With the onset of cold weather (usually "sudden" for any of us), each car owner thinks about whether his car will start or not. And even if the battery coped with the difficult task and the "cold start" was successfully carried out, with this method of operation, a number of negative consequences arise:

• engine parts wear out faster;
• the load on the battery increases: as a result, the service life is significantly reduced;
• the engine has been running at idle speed for quite a long time (and, this is not the most "useful" operating mode for it).

The preheating of the engine will not only prolong the “life” of the engine without repair, but will also significantly increase the comfort of using the car in winter.

The principle of operation and types of engine preheaters

All systems, regardless of design, installed in cars to facilitate starting the engine in the cold season, do not heat the engine itself, but increase the temperature of the surrounding coolant (they are called PZhD for short). Therefore, the antifreeze, which saves the engine from overheating while driving, warmed up with a pre-starting device, heats up the engine elements, which contributes to its easy start (even at very low temperatures).

According to the principle of operation, all engine pre-heaters (both gasoline and diesel) are divided into two main groups:

• autonomous;
• electrical.

The former use vehicle fuel as a source of energy. To operate the latter, you need to connect to a 220 volt power grid.

Autonomous pre-heaters

This type of engine pre-heaters is the most functional, since it does not depend on the connection to external energy sources (therefore, they are called autonomous). However, their cost is higher than electric ones. It is rather difficult to install such an engine heating with your own hands, without having the necessary technical skills and sufficient experience. In addition, self-installation of such high-tech devices leads to the loss of the vehicle warranty.

On a note! If the heater is installed in an authorized center, then all warranty obligations remain.

And, despite the rather high cost, such devices are very popular. By analogy with autonomous heating systems for buildings, such devices are sometimes called boilers. Until recently, the most famous manufacturers of these products were the German "Webasto" and "Eberspacher (Hydronic)". But now they are worthy competitors Russian firms: "Binar" and "Teplostar"; and also the Chinese "Belief".

Autonomous heating consists of:

• fuel pump;
• spark plug or glow plug (tungsten or cobalt);
• evaporative burner;
• combustion chambers;
• heat exchanger;
• blower motor;
• coolant inlet and outlet pipes;
• control unit.

The boiler is installed in the engine compartment and built into the vehicle's fuel and cooling systems. The diagram below helps to understand how an autonomous heater works.

When the device is turned on (with a button, a signal from a timer, a remote control unit or a GSM module), the air-fuel mixture enters the combustion chamber and is ignited by a glow plug (or a glow plug). When the mixture burns, the heat exchanger heats up, which leads to heating of the coolant. The pump pumps the antifreeze through the engine and radiator of the standard interior heating system. When the liquid temperature reaches about 60 ° C, the automation unit turns on the interior fan.

The heater "Webasto Thermo Top Evo Start" (5 kW), designed for installation on cars with an engine capacity of up to 5 liters, with a programmable weekly timer and installation parts costs about 25,000 rubles. The remote control unit (range of about 1 km) and the GSM unit (for the possibility of control from a mobile phone) are purchased separately. Installation by a certified dealer will cost no more than 8000 ÷ 10000 rubles.

Passive electric heaters

In Canada and all Scandinavian countries, almost all parking spaces are equipped with sockets where such heaters can be connected.

So far, only a few paid parking lots offer such a service in our country. But, if you live in a private house or keep your car in the garage, then, undoubtedly, this device will greatly facilitate your life in cold weather.

The technically simplest and most economically affordable way to preheat a diesel or gasoline engine before starting in winter is to install an electric heater in place of one of the engine block plugs. Technologically, it is a conventional boiler of a certain size and power. The circulation of the liquid is carried out by gravity (the heated one goes up, and the cold one goes down). The choice of product depends on the specific engine model. Devices are widely represented on the market, practically for all car brands from various manufacturers.

For example, electric preheating of the engine from "DEFA" for the VAZ "ten" with a capacity of 550 W with additional spacers (for better fixation on the inner side of the cylinder block) and a sealing O-ring costs 1,700 ÷ 1,800 rubles. And for "Subaru Forester" a similar device (with a threaded mount) with a power of 600 W from the same manufacturer will cost 2,600 ÷ 2,800 rubles.

Depending on the type of plugs, manufacturers produce such devices both for threaded installation and for pressing. The model is chosen depending on the type of the engine itself.

Having even minimal technical skills, it is quite simple to install such a device for heating an engine from 220 V with your own hands (with a cable and a socket for connection):

• partially drain the coolant (usually 2 ÷ 2.5 liters are enough);
• dismantle the plug on the cylinder block (closest to the central part of the engine to ensure better heating);
• insert a heating element instead;
• we connect the electric cable;

• the outlet for connecting the power supply is either brought out through the radiator grill (for those who are not very worried about the appearance of the car), or we fix it in a convenient place on the front bumper (or under it).

