Best way to heat a car when it's cold outside?
Rona Lachat
Best way? Wait about 30 seconds to a minute to turn fan on if you have a recirculating feature use it. The car heating features do not activate instantly at engine start. It takes a few seconds for the radiator water to flow through the system. Easiest is to invest in a radiator water line heater similar to a block heater for the oil pan. This heater keeps the radiator fluid warm and you have instant heat when you start. Cost is less than $100 can be used as a substitute for a block heater or as a supplement for extreme cold Not very expensive useful where it gets extremely cold. 0 F is not extremely cold.
paul h
Your engine warms up quicker when driving so I usually leave the heater off and drive for several minutes for the engine to warm up enough to run the heater. Crack a window open a bit to keep from frosting up the windshield from your breath. Or let the car run while parked for several+ minutes before getting in and driving so you have a pre-heated car right away. Mine has a remote starter feature which is nice for that. In really cold sub zero temps that we're having, it's also a good idea to place a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator to restrict the airflow somewhat which also helps it warm up faster and stay warmer while driving. Cut a piece of stiff cardboard from a box about 1/3-1/2 the size of the radiator and place it in front of the radiator lower section. Just remember to remove it when the air temps get warmer again.
Anonymous
I turn the heat on but I leave the fan on low until i start to feel warm air. No point blowing more cold air in my face.
Big Mike
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Robert M
Modern Cara aRE MADE TO start AND DRIVE AWAY! a block heater MAKES HEATING easyAND i NEVER HEARD OF THIS coolant hose HEATER, BUT IT should WORK FINE! mY OLD benz IS WARM AFTER ABOUT four MINUTES ON THE ROAD MOST TIMES! cHECK THE thermostat AND USE only THE FACTORY coolant UNLESS IT IS A gm ENGINE! thERE USE TOYOTA coolant!. BYE for now!
thebax2006
If I don't start the motor and let the vehicle run for several minutes to warm up first I set the blower fan on a low speed and heat setting on HI and put the air flow to recirculate for the first 5 minutes of driving. Then turn the air intake to outside air. leaving the air intake on recirculate will cause the windows to fog up from the humidity of your breath.
Lily
Use the air conditioning of the car, slowly increase the temperature.
Peter
Just start your car and drive it slowly first to warm up your car, no need to idle it.
Anonymous
Turn the heater on after about a minute. If you turn it on right away, all you will get is cold air. The engine thermostat is closed when the car is cold and the engine will provide heat quickly.
Dimo
Old school, like in Detroit in the '50's -- start up the car, put the heat on, go back to the house for 15 minutes.
Anonymous
no
Anonymous
Take your key, put it in the hole, twist it, car starts and then wait for car to warm up, THEN u put in drive and you get all the heat u want, enjoy.