The heater of a cooling liquid automobile. How to install a coolant heater

Running the engine "on cold" is a serious test for any of its systems. Cold start is equal to several tens of kilometers in difficult conditions. Also, the driver and the passengers of the car are not very comfortable. So, for all those who live in the cold regions of our country, we do not need a leather salon and various options, but a coolant heater. The installation of such a device can significantly prolong the life of the power unit, save a decent amount of money on fuel, because the cold engine consumes significantly more. These devices have become very common in the armed forces. Practically on each military machine were installed heating boilers, which, according to the principle of operation, and also in their function, were very similar to heaters for coolants.

Advantages of these heaters

These devices are widely used because of their merits. The coolant heater has a simple device and can cool the coolant even in severe frosts. In addition, the device heats the coolant long before the engine is started.

Between the elements of the power unit and the coolant, a uniform heat exchange takes place. Parts that work in the cylinder-piston group are not subject to wear during cold start. These devices provide a stable start-up even in very severe frosts.

Thanks to these heaters, it is possible to significantly reduce the load on the starter and other nodes that participate in the launch. Significantly reduces fuel consumption. The coolant heater has other possibilities: it can be used to heat the interior or melt the ice on the windows of the machine.

Types of equipment

There are fuel heaters, electric and thermal. Let's consider each of them. Each group of equipment has its own characteristics and features. Any heater is multifunctional.

Fuel preheater

Thus, fuel devices are probably the most popular among car owners. Their work is based on the energy that is generated during the combustion of fuel. The plus of this group of heaters is full autonomy. The heater not only heats the coolant, but also makes the temperature of the air in the passenger compartment comfortable. Among the most famous manufacturers are Webasto, Teplostar, Eberspacher.

How does a fuel heater work?

According to the principle of operation, it is a stove operating on diesel fuel or gasoline. A special pump pumps fuel from the tank into the combustion chamber, where the mixture is prepared with air. Then the mixture is ignited with a ceramic pin, which is heated from a small current.

The coolant is heated when passing through the heat exchanger. When it warms up to 30 degrees, the interior ventilation will turn on. When the coolant is heated to 70 degrees, the car coolant heater will run at half its capacity.

Many instruments have a special summer regime. These devices are included in various methods. So, a simple and affordable way is a timer that can be programmed. If the schedule of trips is unstable, then remote control is provided through the console or GSM-module. For those who choose autonomy, this is an excellent choice.

Electric heaters

The electric coolant heater is also popular with car owners. The device is operated by an alternating current from external networks. Often, the equipment is connected to 220 V networks. But the equipment starts to come out from 12 V. It is more economical. Such 12-volt devices can be found more often in northern Europe than in our country. The advantage is that the 220 V coolant heater does not emit any harmful substances into the atmosphere. The electric current is completely harmless.

These devices are noiseless, affordable and have a high heating rate. The device is somewhat like a boiler from the outlet. This device is connected either in the cylinder block or in the nozzles of the car cooling system . This group of equipment performs three functions - heats the coolant, heats the air in the car's interior, charges the battery. In general, work from 220 V is a feature of these devices. Among the well-known manufacturers are Defa and domestic companies "Leader", "Severs". The same can be said about the coolant heater 12V. However, it does not charge the battery, and you can power the device from the cigarette lighter.

Principle of operation

The principle of operation of these devices is similar to the operation of the boiler. It is believed that to create a real comfort base kit may not be enough. So, you need to purchase an additional module with a fan for heating the cabin. Also, you need a device to charge the battery, if you use a device under 12 V.

If it is not always convenient to turn the heating system on and off in the cold, it is possible to equip the heater with a remote control or a timer. But the price of such a set will be significantly different from the base one. Among the available models, it is possible to distinguish the coolant heater "Severs-M" - almost analogous to the Norwegian Defa. This is an excellent choice, which does not depend on the battery charge level, does not consume fuel, has an affordable price in the base configuration.

Heat accumulator

Finally, the last kind - thermal heaters, or batteries. They are also on the market just recently. They are very effective, but not too popular. As well as electrical equipment, this coolant heater is powered by 220 V. However, its function is not to heat the coolant, but to store it already heated. The device performs several functions. So, the heat energy is stored, stored, used for heating.

How it works?

This is a thermos bottle. In it, the liquid is contained in the same volume as in the cooling system of the car. While the engine is running, the liquid in the tank is constantly changing and thus maintains a constant supply of hot coolant. Before the engine is started, the cold antifreeze changes from place to place with the hot pump. Literally in 15 seconds, the hot coolant will appear in the cooling system of the machine.

The main thing when working with these systems is the regular operation of the car. In the conditions of the Moscow winters, the warm antifreeze can keep the temperature to three days, however, it is recommended to store hot liquid every day in severe frost.

Heater of a cooling liquid the hands

If buying a branded device is an expensive pleasure, then there are schemes with which you can do the same yourself. It will be an electrical device. There are many different options. For a heating element, you can take a small cut off pipe with a wall thickness of 0.8 mm, nozzles 20 mm in size, metal in sheets, nichrome spiral and pump from "GAZel".

First, the pipe is sawed off. The length of the segment should be about 80 mm. From a metal with a thickness of 1 mm, it is necessary to cut the plates along the inner diameter of the tube. Also cut two more plates.

The whole difficulty lies in the manufacture of the heat exchanger. Do it recommend using a welding machine. You can also just bake. For insulation, asbestos can be applied in sheets. It is put in the heat exchanger from two sides.

The spiral is cut so that its resistance is 2.5 to 4 ohms. The lower the resistance, the more it will be heated, but there is a risk of overheating. From the paronite, two 80 m diameter discs are cut out, on which a spiral is fixed. It is also necessary to make a body of metal. These can be covers. Inside the pipes, heating elements are embedded. Lay them down with spirals down. Then the heaters are laid with asbestos, the lids are installed. To increase the thermal insulation, the entire structure turns out to be a peneplain. Here's the heater and ready. It is powered by a 12 V network.

Installing the coolant heater

The installation process is simple, but it will take time. For installation, it is necessary to prepare clamps, branching tees, bracket, spring and the device itself. The installation should take place in a place where the coolant can easily flow directly into the tee and the upper branch pipe of the system. That is, it is best to install the device under the hood on the left.

The part should be installed as low as possible, but not lower than the motor protection. Further, the inside of the device is filled with a liquid. The antifreeze is drained from the system. On the device put on the bracket, into the hole stick in the pipe and tighten the clamp. Further, the drain plug is removed, the branch pipe is extended to it and a fitting is put on, which is then screwed back in together with the plug.

A short branch pipe is removed and divided in two. Tee grease sealant and put on nipples. Then all this is tightened with clamps, a thick branch pipe is screwed back. Now everything is ready, you can fill the antifreeze and use the device.