Anyway to warm up faster?

[Marky]

Hey Motors!

Car newbie here... I recently got a new van for work - It is without air con and so it takes almost 10 minutes of driving before I get any decent heat out of it, and with it getting colder in the mornings now (And me, admittedly, being a bit of a wimp when it comes to cold weather in the morning ), I thought I'd ask the question...

Is there anyway to get the van to heat up quicker?

Anything I can buy or add I would be happy to do, within financial reasoning

Muchos Gracias

Marky

 

[Marky]

Rev the absolute bejesus out of it everywhere you go for the first 5 minutes, don't use anything higher than second gear

Hehe I did think of this - but I don't want to wake my neighbours up every morning by revving the **** out of it

For a van the obvious solution would be an auxiliary diesel burning heater, such as a Webasto or Eberspacher. These are like small space heaters that tap into the fuel line and blow hot air pretty much instantly. These are commonly used for camper vans etc.

By the way, the vast majority of air conditioning systems in cars can only cool air (since the condenser, the bit that gets hot, is mounted in behind the grill in front of the radiator). You don't get warm air any quicker by switching it on.

The cheap option is to eat a few pies, buy a decent jacket and MTFU.

Hmm I'll definitely have to look into the burning heater - Does it use a lot of fuel?

Leave it running overnight.

It's a van so firstly is it open or does it have a bulkhead ? No bulkhead then block it up even if you only use a curtain.
Secondly, Buy a steering lock then go out & start it 5 mins before you leave but put the heater on cold, Once you get in then turn heater to hot & thrash the ******* off it.

It has a bulkhead which is like a grid so I could push my hand through and reach into the back. Why do you put the heater on cold before putting it over to hot?

 

[Marky]

YOU'RE SO HUNKY!

Bit of an odd place to post your affection... But thanks man... :/

if you're filling the heater matrix with warm water that the engine has warmed... you are taking the warmth away from the engine.

Sticking it on cold for a few minutes will let the water heat up quicker

Aaahhhh right Today I learnt Thanks bud

 

[Marky]

helps demist though

is the van likely to have a faulty stat?

my e36 is up to water temp within about a minute of driving (oil temp takes longer though), a new stat can do wonders

I don't think so - it's almost brand new!

Not mine

Tell me your secrets!

 

[Marky]

Block heater or something like this: http://www.directcarparts.co.uk/pro...r-heater---12v-x-200w-ceramic-car-heater.html

I quite like the look of something like this! I could run out and turn it on in the morning for 10 minutes and hopefully it'll all be toasty

Thanks for the link!

 

[Marky]

61 plate Kangoo. 0-Toasty in a few minutes

Hehe nice Mine is a 61 plate also but it's a VW Caddy

fixed
http://www.google.co.uk/products/ca...a=X&ei=EWhbUKf6OYPO0QW5p4GACA&ved=0CHkQ8wIwAA

Draper 39038 34,000 Btu (10kw) 230V Propane Mix Space Heater

Do you know how much of a fuel guzzler this is? I don't have to pay for the fuel of course but I don't think they'd like it if I shoved this in and it drank fuel a lot more

 

[Marky]

That's good to know then as I'm due a new van in a few months and was going to go for a Caddy. I won't if it doesn't have bluetooth and takes an age to warm up!

To be fair to VW - I have the basic of all basic models - you can go for the model that has the Bluetooth and air con. It's a really comfortable ride - I really can't fault it at the moment - apart from the cold

 

[Marky]

It's only going to get worse too

Haha I know! I'm not looking forward to the Winter months coming up That's sort of why I'm preparing now - It's cold now, but it'll be super cold in December/January time

Hot water bottle down your pants should do it.

Oooo yeaaah