I just got a cheap 1000w zero start unit off of ebay but as I read people seem to think that they are too costly to run. The stock unit on my truck went out so as this one also circulates the coolant i figured I could use this to heat (warm) my blended fuel also just looking for some advice ideas

I use a lower rad hose type of block heater.
The 1000W heater in your example will cost about 10 cents per hour if your electricity rate is 10 cents per kilowatt-hour.

What exactly is your question?

Just wondering if this is a good option ie will it get hot enough to help with the harder starting caused by the colder ( mid 20's this week) weather I have not been running blend because of this When I hook the heater up I plan adding more coolant hose and running it along the fuel lines

I am using your cold upflow setting and having good results but have been running a 50/50 blend

quote:

Originally posted by miller0613:
Just wondering if this is a good option ie will it get hot enough to help with the harder starting caused by the colder ( mid 20's this week) weather I have not been running blend because of this When I hook the heater up I plan adding more coolant hose and running it along the fuel lines

I apologize, but I still don't understand the question. Any form of engine pre-heating will help with cold starting in temperatures below freezing.

Miller0613,

Do I read you correctly that you are using house AC power to run an ancillary (outside the car) 1000W heater/pump to warm the engine block coolant?

If it is on-board (12V DC?) or off (AC) would make a big difference in cost effectiveness. If you are using house mains, do you have a 220V option? Using 110V AC will double the overall amps required to acheive the heat you want.

If you are talking about house mains power, I agree with john's suggestion of a lower radiator hose or some kind of a block heater (blanket wraps - the stock heaters are often very hard to install retroactively).

Another high wattage option I like to use when my car has sat in the cold overnight is to use a hair dryer and blow hot air into the intake for a couple minutes, sometimes even running it while I crank the starter.

Aloha!

I save a few cents on preheating the truck with a timer from home cheapo. I have it set to kick in 3 hours before I leave home in the morning. This way, I can plug it in when I get home, but don't use any electricity until 5 am.

If that's the type of heater that circulates the coolant then I asume it's the kind that installs in the vehicle heater circut which is an easy install,just cut the hose and install the pre heater in each end (mindfull of direction). I have used them up here before I went 12 volt and they work exellent.

The timer is also a good idea. There's no point in running a heater all night when it will warm up in 2 or 3 hours anyway. Over the course of a month it should show up on the hydro bill as a savings

quote:

Another high wattage option I like to use when my car has sat in the cold overnight is to use a hair dryer and blow hot air into the intake for a couple minutes, sometimes even running it while I crank the starter.

Use that idea myself when I need to get the odd school bus going in the morning. DI's like to have a shot of warm air for sure,it makes a big difference at 40 below

Yes, miller0613, a block heater will help with cold starting, which it sounds like you have already working. And, putting it on a timer, like Mysubrattles, is a good idea as well, because I found my block heater only needs 2 hours to get to terminal temperature when the ambient was at 32F (0c).

miller0613, since you are running 50% #2 at 50% of a blend of 20kero/80wvo, and the ambient temperatures have dropped into the 20s in Michigan, where you are, then it seems like you could be a little more aggressive with your solvent, and cut the WVO by 30-50% with Kerosene. Doing so might make your engine start better in the cold. Even 50/50 K/VO, the way you are mixing that with 50% D2, means you will not see more than 25%K in your fuel.

quote:

Originally posted by 12voltdan:
Use that idea myself when I need to get the odd school bus going in the morning. DI's like to have a shot of warm air for sure,it makes a big difference at 40 below

12Vdan,

Sure does! I haven't used one on a DI in those temps, but that is good to hear. Last Winter I showed a local olive oil presser w/a VW TDI that trick to get him going again. He had adventurously poured a couple of old bottles of some AMAZINGLY delicious extra virgin North California olive oil (lucky b@st@rd! ) into his tank and his DI wasn't going anywhere One hair dryer later and we drove off to expore his olive ranch

Aloha!