To make it convenient to use such a device, you can additionally set an on / off timer.

Electric heaters with forced circulation of coolant

Electric heaters with a pump (to circulate the heated fluid through the engine and the radiator of the cabin heater) allow the entire engine to warm up evenly. Although these devices are more expensive than passive electrical systems, they are much more efficient. A thermostat built into the housing automatically turns off heating when the liquid temperature reaches 80 ° C.

The installation of such a device is quite simple:

• we drain the coolant;
• we fix the device case;
• we carry out a tie-in into the standard cooling system (between the exit from the cylinder block and the inlet pipe of the cabin radiator);
• fill in coolant.

Russian engine heater from 220 V "Sputnik NEXT" (power from 1.5 to 3 kW, which is chosen depending on climatic conditions of operation and engine size) with a pump and automatic power off costs from 2200 to 3200 rubles.

Having supplemented such a relay device with a temperature sensor to turn on the stove fan, we can count on not only an easy engine start, but also the car interior warmed up to a comfortable temperature.

Flexible thermoplates

The devices considered above, built into the cooling system, do not provide oil heating in engines. This is their significant disadvantage. In severe frosts, even with a well-heated engine, turning the thickened oil is quite problematic. Flexible heating plates for preheating the engine allow you to easily make a homemade device that quickly (in just 20-30 minutes) raises the oil temperature. Technologically, they are a heating element pressed between two layers of silicone. On one side of the plate, an adhesive composition (3M) is applied, on the other is a porous material with good thermal insulation. The power of one heating element is from 60 to 400 W. Such devices are produced for connection to the on-board network of a car with a voltage of 12 or 24 V, or to a household power supply of 220 V. The cost of these products from Hotstart or Keenovo, depending on the size and power, is 2000 ÷ 8000 rubles per piece.

With the help of such devices, it is possible to easily heat the oil pan of the engine or automatic transmission. One plate measuring 127 x 152 mm and 100 W is sufficient for a car with an engine up to 3 liters.

The installation of such products is quite simple:

• we clean the installation site from dirt and paint;
• then remove the protective film and do not forget to glue the plate;
• apply a layer of sealant around the edges;
• we fix the electrical wires and drag them to the connection point.

By installing such plates (with a built-in temperature sensor) on the car's tank and fuel filter, you can create a heating device for the diesel engine fuel system.

The main advantages of such devices are:

• Low power consumption.
• The ability to use for heating a wide variety of components and mechanisms of the car.
• Easy to install (original vehicle systems remain unaffected).
• Autonomy (when using plates with 12 V power supply).

In custody

Which heater is the best to install on the car depends on your personal preferences, financial capabilities and parking space. By installing a heating system from a trusted and well-proven manufacturer, you will not only save time, but also be sure that your car will start even in severe frosts.

Many manufacturers of foreign cars, orienting the sale of their cars on the Russian market, offer models with an installed autonomous pre-heater for the engine and passenger compartment. This option is especially valuable in regions with a long winter operating season. Do not be particularly upset for those motorists whose cars are not equipped with a factory engine preheater. To buy it and install it on any car brand is currently no problem in any region of the country. Here, the more relevant question is how effective this equipment is and whether it is worth the costs that are required to purchase and install it.

For this you need a pre-heater for the engine in winter.

What does a preheater look like and what does it consist of?

Depending on the purpose and principle of operation, the pre-heater can be a device of various dimensions and power used to warm up the engine without cold starting. In addition, it can be used to heat the passenger compartment, windscreen and wipers. Autonomous equipment includes a boiler with a combustion chamber and a radiator, a pipeline system for transferring fuel, pumps that pump fuel and coolant. It also includes a thermal relay that controls the climate system fan, an electronic control unit and a heater start device.

Thermo Top liquid preheater

Types of car preheaters

1. Autonomous engine preheater

By designation and design, autonomous preheaters subdivided into liquid and air types.

Autonomous liquid preheaters

Video: Webasto or Hydronic (Webasto or Hydronic) which is better

Designed for heating both the engine and the passenger compartment. They are called so because they work by burning gasoline or diesel fuel from a car tank. They are mounted in the engine compartment and connected to the engine's liquid cooling system. The heated air is distributed through the internal air ducts of the vehicle. The system is economical in terms of fuel and energy consumption, and does not make a lot of noise during operation. It is used for heating all types of internal combustion engines - gasoline, diesel, LPG and combined.

