start-mini (from 950 rubles). The devices mentioned are mainly intended for, but are there any obstacles for domestic craftsmen?

In fairness, it should be noted that our motorists still consider a car primarily a luxury on which too much money has already been spent. People are somehow not ready to “spoil” their iron horses with expensive heaters, and therefore the popularity of models is growing, the cost of which does not exceed 2,000 rubles. The same cohort includes models with the names "Lestar", "Start M1", "Start M2", "Siberia-M", "Alliance".

Recently, units of this type have been improved, equipped not only with timers, but also emergency switch which, in case of overheating, cuts off the power supply. The disadvantage of such structures is that it has become more difficult to install them in the space near the engine.

Another point that makes the use of such devices not too pleasant is the need to open the hood every time to stretch the wire from the device to the outlet. True, now the connector has already begun to be displayed under the bumper, which greatly facilitated operation.

Video - engine preheater 12 volts (24V, 220V) in the form of flexible heating plates:

More "advanced" starting preheaters are autonomous, adapted to the power supply from the car's mains and designed for a voltage of 12 volts. Along with a lot of advantages, such devices have a very significant shortcomings:

• the presence of internal devices subject to wear and tear and requiring replacement;
• plaque formation in pipes and combustion chambers due to insufficient fuel cleaning;
• installation requiring certain skills;
• great cost.

This is just the last point - the main reason why the purchase of pre-start autonomous heaters is constantly postponed for “later”. After all, not everyone can easily lay out an average of 30,000 to 90,000 rubles for a device, even if its usefulness is beyond doubt.

Those who installed on their car leave a variety of, but among them there are quite a lot of positive ones.

Video - engine preheater from 220 Volt Severs + on Mitsubishi car L200:

May be of interest:

Find prices for any car model

The problem of engine wear is one of the biggest headaches of every car owner. The start-up in the winter season is especially strong for the life of the power unit, when, due to frost, the motor needs much more power to start working. In order to prevent a sad outcome, it is enough to use a 220V engine preheater with a pump. However, not everyone knows which model is better and why. In order to help you deal with this, we have created our own rating, which presents best models from those available on the market.

No. 7 - Simate (Simat) (PRC)

Our list opens with a product created by Asian engineers - Simate (Simat). It is quite easy to install, in other words, like most of the others. electric heaters for auto. Inexpensive in terms of price (from 1500 rubles), the model is equipped with an efficient pump, which ensures efficient pumping and, as a result, heating of the coolant. At the same time, it does not matter in which car you use the heater - in a car or a truck. The device is equipped with a special thermostat and overheating protection, so its service life is much longer than that of competitors. The same can be said about the safety of operation.

Simate engine preheater

No. 6 - Hot Start (USA)

The American company Hot Start is one of the market leaders and has been known for 75 years for producing only the best 220V engine preheaters with a pump. The company's products can reduce the cost of a motorist for fuel, fuel and lubricants and various repair services, since it significantly increases the life of the engine. Each model, without exception, is made in accordance with international standards and is certified according to ISO 9001, which guarantees the quality of workmanship and a high level of safety. You can buy a device at a price of 2000 rubles, and for your money this is an excellent choice.

Hot Start Engine Preheater

No. 5 - Start-Turbo (Russia)

A Russian-made product cannot boast of ease of installation, and for high-quality installation, an inexperienced car owner will have to seek help from a special center. However, this disadvantage is fully compensated by the excellent technical performance of the heater and its reliability. For example, antifreeze is heated up to 49 degrees, after which an emergency shutdown occurs until the temperature drops. Significantly reduced time necessary for the car to start, and after it there are no various noises and problems that are familiar to every driver. Even in winter, for the first time after launch, the car will drive at a decent level of traction. The price starts from 1800 rubles.

Engine preheater Start-Turbo

No. 4 - Longfei

Contrary to many negative reviews, Longfei products are one of the most popular on the market. The opinions of users differed - some praise the performance indicators and affordable price, while others, on the contrary, complain about frequent marriage and various malfunctions. Thus, when buying a device, you do not know whether you will be lucky or not. However, it is worth noting that if luck is still on your side, you will have at your disposal one of best heaters on the market.

The power of the model is 3 kW, the coolant is heated by a heating element, and the antifreeze is run by a centrifugal pump. Power is supplied by connecting to a conventional 220V power supply, while there is a small drawback - the cord of the model is short, so you have to fork out for an additional extension cord. The question of dimensions disappears - Lunfei can be equally well used, both for cars as well as for trucks. In stores, the price of this heater is usually equal to 4300 rubles.

Longfei engine preheater

No. 3 - Atlant (Russia)

The bronze medalist of our rating was another product of domestic engineers - an electric engine preheater Atlant. It is assembled, I must say, quite reliably and firmly. If you disassemble the device, you can find that there are gaskets between the contacts that prevent the risk of short circuits. All body materials are of high quality and not flimsy. The wires are made of copper, and the frame of the motor is made of metal plates. The heating element is a monolithic plate with longitudinal ribs.

In work, Atlant shows itself worthy - heating occurs quickly, due to which the term, required by the machine to start is reduced by 2-3 times. After starting, the car drives confidently and quietly. This is precisely the reason that the domestic product has collected so many laudatory reviews in its address. If you are looking for a decent heater, then Atlant - optimal choice. You can buy it at a price of 3150 rubles.

Engine preheater Atlant

No. 2 - Severs + - (Russia)

The Severs preheater is the pride of Russian engineers who managed to create a truly successful product that is an ideal combination of price and quality. The device is built into the car's cooling system and when connected to the network, the heating element, which is located in the housing, begins to warm up the circulating antifreeze. At the same time, the circulation pump is also started, pumping the heated liquid through the cooling system. When the required temperature mark is reached, the thermostat automatically switches off the heating element and the pump. As soon as the indicator drops below the set mark, a restart occurs. This results in the coolant temperature always being within the specified range. According to measurements, after half an hour of operation of the heater, the temperature of the coolant is 70 degrees - and this is a lot in comparison with competitors. Device power: 2 kW. As for the price, everything is quite democratic here - 2100 rubles.

Severs+ engine preheater

#1 - OWL

The result of the work of German engineers, the OWL heater, topped our rating. It is assembled extremely reliably, all components are of the highest quality and equipped with the necessary safety equipment. Due to its compact dimensions, namely the small width of the body between fittings of 3.5 cm, it can be installed directly on hoses without resorting to adapters. brackets and tees. OWL is suitable for any Vehicle and engines.

Installing the device is not difficult even for a novice car owner. This is a huge advantage of the model over domestic devices. OWL is equipped with a built-in thermostat that turns off the heating system when the temperature reaches 60 0 C. When it drops to 40 0 ​​C, the system turns on again. The performance of the device at 1.1 kW was called optimal by many experts, since at such values ​​the heat from the liquid spreads in the cylinder block slowly enough not to provoke sudden temperature changes and local boiling of antifreeze in those places where it comes into contact with the heating element. This model cannot be called affordable, after all, its price is about 7,000 rubles, but this is due to a decent level of reliability and good performance.

Engine preheater OWL