Since the Square 10 will be running Methanol, I am considering a coolant heater and oil heater. Do any of you do that?

Apples and oranges but I ran a 120v cartridge heater on the blower motor and always pre heated the oil to 150*. I tried the stick on heaters at first but they never seemed to last long so I just welded a bung in the pan and never looked back.

I don't see any need to pre heat the water in Texas

Thanks, Steve. I was already considering the in-pan heater. What brand did you use? How long did it take to achieve the desired oil temperature?

I believe there was another thread where we discussed this and posted links. I do both and it has saved me a lot in fuel. I have a cartridge heater in my radiator and my oil pan.

I had block heaters in one of my motors and they worked okay. Fact is here in Texas you do not need them very often and just was not worth the hassle to me. I used the ones that go in the factory freeze plugs.

Now all I do is if it is cold I have a big blanket and I lay it over the motor between rounds to keep much of the heat in. I always lean it out when first start up to build heat in the motor and at the end of the day before I put it up.

Steve, Curtis, and others, my main interest is helping keep the oil clean when running Methanol.

I have a new, top-of-the-line APD carb and fuel system, so I can run a lean idle. I will also add a lean-out valve.

I like the idea of an in-pan oil heater and will do that.

I will be using a plastic tank radiator so I will need a coolant heater either in a hose or in the block. Do y'all have any other suggestions?

Larry, this what I used. I ran 10 qts 60wt oil and it would take about 30-45 minutes to get to 150* from 70*

It was mounted in the read of the pan between the oil pump and back wall of the pan on the opposite side of the drain plug. Of course this was a BBC

https://proshop.summitracing.com/parts/stf-6769

Block heaters are nice and i have found that you can get rid of the slow, first pass with them. In your area you would be ok with a good stick on oil pan heater used for a 1-2 hours before you race. With oil pan heater you still need to warm the engine up. With block heaters, I dont always warm them up, but pour fuel in them and drive it to the lanes.

Steve, I still heat my water even when it's 100° out. Takes less fuel to get everything heat soaked.

Larry, this is the oil heater I am using. Not any better or worse than the one Steve posted but it is 100 watts less.

https://proshop.summitracing.com/parts/mor-23991

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Woodfin: Do y'all have any other suggestions?

Consider installing an oil temp sensor in the pan sump area facing the front of the engine. 3/8 npt bung. The diaper on my pan is not fitted on the sump front and there’s room for the sensor to protrude in this area on my car.

I have a freeze plug block heater. First one was a Kats made for a 1st gen SBC and it went bad, possibly from vibrations. Now I have a Zerostart made for a 6.5 GM diesel, same size plug but higher amperage and a much better quality part cast not stamped. I know not to run the motor or the WP while it's plugged in, learned that lesson many years ago on a diesel tractor. I have a plastic tank radiator and I don't like the drain on it so I use a drain in the lower radiator hose. If I didn't have that in the lower hose I'd use a in the hose heater instead of a plug heater. I did have a stick on pad on my old engine on the bottom of the oil pan. Is was a low wattage but it did heat the oil. I didn't swap it to this oil pan but I do have a teemp sensor in the pan to monitor oil temps. So far the advantage of the coolant heater is to warm the motor for the first start of the day on cold days. Once the motor is hot it stays hot usually and I get it very hot before putting it in the trailer, oil has stayed very clean this year.

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve:
Larry, this what I used. I ran 10 qts 60wt oil and it would take about 30-45 minutes to get to 150* from 70*

It was mounted in the read of the pan between the oil pump and back wall of the pan on the opposite side of the drain plug. Of course this was a BBC

https://proshop.summitracing.com/parts/stf-6769

I use the same one. I'm on alky as well..
No water heater I just use the leanout.

Dave

Eman what is the reason for not running the WP or engine with the block heater on?

quote:

Originally posted by BD104X:
Eman what is the reason for not running the WP or engine with the block heater on?

Any air bubbles on the element will burn it out. Same deal with the stick on oil pan pads, if they come loose at all they will burn out,

Bottom line, anything you can do to bring the engine to operating temperature without running it, will be a great benefit.
Less wear and tear, less oil contamination, less fuel consumption.

Is this oil/coolant pre-heating primarily those using methanol or are others on gas doing the same as well?

Methanol for me.

I'm on gasoline, but always preheated when I didn't mind running my loud a$$ generator.
If I get a quiet generator, I'll do it again.