Autonomous air preheaters for internal combustion engines

Designed for accelerated rise in air temperature only in the passenger compartment. They are installed in the cab of a car and are used mainly in passenger minibuses, camp trailers and kungs, long-range cargo vehicles. They can heat the air in the passenger compartment to a predetermined temperature. They also work quietly and consume a little electricity. In contrast to liquid devices, air devices have large dimensions and performance, so the fuel consumption in them is slightly higher. The most popular in the country are such brands of German-made liquid heaters as Webasto Thermo Top Evo 5 and Eberspasher Hydronic.

The principle of operation of the liquid engine preheater

This is how the autonomous liquid engine heater works.

The device is turned on from a remote control, timer or cell phone. The start pulse, hitting the electronic unit, generates a control signal that supplies the supply voltage to the executive motor. The motor rotates to drive the heater fuel pump and fan. The pump begins to pump fuel into the burner, where a fuel-air mixture is created using an evaporator and a glowing pin.

The combustible mixture blown by the fan is ignited in the combustion chamber with a spark plug. The heat generated by the combustion of the fuel is transferred through the heat exchanger to the working fluid of the engine cooling system. The liquid circulates in the cooling circuit under the action of the preheater booster pump included in this circuit. The heated liquid in the process of circulation transfers the received heat to the engine body.

When the coolant temperature reaches 30 degrees C, the radiator fan of the car's cooling system is automatically activated. begins to enter the salon. When the antifreeze or antifreeze is heated to 72 degrees C, the fuel supply to the burner is reduced by half, and the system switches to a reduced operating mode. The liquid is cooled to 56 degrees and the whole process is repeated cyclically.

By design, the liquid autonomous pre-heater of the engine is similar to a passenger car heater and is a burner on liquid fuel (gasoline or diesel fuel). Even in cost, they differ only slightly, not to mention the principle of operation. However, according to the place of installation and the principle of heating, they are radically different.

In heaters, the burner heats directly the air supplied to the passenger compartment, and in the pre-heater it heats the coolant, which, in turn, heats the engine body and the standard stove. In order for the interior heating to work effectively, one should not forget about setting the stove control knob to the minimum "heat" mode. In this case, the heater control circuit will automatically turn on the fan at the right time, pumping warm air into the passenger compartment through the standard air duct system. The result of this work will be noticeable from a distance, the car windows will be dry and transparent on a frosty morning. It will be warm and cozy in the cab, the wipers do not need to be removed at night, there is an opportunity to sit down and go straight to the road.

A convenient function is the remote control of the operation of the engine preheater. It can be turned on using the button on the car key fob while at home. This must be done at least half an hour before leaving (depending on the frost outside) so that the coolant and the engine have time to warm up to the desired temperature, and the engine starting process went without complications. There are systems with an automatic start from the built-in timer, on which it is necessary to set the desired turn-on time before locking the machine.

2. Electric engine preheater

Device and layout of the electric engine heater

An alternative to the stand-alone system is an electric heater, which is a spiral electric heater inserted into the cylinder block of the power unit and powered by an external 220V power supply. The actuator in this system is a small electric spiral installed in the cylinder block.

When installing the spiral, the anti-ice plug is removed from the cylinder block, and the spiral is mounted instead. Under the influence of high voltage, a current flows through the coil, and it heats the antifreeze. The circulation of the liquid in the cooling system occurs due to natural convection. It is less productive than artificial circulation with a pump and takes much longer. The most prominent representatives of the electric heater are the Defa WarmUp and Leader Severs models.

This installation is most acceptable when parking cars in garages and parking lots equipped with electrical outlets. If you leave the car on the street or in the yard, then you will not need such a heater, since there will be nowhere to connect it. The downside is that it consumes a lot of electricity. To ensure economical operation of the device, it is equipped with a timer that allows you to set the required fluid temperature.

When the set value is crossed, the spiral is automatically turned off or turned on. Accordingly, in this case, the working fluid cools or heats up, which, in the process of convection, keeps the motor warm. The standard options for the electric motor heater are:

• warming up the working fluid in the engine cooling system;
• heating the passenger compartment by supplying warm air through a standard stove;
• battery charge.

The principle of motor heating in an electric heater is the same as in an autonomous system. Heat is also transferred to the motor by heating the working fluid in the cooling system. The difference lies in the heating method using an external power supply. This also makes it possible to apply an additional option - which is especially in demand in winter conditions, when low temperatures contribute to its discharge and a decrease in capacity.

3. Heat accumulators

The principle of operation of heat accumulators is based on the accumulation of hot working fluid in the cooling system and keeping its temperature unchanged for a long time (2 days). In such a system, when the engine is started, hot antifreeze or antifreeze circulates briefly along a shortened circuit, quickly warming up the engine. The classic representatives of such systems are Avtoterm, Gulfstream, UOPD-0.8.

