Community Forums

Zimectrin · 11-20-2006, 05:02 AM

Is there a Thermostat on the Engine heater?

Have always wondered it the 110volt engine heater just keeps heating and heating or if there is a control on it to bring the oil to a certain temp.

We have in times past turned on the engine heater before going to bed (for an early start), but then I lay there and wonder if we are boiling the oil.

Now I know that my friends at IRV2 will have the answer and thank you in advance for your input.

Zimectrin · 11-20-2006, 05:02 AM

Is there a Thermostat on the Engine heater?

Have always wondered it the 110volt engine heater just keeps heating and heating or if there is a control on it to bring the oil to a certain temp.

We have in times past turned on the engine heater before going to bed (for an early start), but then I lay there and wonder if we are boiling the oil.

Now I know that my friends at IRV2 will have the answer and thank you in advance for your input.

Cruzer · 11-20-2006, 06:33 AM

Engine heaters come in two flavors - oil pan heaters or water jacket heaters. The most popular are the water heaters, which I'm pretty sure is what is in your Journey. These units pop into the side of the engine block and heat up the coolant surrounding the cylinders. In the process it heats up the steel and some of the oil in the engine.

None of these units have thermostats but they aren't of a sufficient wattage to ever overheat anything. You won't boil your coolant or your oil so there's no worries. If you ever plug in an engine block heater when the coolant is drained the electric heating coil will overheat (because there's no coolant around it to remove that heat) and it will fail. It may fail in the open circuit position or it may short out to ground, which will trip your breaker.

cmaserv · 11-20-2006, 10:58 AM

Your Journey has a coolant heater. It will not boil the coolant. I am not sure of wattage but suspect it is at least 1500. Turning this on for about an hour before departure usually will be sufficient, providing your not camped in below 0 temps. If your plugged in at home, keep in mind it is a heating element and will cost you money to run it. Kind of like having your dryer running.