Engine Heater Worth it?

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by ProjectM96

I heard on the radio show car talk that these engine heaters, or oil pan heaters eliminate 95% of wear on the engine.

Since our Boxsters take forever to warm up the 9.2 quarts of oil, and the engine feels noticeably different when driving past 3000rpm after a cold start, I was thinking of buying one of these heaters.

However, I do not have a garage. It seems like all of these have to be plugged into an electrical cord. I cannot find one that works on a rechargable battery.

If I buy one, I would not want to leave it outside on an extension cord that anyone could use.

I heard of a few types. One is a magnet. You stick it to the oil pan so you have to get under the car to install and remove it every time.

The other is a dipstick with a heating element. But our dipsticks are very long so I doubt I would find one that fits.

Does anyone here use an engine heater or could recommend one for outdoor use?(no garage)

Unless you are planning to move above the Arctic Circle, this is totally unnecessary. You will also not find a solar or battery operated one worth a damn, as these things require current (amperage) to create heat, so they are all 110/220 volts.

A block heater will also not warm the oil. To do that, you need a heating pad like device that surrounds the sump, and I have not seen one that would work on a Porsche style sump. Anything magnetic is not going to work as the sump is entirely aluminum.

You would be better off saving your money and letting the car warm up for a few min. when it is very cold, the oil cooler will warm up your oil in the process.