What gives the use of pre-heaters

Professional drivers recognize the presence of an autonomous or electric pre-heater for the engine as a prerequisite for completing a modern car, which guarantees the necessary healthy working conditions during the winter period of operation. For trucks operating in Europe, this principle has been observed for a long time. From the point of view of ensuring driving safety, their use contributes to increased comfort and reduced driver fatigue. Among other things, heaters help to increase the efficiency and durability of motors. This is achieved by:

Video: Engine preheater

1. Reducing the number of "cold" engine starts... It is estimated that, on average, each driver performs between 300 and 500 cold starts per year. At the same time, special studies in this area, carried out by well-known European companies, have found that, in terms of one "cold" start, the use of preheating the engine reduces fuel consumption from 100 to 500 ml. The amount of savings depends on the outdoor temperature and the heating duration. Thus, according to rough estimates, the use of preheating from autonomous heaters allows you to save from 90 to 150 liters of gasoline or diesel fuel in one winter season.

2. Reduction of severe operating conditions that increase engine wear... The overwhelming proportion of engine wear occurs during the start-up period. This is due to the fact that at the moment of a "cold" start, the viscosity of the engine oil is increased and the lubricating properties are reduced. At the same time, the friction of the surfaces of the moving parts is increased and the wear in the connecting rod-crank and piston assemblies is increased. One "cold" start reduces the resource of the power unit by 3-6 hundreds of kilometers. The Russian climate with 100 days a year of freezing temperatures can reduce the engine resource in one season by 80 thousand km.

3. Improving safety and comfort in driving... Cold contributes to increased heat transfer from the body and rapid fatigue. Drowsiness and lethargy increase, and driver alertness decreases. The driving mode is becoming more irrational. In addition, the risk of contracting such occupational diseases as cervical, lumbar osteochondrosis, acute respiratory infections increases.

The portal site tries to find the answer to the question "How to survive the frosts" by installing an autonomous liquid preheating system Eberspaсher on one of the editorial cars.

Domestic car owners solve the problem of cold start of the engine in different ways, up to frankly dangerous ones: I have repeatedly observed a picture when drivers put ... a lighted blowtorch under the crankcase. Some, for example, take less drastic measures by leaving the car unstoped overnight. There are still those who nevertheless decide on a slight revision by installing an electric heating of the engine. But even this is a half measure - the car is rigidly tied to a nearby outlet in the garage or in the parking lot.

But engineers have long come up with a way to forget all these troubles forever by creating an autonomous pre-heater for the engine. Moreover, many car owners know about the existence of such a device, but for some reason they often ignore its installation. But in our northern country, where in some regions winter sometimes lasts seven to eight months, such a thing is not just useful - it is obligatory.

So what is this heater and why is it so good? Let's try to figure it out.

Today, there are two main players on the market: in addition to Eberspaсher, there is also one that is more familiar to domestic motorists. In general, the name "Webasto" in Russia has practically become a household name. However, the choice between the products of the two German firms is not fundamental. And the preference of the editorial staff in favor of the Eberspaсher heater was determined exclusively by a slightly more favorable price.

At its core, this device is a small internal combustion engine that is installed in the engine compartment of a car, connected to the cooling system. Actually, it is not the car engine itself that is heated, but only antifreeze, which the autonomous pump of the device drives along a small circuit of the cooling system through the radiator and the motor.

Autonomy lies in the fact that the heater takes energy for its operation from the same place where the main power unit comes from - from the fuel tank. Moreover, it can work both on gasoline or diesel fuel, and on gas - depending on the selected model of the device. In our case, the Eberspaсher Hydronic 5S petrol five-kilowatt heater was chosen, which was to heat the 2.5-liter engine.

In parallel, the heater control unit turns on the fan of the vehicle's standard heating system and, at the same time, warms the interior through the air vents. As a result, by the time the device ends, the car owner, in any frost, gets into a warm car with defrosted windows and starts the already warm car engine, on which you can immediately hit the road.

The heater can be controlled in three main ways: timer, remote control and mobile phone.

The first option is the most budgetary, but quite effective and convenient. A timer with a small display and a few buttons is usually installed on the front of the car. Using it, you can either turn on the heater immediately, or program it to turn on for a certain time in advance.

The main disadvantage of simple timer models is that each time you need to activate the set time again. That is, if you set the start time at 8.00 am the night before, then the next evening you need to press the power-on confirmation button again at 8.00, and so every time. In more advanced and expensive models of timers, the functionality is significantly expanded: it is possible to program the launch by days of the week and many other options. Average cost of timers: from 2,500 to 8,000 rubles, depending on the model.

