# Fry pan keeps engine and transmission warm **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** rx-350, lexus\ **Created:** [January 22, 2022, 2:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056 "2022-01-22T14:47:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 2:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/1 "2022-01-22T14:47:34Z")
Goodwill $5.99. Set temperature to 350ºF. Thick bed sheet on hood which also drapes down over the front to retain heat. Hopefully better for thengine and transmission when departing on emergency transports at **0** h-dark-thirty. (Engine sounds a little smoother!) ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 2:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/2 "2022-01-22T14:57:26Z")
You lose 94% of heater transfer thru the air gap. All you are doing is wasting electricity, no garage? ---
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 3:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/3 "2022-01-22T15:04:11Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > _You lose 94% of heater transfer thru the air gap. All you are doing is wasting electricity, no garage?_ Garaged, so the warm air mostly stagnates under the hood. The sheet seems good at keeping t **heat** in. Also covers the gap in front of the windshield. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 3:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/4 "2022-01-22T15:20:36Z")
It seems to me that you should heat under the engine to warm the engine oil. If you use the electric frying pan, slide it under the oil pan. Put a long handle on it to make this easier. You might want an aluminum box with high sides and no top to direct heat upwards if the pan alone doesn’t do the job. Unless the temperature is below zero Fahrenheit in the garage, I doubt you need the heater at all. You might consider Kapton flexible heaters. You can buy them with adhesive backing and bond them directly to the oil pan if you like. Apply DC power to activate the circuit. Use a variable DC power supply to provide enough power, but not too much. Experiment to see how warm the oil pan gets to determine where to set the rheostat. I’d cover the heaters with a heavy tape to prevent damage to the heaters from road debris. You would also need to run protected wires to a convenient place to install a plug. ---
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 3:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/5 "2022-01-22T15:54:05Z")
Thank you. Electric skillet on its legs on the concrete floor mostly under the oil pan and a little under the transmission. The problem is having to leavexpeditiouslyvith no time to le **the** ngine warm normally. If no emergency, in **idle** I back out and proceed to the stop sign. Then gently accelerate. ---
**Author:** ![SteveCBT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevecbt/32/3192_2.png) [@SteveCBT](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveCBT)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 4:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/6 "2022-01-22T16:17:30Z")
Cold starts and hard driving right away is rough on a vehicle. I like what you are trying with the fry pan, cheap but marginally effective. If you have the time and funds, get an auto eject from Kussmal, this plugs into 110vac, you can then wire a heater on the engine. When the engine is started it automatically ejects, you do not have to think about it. [https://kussmaul.com/ejection-units/wp-auto-ejects/091-18WP-120](https://kussmaul.com/ejection-units/wp-auto-ejects/091-18WP-120) ---
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/7 "2022-01-22T20:49:58Z")
Thank you. My patented electric skillet bedsheet engine warmer works well! When started, thengine temperature gauge rises above the cold line. By the time I drive out of our neighborhood athe 25 mph speed limit, it has attained normal operating temperature! Nowilhave to determine how much electricity is used. An electricompany meter bought at a garage sale should work! ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 9:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/8 "2022-01-22T21:27:28Z")
Must have been many moons ago a block heater was recommended, Do you need a go fund me to get one? What is your objection to a block heater? ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 9:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/9 "2022-01-22T21:45:15Z")
I was thinking something similar. Years ago a former neighbor had an electric dipstick heater that worked pretty much the same way. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 10:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/10 "2022-01-22T22:10:26Z")
The problem I heard in ND with dipstick heaters is it fries the oil. the block heater warms the coolant, or antifreeze as you prefer with the power consumption of a light bulb to keep the temp at 35 degrees. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 10:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/11 "2022-01-22T22:58:48Z")
500 lb engine block. -0F temp. 100w heater? Interesting thermodynamics. Though, my led bulb uses 11watts. ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 11:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/12 "2022-01-22T23:09:59Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > Though, my led bulb uses 11watts. but it won’t heat anything. LOL ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 11:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/13 "2022-01-22T23:16:59Z")
Used to be you just ordered the block heater for $35 And be done with it. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 11:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/14 "2022-01-22T23:19:48Z")
> [@bing](#): > > Used to be you just ordered the block heater for $35 And be done with it. +1 … or someone can decide that it is preferable–beyond all reason–to substitute a high amperage frying pan several inches below his oil pan. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 11:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/15 "2022-01-22T23:28:36Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > You lose 94% of heater transfer thru the air gap. How do you get that number? Where does the lost heat go? If he can form a fairly well sealed cavity much of the heat will stay around, air gap or no. Otherwise, how could one bake a cake? I’m not saying a fry pan makes a great block heater. I’m just trying to reduce confusion about thermodynamics. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 11:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/16 "2022-01-22T23:35:55Z")
Am I the only one who thinks that this frying pan idea is a fire hazard ( of course this RG troll is always posting things just to stir things up ). I really would not leave something like this on and unattended . ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 11:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/17 "2022-01-22T23:38:13Z")
Used to work at refrigeration company. Our group designed air sourced HE and liquid sourced HE. Did you? ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 12:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/18 "2022-01-23T00:27:52Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > Our group designed air sourced HE and liquid sourced HE. What is HE? ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 12:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/19 "2022-01-23T00:32:23Z")
**Helium** (from [Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language): ἥλιος, [romanized](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanization_of_Greek): _[helios](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helios)_ , [lit.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literal_translation) ‘sun’) is a [chemical element](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_element) with the [symbol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbol_(chemistry)) **He** and [atomic number](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_number) 2 ---
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 2:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056/20 "2022-01-23T02:19:15Z")
> [@Barkydog](#): > > _Must have been many moons ago a block heater was recommended, Do you need a go fund me to get one? What is your objection to a block heater?_ Too difficulto install. Expen$ive. This works well for now. (Wonder when the skillet thermostat will fail.) It also heats the transmission a little. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fry-pan-keeps-engine-and-transmission-warm/182056.md?page=2)