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BLOCK HEATER IN A SUPERCHARGED CAR?!?!!?

  • I have an 07 cobalt ss sc, when i bought the car i asked if it had a block heater (like i do any other car) the sales guy said yes of course. Later i find out there is no block heater so i go back and tell them, they tell me that my car doesnt need a block heater and it will be just fine. This morning i get up it is about -22C outside and my car doesnt start. (i live in canada) So i call the dealership again and talk to another guy, he informs me NOT to get a block heater because it will wreck the supercharger. Is this true? He said something about how the block heater causes the oil to get warm and that is what will do the damage. He instructed me to pick up a battery blanket and put that on it. So now im talking to my friend who's taking some mechanic classes or something and i tell him and he says that they're pissing around with me; and that a block heater will not do anything to the supercharger. Does anyone have any advice? should i or should i not put a block heater in my car!!! Imo i'd think it would be better instead of just having a warm battery... isnt it hard on everything to start really cold? It gets to -40C where i live...

  • Answer:

    Go back to the dealer, politely ask them to install the block heater which should have been installed in the first place, its a dealer installed item and the cost including installation is $70-$100. If they don't oblige, talk to the manager, be firm. Supercharger has nothing to do with a block heater, the block heater will never get the coolant to the temperature it is when the car is running, it will just make the car able to start in very cold weather. If anything a block heater will extend your supercharger life, by getting it operating temperature sooner, which means you have full lubrication sooner as well. Don't forget to go with synthetic oil if you already are not using it, makes cold starts easier, protects the engine with the hot running supercharger.

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usually block heaters are inserted in to a coolant jacket so that it warms the coolant and that warms the block and oil i have never heard of block heaters doing damage to superchargers or turbochargers i really dont see as how a block heater would damage the supercharger even with warm oil in it. i could see how cold oil would damage a supercharger faster then a warm oil but i am a heavy equipment mechanic what do i know lol

wrenchbender19

The salesman you talked to is what's known as a bullshitter. Sounds like he dispenses it freely. A block heater is placed in the water jacket and warms the coolant which also keeps the oil warm. There is one made that replaces the dipstick and warms only the oil but it isn't very effective. In Alaska they sometimes put in two block heaters as it can get to -70F. Warming the coolant makes it much easier for the engine to turn and start. Warming the battery is also a good idea as a cold battery won't have as much cranking power as a warm one. Neither action will hurt a super charger. If I were you I'd find a new dealership to do business with.

mustanger

I live in South Dakota and have never plugged any of my vehicles in and have never had a starting problem caused by them being too cold. Although it won't hurt any vehicle to have one on it. They are installed in a water jacket warming the coolant. It won't get as warm as it does while running, but it will be easier to start. First thing you need to do is smack the guy at the dealership upside the head and then tell then to install the block heater that they told you was on the car in the first place!

outsider_27

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