A more convenient way to activate the Eberspacher heater is from the remote control, with which the driver can move up to one kilometer from the car. But such a device would cost four times the price of a timer. By functions, the remote control repeats advanced timer models, that is, it allows you to program the start time and operating time in different versions, displays the heater operation modes (including errors that occur), as well as the temperature in the cabin and much more. Average cost of remote controls: about 20,000 rubles.

The most technologically advanced way to turn on the pre-heater is with a mobile phone, when a GSM module is connected to the heater. The main advantage is that the heating can be activated from virtually anywhere in the world where cellular communications are available. The module can be controlled via the voice menu, SMS messages or the Internet. The main drawback: the need to buy a separate SIM card for the heater and make sure that its score is always positive. Average cost of a GSM module with installation: from 10,000 to 18,000 rubles, depending on the model.

Things to remember and know.

1) Depending on the size of the car's engine, pre-heaters differ in power and, accordingly, in price. The larger the engine itself, the more powerful the heater is needed and the more expensive it will be.

2) For a car, the average cost of an Eberspaсher kit (including installation) is from 35,000 to 60,000 rubles, depending on the model chosen and the number of control functions.

3) The average warm-up time of the engine, depending on the ambient air temperature, is from 30 to 60 minutes. As a rule, the heater sets the operating time automatically - as soon as the readings of the engine temperature sensor reach the operating values \u200b\u200b(+75 degrees), the system turns off. On advanced models of timers and remote controls, the operating time can be set manually (up to 120 minutes). All this must be carefully taken into account in order to preset the start time of the heater and not be near a subcooled or cooled car.

4) When choosing the remote control as a control device, you need to pay attention that the signal range of 1000 meters is possible only in the line of sight. Radio interference, electrical wires, building walls, and other obstructions can reduce signal range by two to three times.

5) The pre-heater can be turned on on the fly. For example, in severe frosts when driving on a highway, when it is necessary to help the standard system not to lose precious heat and the efficiency of the interior heating system.

6) The heater takes fuel for its own operation from the car's tank, but the fan is turned on to heat the passenger compartment due to the standard battery. So it is necessary to always monitor not only the amount of fuel in the tank, but also the full charge, otherwise there may simply not be enough energy to start a heated engine.

7) The average fuel consumption of Eberpaсher heaters is 0.5 liters per hour.

8) If an anti-theft device with internal volume sensors is installed in the car, then when the passenger compartment is heated, warm air flows can trigger an alarm.

9) In addition to the comfort that the pre-heater provides, its installation has another important positive quality - an increase in the engine resource. According to some estimates, at negative temperatures it is equivalent to a mileage of 70-100 km.

In general, installing an autonomous pre-heater is a great way to forever forget about the hassle of heating the car, frosty windows, a frozen interior and a cold engine. Yes, the option is not cheap, but in long frosty weather, the comfort and time saving it provides can easily compensate for the investment costs, and in the long term it can save a significant amount of fuel spent on warming up the car without a heater.

The material used photographs from webasto.ru, eberspacher.spb.ru, favorinet.net, khapov.ru, he.ngs.ru, boards.auto.ru

Prestart heaters are a proven solution for car owners who live in regions with cold winters and leave their cars in an open-air parking lot or in garages (hangars) without heating.

The review presents the best models of pre-heaters, the use of which will allow you to avoid huge starting loads of the engine in cold weather and significantly extend its resource. For the convenience of the reader, the information has been structured by typical categories of installations. The position in the rating of each model was formed based on the estimated characteristics of the heaters and feedback from owners with real operating experience.

The best liquid preheaters

The indisputable advantage of liquid fuel heaters is complete independence from other energy sources and the time the machine is in the cold. Prestarting heaters of this type burn the fuel that is in the car's tank. In order for the stove to work properly, there must be a working battery.

3 Binar-5S

The best domestic liquid heater
Country Russia
Average price: 24150 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.9

The domestic company "Teplostar" has developed a whole line of autonomous heaters for gasoline and diesel cars. The Binar 5S Diesel model has ample opportunities. The device can work not only in preheating mode, but also as a reheating device. It is equipped with a GPS modem, which enhances the control of the heater. The model is designed for diesel engines up to 4 liters.

Car owners who decided to supply Binar-5S for engine heating, in their reviews note such advantages of domestic development as compact size, variability of installation and control. The device is notable for its affordable price, high quality workmanship, there is a self-diagnostic function.

2 Webasto Thermo Top Evo 5 petrol

The most popular autonomous heater
Country: Germany
Average price: 50,720 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.9

The heaters of this German concern have become so popular among motorists that the concept of a pre-heater is often replaced by one word Webasto. Many models are designed for specific vehicles. The device can be started by a timer, from a remote control or via a mobile phone. One of the most popular modifications is the Webasto Thermo Top Evo 5 heater, which is perfect for cars, jeeps and minibuses with an engine capacity of no more than 4 liters.

