Get An Engine Heater!!

[jeffgreef]

thanks, guys for filling in this ignoramus on the basics of how they work. My only problem is I have no electricity on my property, so I guess if I go up in the winter and want to start the tractor I'll have to start the generator and burn 1/2 gallon of gas just to warm up the diesel block.

In this case, where the closest wall socket is 500 yards down the hill, do you think the charcoal-in-hibachi idea is realistic or just plain stupid?

 

[Glen Watkins]

Does anyone know if a block heater can be left plugged in continuously? Do they have some kind of an internal thermostat? Never a problem with starting but thought it might be better for the engine to stay toasty warm!Tia

 

[bp fick]

Does anyone know if a block heater can be left plugged in continuously? Do they have some kind of an internal thermostat? Never a problem with starting but thought it might be better for the engine to stay toasty warm!Tia

For me, winter means snow, and tractor use is snow related. When the weatherman calls for snow, I note the time. I plug in the tractor 3-4 hours before I plan to use it. It's just that simple. I don't have to clean stalls or such. If I did, I'd simply use one of the 110v timers my wife uses for the Christmas lights. Leaving anything plugged in all the time would use a wasteful amount of electricity, it seems to me.

 

[Duffster]

Does anyone know if a block heater can be left plugged in continuously? Do they have some kind of an internal thermostat? Never a problem with starting but thought it might be better for the engine to stay toasty warm!Tia

We have several trucks and tractors that stay plugged in 24/7 all winter long.

Except for the amount of time we are using them of course.

 

[Glen Watkins]

For me, winter means snow, and tractor use is snow related. When the weatherman calls for snow, I note the time. I plug in the tractor 3-4 hours before I plan to use it. It's just that simple. I don't have to clean stalls or such. If I did, I'd simply use one of the 110v timers my wife uses for the Christmas lights. Leaving anything plugged in all the time would use a wasteful amount of electricity, it seems to me.

Well not everybodys situation is the same. I don't live where my tractor is parked and used this time of year. So it is not that simple! If these block heaters have thermostats then they turn on and off as needed and would not waste electricity it seems to me!

 

[bp fick]

Well not everybodys situation is the same. I don't live where my tractor is parked and used this time of year. So it is not that simple! If these block heaters have thermostats then they turn on and off as needed and would not waste electricity it seems to me!

No, not everyone's situation is simple. Indeed.

A thermostat clicks off at the top and clicks back on when temps fall. Still, the point is that you would be heating that water jacket 24/7.

Think of it as running a small electric hot water heater. If the thing draws 400-800 watts, just think what 24/7 for 3 months would do to your electric meter. Hey, if that's what you gotta do, then it is just an expense to grin and bear.

 

[brt]

Those wireless switches can work for a lot of things. They are great for having a light on an outside shed away from the house come on before you get there or for turning on an electric heater in that outside building. Hit the wireless switch, have a cup of coffee, and by the time you get to the outbuilding it is nice and warm inside! I also use one to turn on the heater inside my dog's house. I know, spoiled rotten, but she doesn't have much fur!

 

[JB4310]

If you have to leave it plugged in 24/7 how about one of those timers with multi settings, have it on for 2 hours and off for 2-4 hours thru-out the day. I don't like the idea of on 24/7 I don't think they have thermostats, most of the ones I've seen are just heating elements.

For the poster with no utility electric access but has a generator, instead of the charcoal, how about the forced hot air, oil burning construction heater trick.

That would require starting the genny but would be faster than a block heater for sure, heats the all components from block to fuel system, even drive-train and intake air to a "degree" .

JB.

 

[jenkinsph]

If it is really cold I plug mine in for an hour before starting as most people have referred to.

About the thermostat control, there are several types available that could be used. One is a control which is used on heating systems where an immersion probe senses the water temperature to determine when to turn the heating element on and off. This is basicaly a small box with an adjustable thermostat and terminals for the electrics it has a copper tubing line with bulb sensor that mounts in a fitting (immersion well) on your engine to do the temperature sensing. These are available as simple mechanical or with digital temp. readouts. Properly installed these can be used to bring the block or water jacket up to a set temperature and hold it there.

 

[bp fick]

If it is really cold I plug mine in for an hour before starting as most people have referred to.

About the thermostat control, there are several types available that could be used. One is a control which is used on heating systems where an immersion probe senses the water temperature to determine when to turn the heating element on and off. This is basicaly a small box with an adjustable thermostat and terminals for the electrics it has a copper tubing line with bulb sensor that mounts in a fitting (immersion well) on your engine to do the temperature sensing. These are available as simple mechanical or with digital temp. readouts. Properly installed these can be used to bring the block or water jacket up to a set temperature and hold it there.

I agree.
Which still begs the question... why would one constantly maintain a warm engine in what amounts to a stored tractor? Would one maintain a warm engine if one was to use it once a week? Once a month? and why? What would be the supposed benefits?

 

[skidsteer.ca]

Espar and Webastos make diesel fired coolant heaters that would warm your engine independant of line power. You can set a timer for up to 7 days in advance. They would warm a small engine like in a tractorin @ 30 minutes and burn .6 liters of fuel per hour.
The price tag is up there though @ $1500.00
Ken

 

[jenkinsph]

Espar and Webastos make diesel fired coolant heaters that would warm your engine independant of line power. You can set a timer for up to 7 days in advance. They would warm a small engine like in a tractorin @ 30 minutes and burn .6 liters of fuel per hour.
The price tag is up there though @ $1500.00
Ken

You sure about that fuel comsumption? That seems way high compared to what I have read in the past for these units. This unit may be over the top for a small tractor but is still a very good heater to have for large machines operating in the winter.

