Block heater or frost heater...anyone have one?

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if any of you have a block heater or a frost heater on your TDI. I read on the forum that the canadian cars came with the frost heater. Ihave no idea if my 2003 TDI has this. Dont even know where to look or if it would have a plug like a traditional block heater.

If someone has one...if you could post some pics that would be great.

Thanks.

No A4 Jetta's came with a block heater from the factory. Most folks retro fit in a frost heater per se. You will see this fitted in line with the oil cooler. Have a search on the forums and take a look. Canadian Tire and Partsource sell the frost heater.

Thats great that Canadian Tire sells them. There is one just a couple of mins from my place. Might have to go check it out.

Thanks.

To be clear, Canadian Tire sells coolant heaters, like this Temco unit:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...3295P/Circulation+Engine+Heater.jsp?locale=en

To be used on our TDIs you will also need to fab a mounting bracket and track down a specific hose that goes in place of one of the existing oil cooler hoses.

You can also buy an actual Frostheater, which is a complete kit including the coolant heater, the bracket, the specific hoses and clamps, etc, from Terry:

www.frostheater.com


All depends on how much DIY you want to do.

It's also worth noting that "frostheater" is a great search term to use here... hundreds and hundreds of threads on this, the pros and cons of rolling your own, etc etc etc.

Cool. Thanks for the clarification. I checked out the 'frost heater' and it seems like they have done a great job withe the product and installation instructions. I wonder if the Canadian Tire unit has GOOD clear instructions.

hoorders said:

Cool. Thanks for the clarification. I checked out the 'frost heater' and it seems like they have done a great job withe the product and installation instructions. I wonder if the Canadian Tire unit has GOOD clear instructions.

Click to expand...

No instructions . Great diy on the forums , many posts on this topic in the ontario section .

I've done the CT one and its not that hard, but didn't fit as nice as the Frostheater .
My recomendation , spend the little more on the Frostheater you won't regret it .

Yes, I think the Frostheater one is the way to go. Will order one this week.

It's febuary...worst is over now...haven't plugged in once this winter, that is probably it...

craig01b said:

It's febuary...worst is over now...haven't plugged in once this winter, that is probably it...

Click to expand...

Been using the frostheater on my 01 religiously, but it stays outside .
My wife's Golf resides in the garage , and has been fine with out it as it's been sitting on the bench.


Added the FrostHeater I had on the bench into the Golf today .. Did the ThermoStat and Temp Sensor so I got everything done while the coolant was drained .

Was doing good .. had caught all the coolant .. even when I pulled the oil cooler line for the FrostHeater . Then I pulled the temp sensor and had Niagara Falls off the back of the motor (first time changing one) .. DOH!! good thing I keep a good amount of absorball on hand ..

I'm still amazed the golf has an intact factory belly pan and sides .

Temp gauge is now pegged at 90 degrees and blowing lots more heat .. was reading 60 degrees at operating temp in VCDS.

hoorders said:

Cool. Thanks for the clarification. I checked out the 'frost heater' and it seems like they have done a great job withe the product and installation instructions. I wonder if the Canadian Tire unit has GOOD clear instructions.

Click to expand...

Identical heating units (They are Temro), only difference is the custom hoses with the 'Frostheater' kits...

....and the laser cut bracket that fits perfectly on the base of the battery box,and the loom for both hoses, and the detailed instructions, and the over-the-phone support, and the bag of M&Ms

Not affiliated with Frostheater in any way BTW...just a happy customer. I have two Jettas and have tried both approaches...like I say...it all hinges on how much DIY you are comfortable with.

Vince Waldon said:

....and the laser cut bracket that fits perfectly on the base of the battery box,and the loom for both hoses, and the detailed instructions, and the over-the-phone support, and the bag of M&Ms
Not affiliated with Frostheater in any way BTW...just a happy customer. I have two Jettas and have tried both approaches...like I say...it all hinges on how much DIY you are comfortable with.

Click to expand...

.....and the extra what.... $70? You forgot to mention that.

Regardless of what kit the OP goes with, a coolant heater is the best thing you can do for your TDI in the winter.

Im definitely going to check out the unit Canadian Tire has. Im pretty handy and can fab up brackets, etc no problem. So if I can save some $$$ might just go with the Canadian Tire one.

hoorders said:

Im definitely going to check out the unit Canadian Tire has. Im pretty handy and can fab up brackets, etc no problem. So if I can save some $$$ might just go with the Canadian Tire one.

Click to expand...

The brackets that come with the retail Temro kit are fine... It's a dead easy install.. Hang it off the battery bracket, splice into the lower oil cooler hose, then back into the hose below the vac pump. Simple stuff.

A less complicated option is an oil pan warmer. I have one on the '99.5. Just starred using it a couple of weeks ago and it's great.

Went to check out the units at Canadian Tire and they have 750watt - 1000watt and 1500watt ones. Im thinking of just going with the 75owatt one simply because its the less expensive of the 3.....and I think the n750watt will be fine to warm the coolant.

