pcarfan944

Just picked one up for $18 at Checkers. Since it's 0 today I thought it would be a good time to plug it in. While i'm waiting, I just wanted to hear how many other people use them, and how well do they really work?

Jfrahm

I used one years ago (not on a Porsche) and it worked great.

-Joel.

Lemming

Have you considered moving South for the Winter

Mighty Shilling

why heat the dipstick?

Zero10

I would not use one.
They are usually a 50W heater, and will only help keep the oil warm once it is already warm. It will never heat your oil in the dead of winter, and it will only improve cold starting marginally.
I tried a lower rad hose heater with very little success (due to the thermostat), and I presently have a proper 225W oil pan heater, which does a decent job when it's -40. I'm adding a circulating heater in a couple weeks.

GlenL

Hell No.

PorscheDoc

Yea, pretty useless. Either get a block heater or something that heats and circulates coolant.

AznDrgn

When you get these heaters you should be careful with the high wattage ones since they tend to get extremely hot quickly and burn the oil that is right around it since there is no circulation.

Jfrahm

The one I used worked great. I had one of the few cars that got going during a really cold snap. I even loaned it to someone else to get their car started. I was concerned about the oil coking up on the heater but I did not see any indication of that. Maybe not the best heater but in my case it was good for the unusual need.

-Joel.

shmucklebuckle

Theory is: hot dipstick = warmer oil = warmer block = car that starts.

Hans

Ahh, that seems to make sense. But a 50 watt heater??? I would expect that this wattage should easily disappear over the sump.

TakeCare

>>
As Bugatti once replied to a complaining customer of a brand ner one way back when;
If you cant afford a heated garage, you should not own my car.....

IceShark

The dipstick types are more or less worthless. The coolant type ones work fairly well.

When I was in college we had an old chevy we had to run 70 weight oil in as the motor was so worn out. Burned more oil than gasoline. Had a rotating schedule of who was supposed to run out and stick a charcoal grill under the motor to get her warmed up in the morning.

Damian in NJ

I had a 66 Alfa Duetto that I used both a dipstick heater and I'd put a heating pad on top of the damn battery, freaking thing wouldn't start half the time anyway!

1bad914

Buy a heater for your garage! I consider myself lucky that I have a heated 4 car garage, trust me I suffered thru many frozen mornings until I bought this house 9 months ago. The original owner was a car guy, he built the attached garage with drains, and running hot and cold water spigots, plus he insulated the entire thing, it hold heat as well as the house.

I think anything you put in the case to heat the oil will help!

nineeagles

Don't try the old fashioned method we used to use on Tractor Trailer Trucks.....we would use a small charcoal grill and light it and set it under the engine block.....very dangerous and very damaging to engines if not watched closely.....but it did work.....DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!