Block Heater PN
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#5
I don't quite understand the concept of the block heater hose.
Do you leave it plugged in overnight so the coolant doesn't freeze? Would this be able to keep all of the coolant above the freezing point?
Don't forget to unplug before you start up and drive!! Where do you store the cord? It must be wrapped up securely and tied somewhere under the car. Seems like trouble.
When I got my XJ12, it had a block heater like this (although the lower hose is very simple compared to the AJ16 octopus). I was not familiar with it and couldn't believe I'd found a 120V plug wrapped up near the bottom of the engine. As if the V12 was a plug-in hybrid! Made me laugh. The car was originally in the Bay area, now in Arizona so a block heater is unnecessary. Which is good since it is not readily available or if so, pricey. I just replaced the lower hose again (non-heater) before Christmas. It was an easy job.
So I suppose the Octopus with block heater could be valuable anywhere north of the 40th parallel.
Do you leave it plugged in overnight so the coolant doesn't freeze? Would this be able to keep all of the coolant above the freezing point?
Don't forget to unplug before you start up and drive!! Where do you store the cord? It must be wrapped up securely and tied somewhere under the car. Seems like trouble.
When I got my XJ12, it had a block heater like this (although the lower hose is very simple compared to the AJ16 octopus). I was not familiar with it and couldn't believe I'd found a 120V plug wrapped up near the bottom of the engine. As if the V12 was a plug-in hybrid! Made me laugh. The car was originally in the Bay area, now in Arizona so a block heater is unnecessary. Which is good since it is not readily available or if so, pricey. I just replaced the lower hose again (non-heater) before Christmas. It was an easy job.
So I suppose the Octopus with block heater could be valuable anywhere north of the 40th parallel.
Last edited by SleekJag12; 01-04-2019 at 02:13 AM.
#6
From my understanding ( and can be wrong ) the 3.2 / 4.0 engine block was suppose to come in a diesel version hence the oversize robust main bearings to handle the diesel .
The 2.7 desiel was shoe horned into the X300 program but you don't hear about them in service
The block heater was left in from the design program that didn't materialize
There is a odd connector on the lower right front corner of the car for a 120 volt plug in like a European round prong vs. a blade type for the US
The hose heater is not the most energy efficient way to warm the block but it works for cold diesel startup
When I got M'Lady P the wiring was all butchered up in this corner of the car but never saw a plug in for the heaters pigtail
The 2.7 desiel was shoe horned into the X300 program but you don't hear about them in service
The block heater was left in from the design program that didn't materialize
There is a odd connector on the lower right front corner of the car for a 120 volt plug in like a European round prong vs. a blade type for the US
The hose heater is not the most energy efficient way to warm the block but it works for cold diesel startup
When I got M'Lady P the wiring was all butchered up in this corner of the car but never saw a plug in for the heaters pigtail
Last edited by Lady Penelope; 01-04-2019 at 03:43 AM.
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SleekJag12 (01-04-2019)
#7
The second is the oil gets much thicker in the cold, so it's much harder for the starter to turn the engine over with heavy, cold oil. That oil also doesn't circulate well, so the engine will have very poor lubrication ( and thus a lot of wear) until it warms up. That's part of the reason that approximately 90% of an engines wear occurs between start-up and achieving full oil pressure - the oil isn't getting to all parts of the engine quickly. That's also why many people in cold climates use a thin oil in the winter, such as 0W30, so it will be pumpable in cold weather.
Having a warm block and oil can be the difference between the car starting or not starting. Usually plugging in the car for about 4 hours is enough to warm it in the coldest weather, assuming you park with the nose not facing into the wind. The Jaguar set up isn't ideal, putting the heater in the block would be better. This is done on most cars, where the heater either replaces a frost plug or is a separate boss that the heater element screws into. It works though, it does set up a thermal syphon and the whole engine does get warmed.
A block heater is standard equipment on just about every car sold in Canada, for example, as well as other cold places.
The following 2 users liked this post by Jagboi64:
Lady Penelope (01-04-2019),
SleekJag12 (01-04-2019)
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