 

[Mr. Peabody]

Now that you've all got me all curious about engine heaters, I've got a two year old 2615 gear that I would consider adding a heater to.

I don't actually use it much during the winter here in Boise, where the ground is usually frozen all winter, but for the days I do need it to unload or move something, a pre-heater would be great.

Does anybody have any experience with this particular tractor and engine heaters? I'd really love to put a block heater in it.

 

[IH3444]

When purchasing the NH TC48DA I had the dealer install a block heater. As stated here, sweeeeeet. The dealer charged me $50 for block heater, and installation. Bargain.

 

[fredkos]

If you want the best :
E-Z Heat Aircraft Engine Pre-Heat Systems

get one for the hydraulic tank also

 

[Trails2004]

Espar and Webastos make diesel fired coolant heaters that would warm your engine independant of line power. You can set a timer for up to 7 days in advance. They would warm a small engine like in a tractorin @ 30 minutes and burn .6 liters of fuel per hour.
The price tag is up there though @ $1500.00
Ken

We run Webastos on some of our snowmobile trail grooming equipment ( Tucker Snow Cats) we often struggle finding room in the engine compartment to mount the units. Tucker runs a 5.9 ISB Cummins engine- So where are you mounting these on a CUT or UT????

 

[TTTTTT]

Battery Blankets can be a big help at really cold temps. Above freezing starting most vehicles requires only a small part of most battery cranking capacity. When you go below freezing, your battery looses half of its cranking capacity and as its gets colder even more, which could make all the difference when it gets really cold. By keeping it warm, your cranking capacity is at its best. You can get away with a weak or a leesser CCA battery if you have other forms of keeping the engine warm such as a block, lower rad, or other types of heaters. If its really cold you could probably leave it plugged in all the time.

The actual frost plug block heaters, to me are the best as they heat the coolant jackets, as they heat, the entire block gets warm ( oil etc.). THey are just a super hot element attached to a power cord with no protection for over heating. The best way is on a timer as has been mentioned if you use your tractor or truck at regular times every day. If not just plug it in an hour or two before you need it depending on how cold it is as well. Leaving it on all the time will burn these out pretty fast and really not necessary. You just need to get the block warm before actual starting. The lower rad heater does similar as it heats the coolant/antifreeze which in turn heats the entire block and oil. This then leads to oil viscosity and again easier starting. If you are using a 0W40 or 5W40 a heater may not be as critical. If you stay with a 15W40 which many do year round, then a heater will be a big if not a necessary addition.

The other big thing is the viscosity of diesel fuel at low temps becomes harder to pump and ignite. Most use a conditioner of some kind.

Forgot to mention which is probably obvious to all, is anytime you can get easier starts which is what most heaters will do, will take a huge strain of the entire starting system, including battery and starter as well on start up getting to all the parts that need oil as quick as possible to prevent engine wear. The most engine wear is on cold start ups before the oil can get there. The quicker it gets there the better. Very cheap addition for longer term peace of mind and reliability

Just my $.02 from my experience

Dave

 

[Reg]

I have a lower hose heater and a reasonably short distance to a power outlet.
I think there is SOME danger of masking some impending problems by pre-warming an engine that "used to start just fine in temperatures a lot lower than this".
IOW, if you have hard starting I think it would be better to FIX IT than to mask it.
I just went through some speculative troubleshooting in which I pulled all the glow plugs and injectors "just to see what I could see".
I have discovered an intermittent electric fuel pump problem, that I will probably not fix until it fails completely, I suspect the key switch.
Other than that the process of dismantling, cleaning and careful reassembly seems to have had the effect of a "tune up".
I almost certainly have much better electrical connection to all of the glow plugs and that is now my fave theory for poor starting of diesels in cold weather.
This may be why they start so well when it is so cold when they are new.
They are relatively high current items and a SLIGHT increase in the resistance path will reduce the voltage to them and the current through them, making a BIG difference to the amount of energy dissipated in the cylinders.
So, just like battery terminals the connections need cleaning once in a while and insulating from corrosion (dielectric gel).

FWIW, etc.

 

[Trails2004]

I................. think there is SOME danger of masking some impending problems by pre-warming an engine that "used to start just fine in temperatures a lot lower than this".
IOW, if you have hard starting I think it would be better to FIX IT than to mask it..

Diesels engines are inheriently slower to start in colder temperatures and that is simply a fact. Changes in fuel, oil, SOC of battery can effect this as well. If it doesnt start when it is warm and it starts easier when it is cold on a heater of sorts- then something is going on- the above conditions can cause hard starts.

 

[TTTTTT]

I would have to respectfully disagree with your statement.

If that is the case- why do ALL major heavy and light diesel truck manufactures install block heaters on thier equipment???

Diesels engines are inheriently slower to start in colder temperatures and that is simply a fact.

Absolutely!

Diesels are high compression engines (which is what ignites the fuel) and generally harder to start by its nature. Many light trucks have duel batterys for the colder starting. Now with direct injection etc, starting is easier and most don't need 2 batteries. My simple 1987 Nissan diesel pickup had 2 batteries (with high CCA spec's) and needed them if not plugged in on cold days. Definitely other maintenance will assist such as cleaning glow plug bus- bars and battery terminals to get maximum asssit when starting cold. The block heaters only help this process and help to preserve other starting and engine parts.

Dave