Hi Alan,
I have used a 100 watt light bulb will good effect. On my car, I  place the bulb
standing on the ground, directly under the oil pan but not touching anything. Over
the hood I  hang a large moving blanket draped to the ground. I leave the bulb
burning all night long ready for an easy start in the morning. Because my car is
parked outdoors in the blowing snow, the blanket is needed to hold in the warmth and
reduce the cross winds. If you're parked in an unheated garage, the blanket may not
be as important. I don't know how effective this method would be with a vanagon
because a blanket is not possible.
Larry
PS. Looking on the bright side, our lake is now a 25 acre skating rink.

Alan Bosch wrote:

> We here in Western New York are going thru a very cold period for the next few
> days.  Just like our Ontario neighbours across the Big Lake.
>
> Since I do not have a block heater, I was wondering if anyone has put a heat
> lamp into a spot-light fixture of some kind, and left it going all night pointed
> at the oil pan.  You can buy the fixture for about $8.00 at Lowes, HomeDepot,
> etc., and the lamp is around $4.00 or $5.00 each.  The down side is that the
> lamp - a radiant heat lamp - is intended for indoor use, say, in a bathroom
> heat/fan/light unit.  It seem possible to tuck under the bus, pointed up, to
> keep the oil pan warm from the radiant heat this thing gives off.  'Course,
> you'd have to take care to avoid the oil dripping from the pan, etc.
>
> Just a thought...  Any comments?
>
> Alan Bosch - go ahead and flame!  Need the warmth :o)
> & Phred ('88 Wolfsburg) - the Phrozen Bus
> Frigid Rochester, NY