What is a car engine heater?

Car engine heater

The engine heater is a device designed to make it easier to start the engine in cold conditions. Typically, the term "heater" refers to the heaters of the coolant in the cooling system. However, engine preheating is also provided by other devices. Glow plugs, diesel heaters and oil heaters. The heating system is installed as an option or separately. Depending on the method of heat generation, there are three types of heaters. Fuel, electric and thermal accumulators. Fuel heater. Fuel heaters have found the greatest application in domestic cars and trucks. Which use the energy of combustion of fuel. Gasoline, diesel fuel and gas for cooler heating.

Types of engine heating systems

The main advantage of fuel heaters is autonomy. Because they use the power supply that is on the car. Another name for such heaters is autonomous heaters. The fuel heater is built into the standard cooling system. Fuel system and exhaust system. The fuel heater usually performs two functions. Heating of a cooling liquid, heating of air and heating of salon. There are autonomous heaters that only heat the cabin. The so-called air heaters. Heating circuit. Structurally, the heater combines a heating module. Heat generation and control system. The heating module includes a fuel pump, injector, spark plug, combustion chamber, heat exchanger and fan.

Engine heater

The pump delivers fuel to the heater. Where it is sprayed, it mixes with air and is lit with a candle. The thermal energy of the burning mixture through the heat exchanger heats the coolant. The combustion products are discharged into the exhaust system by a fan. The refrigerant circulates through a small circuit in the cooling system. Naturally, from the bottom up or forcibly using a water pump. As soon as the coolant reaches the set temperature, the relay turns on the fan. The heating and air conditioning system and the car interior are heated. When the maximum temperature is reached, the heater turns off. When using various designs of the fuel heater, its operation can be controlled directly using the power button. Timer, remote control and GSM module. That allows the heater to work on a mobile phone.

Engine heating - operation

The leading manufacturers of fuel heaters are Webasto, Eberspacher and Teplostar. Electric heater. Electric heaters use electricity. From an external AC network for heating the coolant. The most widely used electric heaters are found in northern European countries. However, in our country they are used quite often. The main advantages of electric heaters are the absence of harmful emissions. During operation, silence, low cost, quick heating of the liquid. Because it’s actually an electric water heater. The electric heater is mounted directly in the cooling block of the cylinder block. Or in one of the tubes of the cooling system.

Electric heater

Typical functions of electric heaters are heat carrier heating. Air heating, cab heating and battery charging. The electric heater includes an electric heating element up to 3 kW. Electronic control unit and battery charging module. The principle of operation of an electric heater is similar to a fuel heater. The main difference in the heating method is associated with the coolant. This type of heater is installed in the crankcase where an electric heater heats the engine oil. An electric heater also charges the battery. What is suitable when working with a car at low air temperatures. This system is mainly used in diesel cars. Because when starting the diesel engine is very moody, especially on cold winter days.

Heat accumulator

Electric heater manufacturers are Defa and Leader. Heat accumulators are the rarest type of heaters, although they are very efficient. The heat storage system performs the following functions. Using energy to cool the coolant. Heat accumulation and heat storage. Use of energy for air heating and interior heating. The design of this system includes. Heat accumulator, coolant pump, control valve and control box. The heat accumulator as an element of the heat storage system serves to store the heated coolant. It is a vacuum insulated metal cylinder. The pump charges the heat accumulator with heated coolant and releases it when the engine is started. The battery is charged automatically in accordance with the signal from the control unit and is periodically repeated while driving.