Most people run the 1000-1500W units. 3hrs with each is all that's needed.

Don't forget to remove the check valve if you are buying the round one. The square ones don't have check valves, but supply of those are very low, so might not find one at your local CT?

Wingnut said:

Don't forget to remove the check valve if you are buying the round one. The square ones don't have check valves, but supply of those are very low, so might not find one at your local CT?

Click to expand...

The CT units are too tall for most TDI installations.

imo000 said:

A less complicated option is an oil pan warmer. I have one on the '99.5. Just starred using it a couple of weeks ago and it's great.

Click to expand...

Remove the oil pan heater ASAP!!! They are KNOWN to cause many FIRES on the TDI!!!! Besides, the TDI requires a full synthetic oil anyway, which flows easily in very cold temperatures.

Volkswagen even stopped selling them over 10 years ago!

red golf tdi said:

The CT units are too tall for most TDI installations.

Click to expand...

CT sells the EXACT same Temro Zerostart you use in your 'FrostHeater' kits..

red golf tdi said:

Remove the oil pan heater ASAP!!! They are KNOWN to cause many FIRES on the TDI!!!! Besides, the TDI requires a full synthetic oil anyway, which flows easily in very cold temperatures.

Volkswagen even stopped selling them over 10 years ago!

Click to expand...

n rare cases, they are known to cause fire if the belly pan is installed and the heater falls off the oil pan and lands on it. I don't have a belly pen, so all is well.

LNXGUY said:

CT sells the EXACT same Temro Zerostart you use in your 'FrostHeater' kits..

Click to expand...

Maybe yes, maybe no. The part number for the Canadian Tire Zerostart heaters is based on the wattage. But it does not differentiate between round or square units. So, when you get one from CT, it could be either. You can't specify between the 2 shapes based on a product number. Some CT's will have square ones, some will have round ones.....same part number. Or at least that was the way it used to be. Maybe they have updated their system? The bottom picture has 2 different units purchased from the same CT with the same CT product number, but that was several years ago.

The square ones have a shorter height between the inlet & outlet, which might make instalation easier. However, one drawback to the square ones is the power cord is not replacable like the round ones. If you have ever forgot to unplug your cord before driving off, it helps to have the ability to replace the cord. I have installed both types in MKIV ALH cars. I cannot comment on Passats or newer Golf/Jettas. The round ones may be too tall for those????



Side by side:

FYI...Frost heater brand kits are available In Canada if you want to get it faster and know upfront what the costs will be (stuff from the US takes longer and is hit & miss if you get charged depending on the method of delivery and the mood of the customs agent.

Check out Roseland Technical Services:

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/roseland/VWPartsA4.htm

LNXGUY said:

CT sells the EXACT same Temro Zerostart you use in your 'FrostHeater' kits..

Click to expand...

Ahhh nope CT can't get industrial / commercial heaters, only the taller consumer units.

Like I said, most TDI applications.

red golf tdi said:

Ahhh nope CT can't get industrial / commercial heaters, only the taller consumer units.
Like I said, most TDI applications.

Click to expand...

So the Temro units you use in your FrostHeater kits aren't the same as the square versions Nigel posted above?

Wingnut said:

FYI...Frost heater brand kits are available In Canada if you want to get it faster and know upfront what the costs will be (stuff from the US takes longer and is hit & miss if you get charged depending on the method of delivery and the mood of the customs agent.

Check out Roseland Technical Services:

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/roseland/VWPartsA4.htm

Click to expand...

Damn I wish I'd seen this sooner. I ordered from the States. Oh well.

I've dealt with Roseland before - fast and friendly, great service.

imo000 said:

n rare cases, they are known to cause fire if the belly pan is installed and the heater falls off the oil pan and lands on it. I don't have a belly pen, so all is well.

Click to expand...

Plan on replacing your turbo actuator regularly if you run without a belly pan in winter - salt makes short work of them.

Simon

P2B said:

Plan on replacing your turbo actuator regularly if you run without a belly pan in winter - salt makes short work of them.

Simon

Click to expand...

No worries there either. The on there is a reaurected rustes old one anyways. It's leaking but still ok for now. I've read all abput the merits of not having a belly pan in the winter and yet, my '00 had 525K km on the original actuator and was missing the pan for the last 4 years of it's life. The actuator worked perfectly when I sold the car last summer. This is the same car that had the origonal fuel filter that it came with from the assembly line.

imo000 said:

No worries there either. The on there is a reaurected rustes old one anyways. It's leaking but still ok for now. I've read all abput the merits of not having a belly pan in the winter and yet, my '00 had 525K km on the original actuator and was missing the pan for the last 4 years of it's life. The actuator worked perfectly when I sold the car last summer. This is the same car that had the origonal fuel filter that it came with from the assembly line.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I have a 30-year old Bravo that just won't die despite years of abuse and neglect, but for the most part I believe care and maintenance pays back in reliability and longevity.

I don't take the Bravo more than a 1/2 hour's walk from the cottage

Simon