Blockheater for Jetta

Circulating heaters are better performance-wise but moving parts are always more prone to failure, they are larger, require plumbing, and mounting. A single 450w block heater will heat it up enough to start in an hour or two, depending on the temps. Stay away from the non-circulating heaters that you put in the lower radiator hose, they only serve to increase your electric bill. An oil pan heater is a good idea, too; oil pressure will come up more quickly with it; they are cheap: $15-20 USD. The freeze plugs aren't too hard to get out unless you try doing the one behind the turbo while laying under the car on the ground with coolant dripping in your face and no place to swing the hammer...not that I know about that.

--TW

LOL...

A mechanic friend said that because my Jetta is an automatic, it is alot more difficult...something about the starter being in the way...???...

Out of curiosity, where does the frost plug go when it gets knocked out?

- Pete

W: Does the circulator thingie you saw have a built-in heater too? One presumes, but since I'm not there, I dunno. I'm also opposed to making holes where none existed before. Need more info.

I added the block heater to my old 86 Diesel Jetta (Came from Germany that way too. I guess it never gets cold over there...). My brother added one to his 84 Jetta (gas). No troubles if you install it clean the first time. Was no particular trouble to knock out the freeze plug and stuff in the block heater. Drain the coolant FIRST, of course, so you don't get a free bath (yuck). Use gasket goop to taste, and make sure you get it in solid, or it will leak. I botched it the first time, and it leaked while out driving. I eased it home, re-installed it, and it never leaked from there ever again.

I'd recommend a block heater for anyone who lives north of say, Georgia or Alabama. The car starts sooo much easier in cold weather, and the heat arrives almost instantly.

Walter

I think that based on the responses that I have seen here....It's time to call my mechanic and get the car booked in for a block heater.

- Pete

Just for fun. If you have not tried it, try a oil change with your regular weight oil in synthetic. It might do the job for you, and will work even when you don't have access to a plug. Of course if your objective is to have a warm cabin when you drive off; it will not help.

Jim B.

Circulating heater's have moving parts? Mine uses basic physics and a heating element.

I have a Golf TDI with a Temro coolant heater from crappy tire.

the best part of a circulating heater is that you have instant heat when you get in the car!!

Work's like gangbusters!!!

Gazoo

go with the in-line heater.......better bang for the buck....you won't regret it!!!!

What line does it go into?

- Pete

It gets spliced into the heater hoses, and it does have moving parts, two check valves. If those check valves get stuck it overheats and melts hoses. Stick with the freeze plug heater.

wes

New ones don't overheat and melt hoses...they have a fuse/breaker that flips and shuts them down.