Car owners note the high performance of the device, long and trouble-free operation, and unpretentiousness. The heater is completely autonomous, runs on gasoline and at peak load consumes 0.64 liters (in maintenance mode - almost half as much). In addition, there are many service centers in Russia where you can service and repair the popular Webasto.

The types of preparation of a car for a trip in winter, presented in the table, have both advantages and disadvantages. This allows each owner to choose the option most suitable for the prevailing operating conditions.

1 EBERSPACHER HYDRONIC B4 WS

Excellent combination of price and quality
Country: Germany
Average price: 36,200 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.9

The best liquid autonomous heaters are rightfully considered the Eberspacher models. They combine high quality and value. One of the most common heaters is the Eberspächer Hydronic B4WS 12V. It is installed by many car manufacturers on passenger cars with engines larger than 2 liters. The power of the heater ranges from 1.5 to 4.3 kW. The range includes modifications for gasoline engines, as well as devices for warming up diesel engines.

Consumers note the reliability and durability of the device. It is easy to operate and convenient to use. Due to the widespread distribution of heaters, many car services are engaged in their repair and restoration. Of the minuses, car owners note the high price of the device.

Best Electric Heaters

Electric heaters operating from a 220 V network are distinguished by their ease of installation and low price. The only drawback of the device is the need for a household electrical outlet near the car. The devices are suitable for cars that spend frosty nights in garages or boxes.

3 Longfei 3 kW

The most affordable price
Country: China
Average price: 2350 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.5

The Chinese Longfei pre-heater is designed to raise the temperature of the coolant in a car using a household power supply. One of the most demanded devices was Longfei 3 kW. Heating of the liquid is provided with the help of a heating element, and the pumping of antifreeze along the circuit of the cooling system is carried out thanks to a centrifugal pump. The device requires a 220 V power supply. The heater can be installed on any cars and trucks. The model is equipped with a thermostat, which allows you to maintain the specified temperature of the coolant.

Buyers speak flatteringly about products from the Middle Kingdom. The only drawback is the short cord. But the device can be independently installed under the hood, it has small dimensions and weight.

2 Satellite NEXT 1.5 kW with pump

Optimal ratio of quality and price
Country Russia
Average price: 2550 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.6

An excellent inexpensive solution for heating the engine of a passenger car or minibus. It is possible to install Sputnik NEXT on your own - a simple integration scheme into the engine cooling system has it. Due to the forced circulation, even in severe frosts, the temperature of the antifreeze rises above zero.

Owners find this model to be a worthy alternative to more expensive pre-launch engine heaters. Judging by the reviews, the equipment performs its function quite effectively. The presence of simple automation will not overheat the antifreeze above the permissible limits (95 ° C), but will temporarily turn off the heater. The device is simple and unpretentious in operation, and in maintenance it requires minimal time expenditures. Thanks to the circulation, partial heating of the passenger compartment is also achieved (dash and windshield area).

1 Severs + with pump 2 kW

Easy to install. Mechanical timer
Country Russia
Rating (2019): 4.8

Domestic manufacturer CJSC "Leader" produces pre-heaters under the Severs brand. The new generation device is the 2 kW Severs + model equipped with a pump. This design provides fast and uniform heating of the coolant, both in passenger cars and trucks. The manufacturer has equipped the device with a thermostat, overheating protection, which makes its operation comfortable and safe.

Motorists can easily cope with the installation of the heater, the kit contains detailed instructions. It is very convenient to set up the switching on of the device using a daily mechanical timer.

Best fuel heaters

One of the main problems of a diesel car in winter is fuel waxing. The lower the temperature, the more the diesel oil thickens, clogging the pores of the filter. An effective way to maintain fluidity is to install a fuel heater.

3 ATK PT-570

Most economical
Country Russia
Average price: 4702 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.6

A reliable heater will prevent diesel fuel waxing in severe frosts and will allow you to continue driving, regardless of weather conditions. Powered by the vehicle's cooling system and requires little or no maintenance. The injection into the fuel line can be carried out by an experienced driver on his own - the procedure is not at all complicated and will require a minimum of time.

The owners in their reviews highlight the simplicity of the equipment, the absence of the need to connect to the vehicle's on-board network. With this heater it becomes possible to use summer diesel fuel at temperatures down to -40 ° C. In addition, the heated fuel enters the tank and further along the system moves in a heated state without forming paraffin crystals, which increases the service life of the lines. In addition, significant savings (up to 10%) of fuel are achieved, and drivers value the PT-570 fuel heater most of all for this.

