RobSline

For the Regina people you can check with CWS tunning. Cam the owner has worked on alot of VW and Audis and could give you a solution. Just an idea. Plus he's a lot cheaper than the Audi dealership.
PS a show and shine is needed for the summer!!!!!!!

GILLES

Thank you for the info,

in this case Audi is paying for it because it is a new car.

JSC

I'll second this. I've driven 4 different Audi's through the last 5 winters, none with any sort of oil/block heater. I've never had any of them fail to start, even at -35 C. At the very least, I'd say to go one winter without, just to prove to yourself that they are not necessary.

Qu4ttr0

I don't have a heater of any type for my car. I keep my A4 in the garage. The garage isn't heated, it's insulated and it's always 12 degrees warmer inside at this time of year. I don't drive my car often, maybe once a week. I just started the car for the first time today since last Sunday to go do some errands and she had no problems starting up. I should also add that the coolant was flushed and replenished with a mixture of G12 and distilled water which is good to -60.

K04-S4

Our daily driver Audi's are garaged at home min ~0C and up to room temp on weekends during the winter.

We plug in our oil pan heaters when parking outside for more than a few hours below ~-20C. Even tho cold starting engine without a heater may not be an issue, using a heater has been proven to reduce long term engine wear. If you trade your car in every 2 to 4 years then you may not be as concerned. People into longer term ownership should seriously consider a heater to help ensure max engine life.

You can see the Audi OEM logo'd orange "oil pan patch heater" the dealer installed before vehicle was delivered as new:



PS: Yes the motor mounts are new. OE mounts are fluid filled and leak with red-ish track marks when they are done.

bradaudi

I live in Regina where it's -42C today (although I know windchill doesn't apply to vehicles - bit it's still cold..) - so if for no other reason than to protect resale value and peice of mind, I want a block heater.

My 2009 A4 B8 is arriving in February and I just confirmed with the dealer it will not come in with a block heater (as mentioned, Audi doesn't have one yet). Annoying, because the dealer failed to mention the lack of block heater when I ordered back in October. I also recall commenting on the steep dealer PDI ($1800) when ordering and was told part of this cost included a block heater.

I mentioned this today at the dealership and was told that the $1800 does include the block heater........when it arrives. Unfortunately, no guarantees on the delivery dates. The dealer guaranteed that the cost would be included in my vehicle price - I would pay nothing more when the blocker heater did arrive.

I was told that the Audi block heater would be a "recirculating" variety, which I'm told is a much better design than the standard heat patch sitting on the oil pan.

I did see one post which indicated that someone was having an Audi block heater installed shortly. That didn't seem consistant with what I heard today regarding Audi block heater availability - but maybe they're mistaken and it's already available.

It's good to hear from those without block heaters that there vehicles are starting well. Either way....here's hoping for warmer weather.

K04-S4

Agreed. The oil pan patch style heater is definitely good but a recirculating coolant heater is better at distributing heat through more of the engine. For -42C weather, I'd like both

Anybody have a link or pics of the new recirculating type including location of install?

Espritman99

If any dealer comes up with a circulating block heater idea for the 3.0L engine I would really like to know. I've looked into frost plug heaters and the problem lies with the fact that all the frost plugs are impossible to get at on the engine. I also looked at the circulating heaters idea, but look damn near impossible to install. My car came factory with the pan heater, which is all the Audi lists for 3.0L A4's, but i just don't like it. I personally know 3 people who have burnt their cars with the stupid pan heaters, 1 being a brand new '06 TDi being plugged in for the first time. Took 15 mins from the time the timer turned on til the car was engulfed in flames. I am currently forced to use the pan heater and park it as far away from everything else as possible, but am actively looking for alternatives. Audi claims they have never heard of a car burning from the pan heaters and are shocked everytime I tell them i know of 3 incidents, but do not give me any other alternative.

turbine guy

And....from the immediate feedback I received from the A4/A6 forums regarding the 2.7/2.8/3.0 V6's, puking oil in cold weather, you run a significant risk of pressurizing the crankcase at -30c weather and colder, if the vent system frosts off. I don't care what Audi says, I'll plug mine in thank you. Strange that cars have burned down from the pan heaters, they are only 200 watts each, and the circuit breaker should have popped if there was a direct short in the heater. As there is lots of room on the V6 pan, I'm going to put two of the pan heaters on. (400 watts total, a typical frost plug type immersion heater is 600-650 watts.)

turbine guy

Espritman99

I don't know if you want to put that much wattage on the oil pan. You are only heating 6.3L (on 3.0L anyways). the 250 watt heater i have on my car is rated for 5-12L of oil. You don't want to boil the oil.