Heh, my friend tried few years ago something similar, he used this kind of device:




He put it under the bonnet and turned it on. Lucky for him that his car didn't burn or something - these devices are NOT ment for that kind of use.. :)

When I was a kid I worked in a factory which made electric blankets for tractors. Different method but the same principle. Place the blanket over the motor, plug it in and keep the block warm overnight for easier starting and running first thing in the morning.

As FinTuukka said, we didn't get these heaters as genuine Datsun/Nissan parts. Mostly them are made by Defa or Calix.

Defa
Calix

With block heater you can have also interior heaters to warm up your cabin. That's very nice when there is -20 degrees (Celcuis) outside, but in your car there is something like +10 degrees. :)

When i was a kid there was a kid up the road who's dad used to plug in his 460CI T-bird. A bit of a wank I always thought, but maybe on an engine that large(take a while to heat up) or in a cold climate a worthwhile idea.

I can see why FinTuukka has one. But D-man, what was it they said about selling ice to the eskimos?

These are very common in certain parts of the USA, for example eastern WA where it gets cold and icy all winter (in Seattle it only rains and rarely gets below 0 C).

The block heaters that I bought look to have been vendor supplied to Nissan North America & have a Nissan parts number.
I also believe that they are unique to North America & look to have been supplied from a manufacturer in Canada.

Oh yeah, another benefit is easier starting with less drag at the oil pump from cold thick oil & better fuel vaporisation during cranking due to warm ports in the head & even a warm intake manifold. This really reduces the load on the starter & allows a cold & therefore reduced-performance battery to get it fired up right quick.

The temperature can drop to sub zero overnight around here during winter for days on end, so maybe it's an investment after all.
[see first post for picture]

FinTukka,
It is an actual Datsun/Nissan part.

Chris,
Thanks again

Kelly

Is the one that you bought original nissan/datsun spare part? You can easily buy here a set but it is not original datsun spare part. I have never seen one that would have been nissan/datsun made.

Do you know if they are still available in Finland?

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/