One begins to question why a parking heater is not a standard feature, given how convenient and pleasurable it is.
When researching this topic, the first thing that caught my attention was the revelation that modern diesel vehicles already come “half” equipped with a parking heater from the manufacturer.
Retrofitting is still necessary for vehicles manufactured before 1990 and gasoline-powered cars.
This article will discuss the various factors that should be considered before installing a parking heater.
Clean windows, a toasty engine, and a welcoming cabin
The benefits of installing a heater in a parking lot are significant. This simple and helpful device shows its true potential during the colder months, particularly winter.
The engine is warmed up, the cab is warmed up, and the ice on the windows is melted. To accomplish any of this, starting the vehicle’s engine is not necessary. The heater in the parking lot is powered by its burner.
The good news is about to be revealed. During the preheating cycle, the parking heater uses between 0.1 and 0.3 liters of fuel.
This is a meager amount. However, this amount is saved once more due to the engine’s already-warm state.
Therefore, once installed, the heater functions to a significant degree while wasting very little of the fuel that is being used.
Heater operation in the parking garage
The elements that make up the parking lot heater are as follows: in addition to the wiring, a pump, a burner, a fan, and a large hose are required.
The fuel is carried to the burner by the pump, which is also where it is ignited. The interior of the building receives the warm air transported there by the ventilation system.
It warms the burner and the coolant simultaneously, and as a result, it indirectly warms the engine, which makes the cold start go more smoothly.
Why is it beneficial to use the parking heater on the engine?
When heated, metals undergo expansion. When the engine is cold, the various movable parts have more space between one another than when it is warm.
This play results in high levels of internal wear due to the knocking and rattling it causes. These spaces between the components begin to fill up as soon as the engine reaches the temperature at which it operates most efficiently.
This indicates that the power is not transmitted in a jerky fashion but rather smoothly.
In the absence of a parking heater, the engine must first warm up for a predetermined amount of time until it has reached the temperature at which it operates most efficiently.
During this time, the internal moving parts must compete against one another in the previously described manner.
The fact that bearings, rocker arms, and valves all have a hardened surface is another factor that makes the problem worse.
Damage is immediately done to the component in question when that particular surface is eliminated from view.
Because the parking heater heats the engine to such a high temperature, it protects the engine by causing the parts to slip off immediately upon start-up.
Due to the large number of components that make up this device, putting it together can be challenging.
Because of this, the assembly of a parking heater is not a task that an untrained individual can complete.
To ensure this convenience feature is installed correctly, the electrical wires will need to be reconnected, and the fuel lines will need to be split into two separate lines.
If you still intend to carry out the installation on your own, you should therefore reconsider your decision.
To install a parking heater, you should inquire about the cost at a specialized workshop, which should range between 300 and 600$ (not including the heater itself).
Modern diesel vehicles’ installation is straightforward and inexpensive, making it an attractive option. The newest generation of diesel engines does not produce nearly as much waste heat as the models before.
This results in lower overall fuel consumption and a reduction in the emissions of harmful pollutants; however, it also means that the engines require a lengthy start-up period to reach their ideal operating temperature.
Because of this, modern diesel vehicles leave the factory already fitted with a burner and a pump for use in parking lot heating.
The only thing that needs to be done is to install the ventilation and control device. Although it may appear to be a straightforward task, performing it successfully requires significant expertise.
Those who have not had much experience in insulating and reconnecting electrical wiring should have an experienced technician at a workshop set up a parking heater for them.
