1. Electrical Connection: The heater is plugged into a standard 110-120V electrical outlet (in North America). Other regions may use different voltages.
2. Heating Element: The heater's core is a resistive heating element. When electricity flows through it, its resistance generates heat.
3. Coolant Heating: This heat is transferred directly to the engine coolant surrounding the heating element. The coolant absorbs the heat and its temperature rises.
4. Circulation: As the coolant warms, it circulates through the engine block and cylinder head via the vehicle's cooling system. This warms up vital engine components, such as the oil, and reduces the stress on the starter motor.
5. Easier Starting: The pre-warmed engine oil flows more easily, reducing friction and wear during startup. This leads to easier starting, particularly in extremely cold temperatures where the oil can become extremely thick and viscous. The warmer engine components also lead to faster warm-up and less stress on the battery.
In short, an engine block heater acts as a pre-warming system, making it easier to start the engine in sub-freezing temperatures and reducing wear and tear on the engine's components during the initial start-up.
