I've talked to the Audi parts department a number of times looking for a block heater or other anti-cold-start device for the 1.8T engine. There's one for the 2.8 but they don't have one for the 1.8T. Considering the ubiquitous nature of the 1.8T these days I would assume that if they were going to make a block heater for it they would have it available by now.<p>This leaves me with the various after-market choices. My favorite (and imho best) of these is a unit which you splice into one of the heater hoses. It has a heater and pump and it heats the coolant and circulates it throughout the engine block.<p>The problem is that you must leave the car's interior heater "on" for this to work. In a manual climate control system this simply means leaving the temperature lever all the way over to "hot" when you leave the car. The temperature control just physically operates the valve which lets the coolant flow through the heater core in the cabin.<p>With the automatic climate control system in the A4 you have no control over where the valve is at any time.<p>My question is this: If I turn the heat all the way up and then turn the engine off, will the heater core valve remain open? If so, then I can install this type of block heater.<p>If not, has anyone else installed any other type of anti-cold-start device? What would you recommend?<p>Thanks.<p>98 1.8TQMS<br>

One that stands out in my mind is a blanket type engine heater... I don't know how well it would work with the 1.8T plastic engine cover. There is also a type that warms up your oil pan... somewhat impossible to apply with the plastic bottom cover on the A4.<p>Cris<br>