2 EPTF-150 Y (YaMZ)

Best Fuel Filter Heater
Country Russia
Average price: 1305 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.9

Based on the experience of domestic motorists, NPP Platan has produced a series of fuel filter heaters. This device prevents the formation of paraffin in the filter element of diesel cars. Thanks to the heating of the fuel in the filter, it is possible not only to facilitate engine start-up, but also to slightly expand the limit of the use of diesel fuel towards lower temperatures. One of the effective models is EPTF-150 Ya (YaMZ). The device is mounted inside the fuel filter, which ensures fast diesel warming up.

Motorists respond positively to the efficiency of the heater. Even a frozen filter, a semiconductor heater can warm up in 5-10 minutes. The device continues to provide filterability of diesel fuel while the car is in motion.

1 NOMAKON PP-101 12V

The best instantaneous fuel heater
Country: Belarus
Average price: 4700 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.9

Simple and effective devices for heating diesel fuel were created by Belarusian developers from the Nomacon company. One of the most popular devices was the Nomakon PP-101. It crashes into the fuel line, and heating comes from the on-board network. The heater can be controlled automatically or manually. Before starting the engine, it is enough to briefly turn on the heating for 5-10 minutes to ensure the filterability of the diesel fuel. When the car is moving, the device is powered from the generator.

Consumers note the unpretentiousness and durability of the device. It is easy to install it under the hood yourself, following the manufacturer's recommendations.

The best cabin heaters

This category presents the best devices that will allow the owner to forget what it means to get behind the wheel of a frozen car. The heaters will provide not only comfortable operation in the winter months, but also save the owner's most precious resource - time.

3 Calix Slim Line 1400 w

High quality equipment
Country: Sweden
Average price: 7537 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.8

The device does not have a mode of operation and is automatically regulated according to the temperature indicators of the interior air. The heater does an excellent job and is the optimal solution for most passenger cars and small crossovers. The device has a special stand and can be placed anywhere in the cabin (as a rule, it is placed in the area of \u200b\u200bthe central armrest or in the driver's seat).

The heater is easy to operate and has overheating and short circuit protection. In their reviews, the owners note the rather compact dimensions of the device and its high efficiency. The automatic control of the heater is also positively noted - there is no fear that with prolonged use the air in the cabin will be unacceptably overheated.

2 DEFA Termini 2100 (DEFA connector) 430060

The most powerful electric heater
Country: Norway
Average price: 9302 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.8

An excellent solution for heating the interior of a large passenger car, jeep and even a truck cab. The electric heater is connected to a conventional 220 Volt network and has two heating modes. The built-in fan circulates air in the passenger compartment and heats up quickly. It is possible to use it together with the engine preheater systems of this company and remotely control it via the SmartStart console.

The owners, who decided to install DEFA Termini heaters in their cars, are more than satisfied - the cold steering wheel and frozen glass from the inside are a thing of the past. Thanks to the built-in sensors, the interior air will be warmed up to a comfortable level, and with a further rise in temperature, an automatic shutdown occurs (55 ° C inside the device). Judging by the reviews, this device cannot be compared with ceramic heaters powered by the on-board network (their power is clearly not enough to fully warm up the car interior).

1 Teplostar PLANAR-44D-24-GP-S

The best interior heating
Country Russia
Average price: 23,900 rubles.
Rating (2019): 5.0

The device is an autonomous system that runs on diesel fuel, and is a more affordable analogue of Webasto heaters. It can be installed on any type of transport - it perfectly warms up the interior from a passenger car to a minibus, and also copes with heating the body space in small cargo vans.

In the reviews of the owners, the compactness of the equipment is noted. Installation is quite simple and can be done on your own. When installed on vehicles with a gasoline engine, a small fuel tank is required. The presence of a remote control is also positively noted, with which you can adjust the temperature of the cabin. At maximum power (4 kW), the PLANAR-44D will consume a little less than 0.5 liters of fuel per hour. With conventional heating or a small size, the car consumption will be only 0.12 liters of diesel fuel per hour.

An engine preheater will allow the owner of a car equipped with such a device to save a lot of time, nerves and energy with the arrival of cold weather. If you are faced with the task of choosing and installing an engine preheater for your car, we are ready to help you understand this issue.

An engine heater is a necessary attribute of a car that is operated in a harsh winter. In this article, we will consider the types of preheaters, their strengths and weaknesses, and also give recommendations for installation, connection and operation.

You can watch a video instruction on installing a 220V pump pre-heater for an engine at the bottom of this page.

Of course, in our country there are enough craftsmen who are able to make a pre-heater with their own hands. But we strongly recommend not to engage in "amateur performances", but to give preference to high-quality factory products from manufacturers who have positive reviews from motorists.

First, let's define what an engine preheater is. This is a special device that heats up the liquid in the car's cooling system (antifreeze) and makes it easier to start the engine at low temperatures.

