totally agree, but it would help it get there just that bit faster... I would almost say that on some days in the highlands if you didnt have antifreeze your water would probably freeze...

EDIT: my ute sits there and idles away for a good five to ten before I will move it...

The unit is held in place by a butterfly device that is expanded by the center bolt.
Benny is right, it uses an external power source & in this case it will need 110 volts which should not be too hard to achieve.

From past experience with a similar unit, what happens is that the coolant is progressively warmed untill the thermostat begins to open. At this point the coolant begins to circulate into the radiator via thermo siphon, so all of the coolant, including the radiator will have 'some' heat.

The temperature should not get to normal operating temperature, probably about half way there, but in a closed garage, given time, the whole block, & all internal parts will be well warmed, including the oil.
Once started, the engine will reach full operating temp much more quickly, keeping in mind that the block casting itself will be holding heat, & the heater will produce it's foot warming flow immediately.

As to taking the car out & flogging it immediately? Surely nobody would do such things anyway as the trans & diff oil are still cold & thick, so will need to be run for a time before any decent rotational speeds are achieved to prevent needless wear in these units.

It's not for everybody, but I like it, & that's all that matters.

I think its a great idea, just I dont think that I would remember to put it on a few hours before I took the car out... or worse... I would forget to disconnect it...lol

But I thought that it would have the effect of opening the thermostat as you said and warming just about everything... maybe it would keep the shed a bit warmer too...

What a fantastic idea! Those clever datsun engineers were at it again, or has this been around for longer on other makes of cars?

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Thats it! Plug the motor in on one of those cold nights, JD's on ice, get out one of my favourite nissan manuals and do some reading...

The idea would be to plug it in when you get home at night & probably leave the bonnet open, or do something else that prevents you from driving away with it connected. [Leave your keys on the rocker cover or on a hook next to the power point it's plugged into?]

This is not a new idea by a very long shot & block heaters have been around in both 'genuine' form & as aftermarket accessories since the 1920's or earlier.

I've herd of them before, just never seen one... also herd stories of the guys in the soviet union putting little tubs of diesel under there engines and lighting them to stop the engines from freezing in the war...

This is the most regular thing in Finland. I haven't seen a datto engine without it! It saves the engine and it also saves fuel. It is being recommended to use it when the temp is +5 celsius or below. Fuel burns also more efficiently during the first KMs when engine is 'pre-heated'.

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Had a friend working in Russia instructing Russians how to maintain chainsaws. He told me that babushkas/grannies flowed oil out of the harvesters every morning. After that they poured the oil in a big caulron and put it on fire. Then you just pour the hot oil back into the engine

FinTukka
What is the household voltage in Finland?

I guess that either these, or a similar unit are still available in Finland & if your system is 220 or 240 volt you might end up with one or two enquiries for these as well.

It used to be 220V and now it is 230V.

Here is piccy of such thing:

http://flickr.com/photos/22277637@N04/2553299425/sizes/m/

old school one from the 70s

http://flickr.com/photos/22277637@N04/2553299169/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Do you know if they are still available in Finland?