Was -30 C here at my cottage last night.
I put the vehicle in the garage overnight....had to move the kayaks and lawn chairs etc out.
The temp overnight in the garage was -15 and the car started without issue.

Was looking online and see these Magnetic Oil pan heaters. Anyone using this? As long as you have a steel oil pan with a flat surface you just attach and plug it in.

Sold at CT and Princess Auto.

Does anyone have any comments about these?

Need something for a VW Tiguan.

thanks

 

Get the proper OEM block heater. You want to heat coolant not just the oil in the pan.

 

We have a 2 month old Sequoia parked overnight at the cottage -35 plugged the block heater in this morning for about 4 hours, other than a momentary whining accessory belt it started like it was in a heatead garage and had warm air blowing in no time. Think it was a $250 dealer add-on, money well spent this week.

 

With synthetic oil, it should not be needed. I had many cars, from modern performance cars to a Mazda 323 derelict start at below -20C (real temp, not windchill, which is not a real temperature anyway) without issues for years. If oil flows freely, which synthetic will until it's below -40C or so (again, real temp -40 - if it's -20 real and -40 windchill, it's actually just -20) most non-vintage cars should start just fine without issues or damage. If you have a relatively modern car with decent modern oil and live south of polar circle, block heater should be unnecessary.

 

-33 real here in the Laurentians.
No pb with the CTT or the Audi but the F250 (V8 Diesel) was not able to start properly (started with a rough idle then stalled).
I tried few time without success.
So I plugged the F250 for 3 hours then it started properly without any problem.

 

-20 actual here, everyone around here is having issues with their heavy diesels, most modern pickups are doing ok... cars really not flinching much
That said, heating the oil never hurts, and is what causes engines to have resistance when cold starting (pumping loses)
agree, OEM only for block heater if you go that route

 

Thanks everyone.
I'll check with VW and see if they have something and how much to install.

VW forums say the same thing about synthetic oil...
Shouldn't need a block heater

So I've parked the Tiguan in my non heated garage.
Its been about -15 in the garage overnight, -25 to -30 outside.

Started ok . Take it for a drive to heat everything up then then park it back in the garage.

Saw 3 deer this morning so thats a cool bonus.

 

I had a oil pan heater on my old Jetta TDI, it was epoxied on since the pan was aluminium and worked like a charm. The pan was too hot to touch it and this warmed up the oil enough to transfer the heat to the block. Also used to have an electric battery blanket too that worked really well. If you can keep the battery warm then a block heater isn't really necessary. Some of the VWs don't have locations to install a block heater and an inline coolant heater needs to be grafted into the coolant system. My DD has been a Jetta TDI for over 12 years and have faced some challenges in the winter, not too many if the starting system is in good shape but unless everything is 100%, it will be a challenge to start them anything below -25C.

 

I have a block heater on my 260Z because it won't start without it under around +8C....twin side draft Hitachi SU's. Starts at any temp right away when plugged in.

 

Blockheater best. Magnetic heater works ok too.

I could tell stories for days of our first CT posting in Kindersley Sk. during the two coldest winters in history.

40 was an average morning. 20 was a warm day.

Fingers of frost crawling in through the door jambs as if they were malevolent living creatures coming to kill you.

H'ween. 30, took kids up the street 8 houses, turned around facing a 40km wind and thought I wouldn't be able to make it home.

Cold is cold, but Northern Sk. is cold.

 

Hi
We just bought a 2013 Cayenne S and I am looking into a 'Oil Pan Heater' as well.
Even if everyone is saying is is not required, but at -40C (as per Environment Canada) the car was not happy and warm oil can't be bad for the engine.
My problem is, where to put the pad (250W). You can't put on the drain plug area (no flat surface). There is a smooth surface, but it is behind a (black) beam ( see photo)

I will let you know when I figured it out.
I also put a call into the local dealership, hope the hear back by tomorrow.

Andreas K.
PCA Member (MB)
Porsche 996
Porsche 958

 

If there is a plastic belly pan on this vehicle then I strongly recommend NOT TO install a pan heater. There have been several instances (on the TDI VW sites) of the pad falling off the oil pan and the plastic belly pans catching on fire, burning the car down to a crisp. My old Jetta didn't have the plastic belly pan anymore so it didn't matter to me.

Porsche doesn't offer a block heater for these Cayennes?

 

im surprised no one has brought up bore scoring yet !!

 

Check FrostHeater..they socialize in Volkswagen's and I know he's done custom setup. Porsche's are just Volkswagen's right....

http://www.frostheater.com/

 

Canadian Tire sells coolant heaters that many in the VW TDI community use with great results but you have to graft it into the coolant pipe and this means cutting a hose.