How to Make a Survival Heater for Your Car
More Articles Related to FireYour car survival kit should contain a means to heat your vehicle if you become stranded.
During winter months in the higher latitudes, even on highways near large cities, you and your car can become snowbound for several days with no outside help. Even in warmer locations and during the summer months being able to heat your car during an emergency can mean the difference between survival and not making it.
Do not rely solely on running the engine of you car for heat. Your car may be somehow disabled and not in running condition. You may run out of gas or need all the gas you do have for travel once you are able to move out again. And importantly, running your engine while sitting in the car may expose you to increased levels of carbon monoxide.
Here is how you can make a survival heater for a car that does not require you to use up the gasoline in the tank or expose you to carbon monoxide gas -
How to Make a Car Survival Heater
What you will need:
- A roll of unscented toilet paper.
- A half dozen bottles of unscented 70 to 91% isopropyl alcohol.
- An empty metal can that is a little taller than the toilet paper roll.
- A larger metal can such as a 3-lb coffee or large popcorn container.
- An aluminum pan or pot a little wider than the top of the larger can.
Choosing the Can
The can for your car survival heater must be metal, preferably unpainted and with the outer paper removed. It can be a one pound coffee can or 30oz fruit can, which will hold the full roll of toilet paper as is. However I have found that smaller 10 or 12 oz cans like those fruit, vegetables, or coffee come in work more to my liking in terms of versatility. More on that later.
Add the Toilet Paper
Remove the cardboard core from a roll of toilet paper and then take off enough sheets so the toilet paper roll just fits into the can when pushed hard. The key is to make sure there is no space around the toilet paper roll and that it is completely below the rim of the can.
Position the Car Survival Heater
When you are ready to use your car survival stove, place the can containing the toilet paper into the larger can. This will help contain the flame and keep you or your pets and family from getting too close. Position the car survival heater in an area of the car that is clear for at least 18 inches all around.
I have found that if I move one of the front seats of my vehicle all the way back there is sufficient room for the heater in the middle of the passenger floor space.
Add the Fuel
Next pour several ounces (not the whole bottle) of the isopropyl alcohol over the toilet paper that is in the smaller can. The paper will absorb the liquid.
Light the Survival Heater
Next open a window a crack in order to bring in fresh air. Then place a match or lighter carefully against the soaked toilet paper. A small flame will develop that burns slowly and warm enough to heat your car. Be sure the flame is not close to anything within your vehicle that may catch fire.
When the car is warm enough, conserve your fuel by placing the aluminum pan over the car survival heater opening in order to snuff out the flame. When the vehicle cools enough so that you are feeling uncomfortable, add a little more isopropyl alcohol to the toilet paper and light the stove once again.
Four to six bottles of rubbing alcohol will be sufficient to keep your car war for at least 24-hours. To extend your fuel reserves, heat the car to a minimum necessary for warmth and turn off the stove when that point has been obtained.
I prefer to have two of these car survival heaters on hand because I use the smaller 10 to 12 ounce cans. This allows me to run one or both depending upon how cold it is and is therefore more efficient than just one large survival heater.
My Car Survival Heaters
In the picture above you can see one of my car survival heaters in action. It is made from a 10oz pineapple can. I happened to have an donut shaped aluminum desert mould that fit perfectly on the top of the can which serves to direct the flame a little more. This of course is not necessary. The survival heater is placed inside a 3-lb coffee container.
I find that just one of these car survival heaters will sufficiently warm my vehicle when it is 20 degrees F outside. If it is very cold I can run two of these smaller heaters simultaneously in order to get the car to a warm enough temperature and then use just one off an on again to maintain that level.
Increasing the Warmth of Your Vehicle
There are a number of ways you can increase the warmth of your vehicle, mainly through the use of insulation or reducing the amount of air space you need to heat.
Snow is an excellent insulator and also will help keep winter winds from robbing your vehicle of warmth. If there is enough snow you can bury the vehicle three or four feet, keeping an airway open to one of the doors of your car in order to bring in fresh air and allow access as needed.
If you car is buried in the snow, be sure to place a means of signaling would be rescuers that your vehicle is beneath the surface. Hoist a brightly colored cloth or other object on the car antenna or a stick to mark your location.
Another way to increase the warmth inside your vehicle is to block off unused space. For example, if there is nobody in the back seat then use a blanket, sheet of plastic, or luggage to make a wall between the front and back the car. If natural materials are available, such as evergreen boughs, use them to fill the extra spaces so that there is less airspace to heat.
Because cold air sinks to the lowest portion of your vehicle, try to position yourself so that your legs and feet are level with the seats. Be sure to wear as much warm clothing as possible, including a warm hat or wrap clothing around your head.
If the space in your vehicle is small enough then several bodies will serve to heat the area significantly. Invite other stranded motorists into your car so that you can share body heat. And making the event a social occasion will help pass the time as you await rescue.
Other Uses for the Car Survival Heater
Water may be problem during winter conditions because it is often locked up in the form of ice. You can use your car survival heater to melt snow for drinking water or even for heating meals.
Proper Car Survival Preparation
Your warm and dry SUV or other vehicle may be giving you a false sense of security as you travel through adverse conditions. If you are not prepared and something unexpected happens you may be placing yourself and your family in extreme danger. It is a mistake to think your cell phone can always save you - just ask James Kim (oh thats right, you can't)- it is your reponsibility to provide for the safety of you and your family.
Have a car emergency kit and know how to use it. Of course your vehicle should always have spare blankets or sleeping bags for everyone. And always dress appropriately or bring extra clothing for the conditions you are likely to be driving in.
An example where one unprepared motorist placed herself in extreme danger is as follows: One winter night in a rural area a friend and I went out for a walk just for fun. It was minus thirty degrees F with high winds and we were wearing all the mountaineering clothing we had. True arctic conditions. Fortuneately for the lady by the side of the road, dressed only in office clothing attempting to fix a flat, we showed up!
Do not cut your abilility to survive as close as that lady did. Treat the natural conditions you are in with respect and plan accordingly. Include a car survival kit and a car survival heater in your vehicle all year round.
London Ont.
Anne, this does work we used this idea to heat a hunting tent. It was only a few degrees below freezing but it was plenty warm to play checkers in wearing just a wool sweater. Good enough for me!
Great site by the way. Looking to see more interesting survival topics!
Would other types of fuel do?
Survival Topics - you would only want to use the isopropy. Other fuels may be dangerous to use in an enclosed space. You use this particular fuel because it is relatively safe and does not give off carbon monoxide as it burns.
You are welcome to share this Survival Topic with others. I only request that you use a short blurb (not the entire survival content) and this code to
link to the origional:
Boston Mass.
These remind me to the Nuwick candles that you can use to heat your tent, car, or what have you. But the car heater in this article is probably much better as a source of heat. Anyone here try it besides Ron?