This device seems like it would be perfect for any 6 speed owner driving in winter. It's basicly a little furnace that heats your coolant, heating your engine and cabin (via fan). No more cold starts, no more frozen windshield, no more wasted gas. Now I just have to find out where to get one.


http://www.autofieldguide.com/column...er/0804pb.html

 

http://www.webasto.us/press/en/am_em...aters_948.html

A picture and specs.

 

Seems like a great product, but I'd be hard pressed to drop a couple g's for one.

 

Does it warm up the engine and transmission oil?

 

this is the correct link

http://www.webastoshowroom.com/blueheat/

they don't make one for the RX-8 and it mounts permanently in the engine bay

 

there are small ones that are just a pump and heater element, you have to run an extension cord under the hood and plug the thing in, but it attaces IN-LINE in the cooling system and heats/circulates coolant, so it keeps the engine up to temp...well a warm temp, I think like 120* or something.

Its around 100 bucks I think....much cheaper and can be made to work on any car.

 

I guess this could be useful if you're in a really frigid area. I was born and raised near Cleveland, and heaters weren't really necessary there -- rarely got below -10F. Somewhere like Minnesota or North Dakota -- yeah those guys have to go to extremes. At -40F oil gets heavy and the battery is a shadow of its normal self.

Electric heaters are much cheaper, but if you're out and parked all day away from a plug I can see the value.

 

During WWII winters, military personel in Siberia would light a fire under their oil pan to warm up the engine. Just a thought. (I personally don't recommend this - unless you're living in Siberia).