The need for pre-heating disappears if the car constantly spends the night in a warm garage, as well as if the winter in the region is mild and the temperature rarely drops below -5 ° C.

Prestarting heaters fundamentally differ in design options and power sources, and are divided into two categories:

1. Electric engine preheaters are devices powered by an external power source. They are simple, so they have a low cost, and they are usually connected to a regular household outlet with a voltage of 220V.
2. Autonomous engine preheaters have a more complex design, and their price is noticeably higher than for electric ones. They are powered either from the vehicle's fuel system or have their own fuel tank.

Electric engine pre-heaters

The electric engine pre-heater is quite simple. Its design is a tungsten coil placed in a cylinder block. The heater is connected to an ordinary 220V socket, as a result of which the coil heats up and heats up the coolant.

Depending on the complexity and price, the electric pre-heater can be equipped with additional options:

• device for recharging the battery;
• fan;
• timer-thermostat;
• remote control.

The price of a 220V electric engine heater largely depends on the presence or absence of certain functions.

The disadvantages of electric engine heaters include high power consumption. Do not be surprised if, in just one night, the heater winds up an additional 10 kWh on the meter.

As for manufacturers, the most demanded in our country is the products of a Norwegian company. Defa.

Autonomous engine pre-heaters

An autonomous engine preheater is much more convenient than an electric one, since it does not tie the driver to a 220V outlet. Its principle of operation is based on the idea of \u200b\u200bnatural fluid circulation (thermosyphon).

This means that the antifreeze warmed up in it rises up (according to the law of physics about a decrease in the density of the heated substance), leaves the heater and enters the engine cooling system. There it cools down and enters the heater again. This is how a closed cycle is formed.

For the first time such mechanisms appeared in Scandinavia and some other northern countries. Gradually, they got to Russia. The main task of this technique is to maintain a constant temperature of the antifreeze at about 20 ° C.

Installation of an autonomous heater is carried out in one of 2 ways:

1. Connecting to the car power supply system;
2. Connection to the cooling system.

The engine type (petrol or diesel) does not play any role.

The principle of operation of the autonomous engine heater is quite simple:

• an air-fuel mixture is fed into a small combustion chamber, which is subsequently ignited by a candle;
• the hollow walls of the combustion chamber are a heat exchanger (antifreeze circulates through them);
• as a result of fuel combustion, the antifreeze in the heat exchanger is heated to the required temperature;
• after heating, the pump supplies warm antifreeze to the small circuit of the engine cooling system.

The advantage of an autonomous engine heater is that, in addition to making it easier to start the engine, it provides almost instantaneous heating of the car interior, as well as defrosting of the windows. Installation of such an installation is possible in almost any convenient place under the hood.

The most popular manufacturers of autonomous heaters are companies Webasto and Eberspacher... They manufacture heaters for both diesel engines and gasoline engines.

In addition to standard functions, the list of available options for stand-alone models includes:

• timer-thermostat;
• remote control;
• control connection to a mobile phone.

DIY engine preheater

Is it possible to make an engine preheater with your own hands? The video below shows just one of these homemade products.

The fact that many do not want to spend money on installing an electric heating of the engine and intend to do it on their own is not surprising. Russia has never complained about the lack of self-taught inventors, so there are many examples of such crafts.

Homemade heaters are made from a variety of materials. Most often, at home, they try to warm up the engine with devices:

• blowtorch-based;
• from a tungsten spiral;
• from wire, and other improvised means.

All home-made engine heaters have two big drawbacks - they are fire hazard (cases when cars and garages have caught fire because of such devices are not isolated) and their low efficiency. So it is better not to save on the purchase of a high-quality pre-heater.

You can install the engine preheater with your own hands, since this process does not require any special knowledge and skills. Of course, a visit to a car service is always preferable, because there the whole range of work will be performed by professionals who will save time and also give a guarantee for work.

If you do not want to take money to the station or there is no way to stay without a car for a while, you can install the engine heater yourself (usually the installation instructions are included).

Video instruction for installing an electric 220V heater with your own hands, see below. The installation procedure for the heater is as follows:

1. Draining antifreeze (it must be drained to 2 liters);
2. Disconnecting the stove pipes from the engine cooling system;
3. Installation of a heater and its connection to the system;
4. Assembly (you need to tighten the unscrewed nuts);
5. Pouring antifreeze.

The whole process will take no more than 2-3 hours.

The advantages of installing an engine preheater are obvious:

• noticeable extension of the motor's resource;
• saving fuel on engine warming up;
• saving time;
• environmental protection.

By the way, if you don't have an engine heater installed yet, you can read some simple tips on how to start your car in frosty weather.

Video instructions for installing a 220V engine heater from "Longfei"