Chase away the cold! A parking heater is good for people, engines and the environment - AutoReview.nl

A parking heater is actually a kind of small central heating boiler in your car, which you can switch on at a time of your choosing. It sucks in air and some fuel, which is then ignited. The cool interior air then passes through a heat exchanger and is led back into the cabin. The passenger compartment is nice and warm when you get in and there is no ice on the windows anymore.

The combustion engine is already preheated

An additional advantage is that the combustion engine is also preheated with the warm air. In this way, the block reaches its ideal operating temperature soon after starting, which improves fuel consumption during the first kilometers. It is even so much more beneficial that it compensates for the small amount of petrol (or diesel) you need for the parking heater.

Parking heater good for the engine and the environment

The greatest wear on an engine occurs immediately after a cold start, when the engine oil does not yet lubricate sufficiently. A parking heater therefore contributes to the lifespan of a combustion engine. Furthermore, the environment also benefits somewhat from a parking heater. Because a preheated engine significantly reduces harmful emissions.

What does a parking heater consist of?

What is involved in installing a parking heater? And what parts does the device actually consist of? First, there is the stove itself. It must be mounted in a strategic position so that it does not melt plastic parts or affect the crumple zone.

An additional fuel line must then be professionally installed from your fuel tank to the parking heater. Also required are an additional coolant pump (to pump the cooling water around when the engine is not running), an exhaust system for the heater itself, air intake hoses, and electrical connections to the car's on-board electrical system.

Operating the parking heater in the car

A control element is required to switch the heater on and off. You have several options for this. The simplest option is a clock in the car, which starts the heater at a programmed time. The second option is a wireless remote control, with which the heater can be switched on. The third option is control via smartphone.