Well i want my car to last a long time, so im wondering if i should get this for our chicago winters..even though my car is in the garage im sure it would help.

Anyone have this and is it worth it?

its about $88...but thats the price on acura.com

 

IMO. Get an auto starter and warm-up your engine and oil before you take-off. And before you leave from work/school, remote start it again.

I'm planning this install before winter...not that it gets THAT cold in NC.

 

It's not the fact that he needs to warm up his cabin or warm the engine with a remote starter. The engine block heater actually is necessary to preheat the oil so that at the moment of startup the oil is flowing.
In very harsh winters some cars won't start because the oil is so cold its just like tar. Most in the Great White North have to have them for the crazy cold winters.

 

just use synthetic. it remains viscous at low low temp

 

Yea use synthetic, it is goof for the engine and remember to use Mobil 1! By the way during the winter do you guys change the grade of your oil? My dealer told me that during the winter, you should use 10W30 and in the spring and summer use 5W30?

 

are u sure winter use 10W~30W..in winter time...5W~30W should be ok ....or u can try0W~30W mobil 1 syn....summer should use 10W~30W instead of winter..right??

 

well this is how i see it for the remote starter... i think that would be worse to have, you car would start and while warming its at idle. Isnt that bad for a cold engine? I heard the best thing to do it start the car let it run for like 40 seconds and then drive with very low rpms. Then your car should warm up better. AM I WRONG?

 

My BAD. Didn't consider the oil turning to jello in the winter time. Like I said, it don't get that cold down here in NC.

Some remotes have long ranges. My the time you walk up to the car, that's 40 seconds.

Yeah, I second that. Use lighter weight oil for winter.

 

I don't think they are necessary. I lived in MN for 10 years with a new Acura and no block heater. It will be cold with or without one.

 

i have a block heater. it works great. the way i figure it, in addition to letting the car warm up faster, its better on the engine. during winter, the oil will still 'think' that its summer. you know?

i let it run for 30 seconds, after 2 minutes of driving the temp neddle goes up. the car starts as if it were at room temperature.

the block heater itself goes for $20. if you pay more for it, your an idiot. its just a wire. the installation is another story. i had it installed on delivery so i didnt pay, but on my toyota the install was expensive. i dont see whats so special about it, it simply plugs in beside the front header

i also have a remote starter, its nice but i could have lived without it.

those who raised oil questions. you should understand oil grades before you start pouring liquids into your car. 10W-30 during freezing temperatures is really dumb. if thats what yours using, im surprised the car even starts. imagine jello being pumped into your engine...

its nice to stay at the same oil grade all the time. i guess if you go racing everyday, you can change but it will probably have negative effects over time