Engine oil heater

An engine comprising:

• a cylinder;
• a piston positioned to reciprocate within the cylinder;
• a fuel/air mixing device operable to receive a flow of air and a flow of fuel and deliver a flow of an air/fuel mixture to the cylinder;
• a lubrication system including an oil reservoir having an oil fill port and a quantity of oil, the lubrication system operable to provide lubricating oil to at least one of the piston and the cylinder;
• a heater element coupled to the fill port such that the heater element is at least partially immersed in the quantity of oil;
• a temperature sensor positioned to measure a temperature;
• a first electrical connector configured to engage a second electrical connector, the first electrical connector directly connectable to the heater element to provide a flow of power;
• and
• a control circuit disposed substantially within the oil reservoir that is operable to vary the flow of power to the heater element in response to the measured temperature.

An engine heater suited to use with an engine having an oil fill port in fluid communication with an oil reservoir that is adapted to contain a quantity of oil, the engine heater consisting essentially of:

• a coupling member operable to engage the engine;
• a heater element interconnected with the coupling member such that the heater element is adapted to be at least partially immersed in oil when the coupling member engages the engine;
• a sensor positioned to measure an engine temperature;
• a first electrical connector configured to engage a second electrical connector, the first electrical connector directly connectable to the heater element to provide a flow of power;
• and
• a control circuit disposed substantially within the oil reservoir that is operable to vary the flow of power to the heater element in response to the measured temperature.