Starting in winter temperatures

[jimpen]

I know this has been asked before, but I'm going to ask it again.

What and how do you start your tractor's at 5 degrees?

This is going to be my first winter with my Mahindra Max 25. But I remember a winter back in the past that we had about 3 feet of snow, about an inch of freezing rain, that locked down the snow from blowing. The temperature was about 29 when it was snowing, rose to about 37 for the freezing rain, and then dropped to 5 degrees or less for the next week. Considering that it is the middle of August and I have a blanket over my legs, I can't imagine a mild winter this year.

So I want to prep ahead of time. Do I need a plugin radiator block heater/pump? Will a dipstick heater work? Do I need both? What about ether? Do I just want to use the ether and hide out all winter? :confused2:

I'm going to use current diesel that they should have the anti-congeal stuff in it.

 

[MIKE R]

I would use a block heater. You can get them at the tractor store for fairly cheap.
Dipstick heaters and magnetic block geaters aren't all that good.

I would never use ether to start a modern diesel.

A block heater and cycle the glow plugs a few times it should start up fine.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

It seems like on the MF if we plug it in for a few hours it would start fine at about any temp. It may need to warm up to use the hydraulics much.

We did turn the AC back on last night just because it was going to be raining today. When out bush hogging late this afternoon it was a bit on the cool side already. Have not seen winter forecast yet. Having the AC off mid August I think is a first for us. Noticed Atlanta set some record low temps I think this week.

 

[Buckgnarly]

We hit -40F up here and I have block heaters in....
2004 Ford Ranger 4.0
2002 Subaru Legacy
2005 Jeep TJ 4.0
Kioti DS3510
1969 Bombardier SW48
1989 F250 7.3IDI

Would not go anything else....

 

[jimpen]

It seems like on the MF if we plug it in for a few hours it would start fine at about any temp. It may need to warm up to use the hydraulics much.

Mine is an HST. So I think the hydraulics will be fine. Or in other words, the tranny and the FEL work off the same pump. So if I can move, I can move everything. :drool:

Then the next Q: Where do I find a block heater for a Mahindra?

 

[whistlepig]

I live in SW Ohio. If you have a good battery and keep it charged it should do just fine. I have never had need for a block heater.

 

[JJZ 109]

Even though my Bobcat is always stored inside (unheated), I'll plug it in for a while when the temperature gets lower than 10 F. Not that it probably needs it, but what the heck. The block heater is there, the electricity is there. Why not start out with a warmed block to ease the process?

 

[flyingcow]

We hit -40F up here and I have block heaters in....
2004 Ford Ranger 4.0
2002 Subaru Legacy
2005 Jeep TJ 4.0
Kioti DS3510
1969 Bombardier SW48
1989 F250 7.3IDI

Would not go anything else....

I agree. An hour usually is enough, but if it gets down to -#'s I'll do a few hours. If your going to do anything, use a block heater or a Kats in line water heater. I've had good luck with the Kats units.

The SW 48 does that have the ford 300 in it?

 

[Buckgnarly]

I agree. An hour usually is enough, but if it gets down to -#'s I'll do a few hours. If your going to do anything, use a block heater or a Kats in line water heater. I've had good luck with the Kats units.

The SW 48 does that have the ford 300 in it?

Yes, should have added that I use a timer on all of them when needed. The old 7.3 takes the longest t about 3-4 hrs.


As for the sidewalk plow, it is an older model that has the old Chrysler flat head I6. It's a beast but quite the money pit for parts. Here's a link with more on the build....
Free Bombadier SW48 - The Garage Journal Board

 

[Knight9]

A block heater is absolutely the way to go. Having said that, I get to experience quite a bit of winter, and unless it is below -25 Celsius, I rarely plug in my Kubota. At -25C or warmer, I really just hit the glow plugs a little longer than normal and she fires right up. :thumbsup:

 

[flyingcow]

We used a Bombi that looked like that to groom snowmobile trails. Quite a work horse, but our trail system out grew that. Now we run a NH TS110 and a TM140, both with suretrac systems on them.


Kinda hyjacked the thread.

I know alot of times i don't have to plug equipment in, but it's a nice ins policy. And easier on everything. I drive truck for a living. I own it. I plugged my truck in every night for months on end. Where i lived and where I left the truck was a few minutes travel. 30 nights of plugging my truck in (jan) cost $90 bucks. $3 a night keeping 10 gals of oil and 10 gals of antifreeze warm. Within a 2 minutes I had heat blowing thru the defrosters on sub zero nights. Priceless.

 

[Pipestone Kid]

I have a block heater. I also have a plug that I bought from Ace Hdwe. with a remote with it. (The plug has a short cord on it to plug into the regular outlet) I hit the remote, eat breakfast, and go hit the starter and the tractor is running. (JD 4110) Of course, the coldest I have seen where I live is 50 below.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I have a block heater. I also have a plug that I bought from Ace Hdwe. with a remote with it. (The plug has a short cord on it to plug into the regular outlet) I hit the remote, eat breakfast, and go hit the starter and the tractor is running. (JD 4110) Of course, the coldest I have seen where I live is 50 below.

Do you have a link to tat plug? Sounds very handy!

 

[tcreeley]

I leave my tractor plugged in all of the time- always starts. When the temp is 35 or more then I unplug.
I had an inline Kats on my car for years- excellent. Plugging in makes winter work go w/out a problem. Temps aren't as bad as they were- then a good battery was no guarantee your vehicle would start. Plugged in- it always started - gets rid of that moment before the oil gets going that doesn't sound good!
Buy the plug in designed by the manufacturer for your tractor.
When I had my cub, there was no radiator hose to cut into that would work- so I used a magnetic block heater on the bottom of the oil pan- not as effective.

 

[3930dave]

As posted, a block heater usually provides the best overall heat. Not sure if OP found one, or will be installing ?

If your winter lows aren't too bad, an electric battery blanket is easier to install than a block heater. Keeping the battery itself a bit warmer is never a bad thing - w/o a blanket I've used a 100w or better floodlight under the hood.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I know this has been asked before, but I'm going to ask it again.

What and how do you start your tractor's at 5 degrees?

This is going to be my first winter with my Mahindra Max 25. But I remember a winter back in the past that we had about 3 feet of snow, about an inch of freezing rain, that locked down the snow from blowing. The temperature was about 29 when it was snowing, rose to about 37 for the freezing rain, and then dropped to 5 degrees or less for the next week. Considering that it is the middle of August and I have a blanket over my legs, I can't imagine a mild winter this year.

So I want to prep ahead of time. Do I need a plugin radiator block heater/pump? Will a dipstick heater work? Do I need both? What about ether? Do I just want to use the ether and hide out all winter? :confused2:

I'm going to use current diesel that they should have the anti-congeal stuff in it.

Didn't notice crankcase oil in your posts. Using a decent 5W40 diesel oil will help - Mobil TDT, Rotella T6, Delo, etc.....

Rgds, D.

 

[jimpen]

Didn't notice crankcase oil in your posts. Using a decent 5W40 diesel oil will help - Mobil TDT, Rotella T6, Delo, etc.....

Rgds, D.

I hadn't thought of it yet. thanks for the reminder. I just broke 50 hours so I need to change the oil soon.

 

[3930dave]

I hadn't thought of it yet. thanks for the reminder. I just broke 50 hours so I need to change the oil soon.

You're welcome.

Easy thing to overlook, even up here (Canada).

I've talked to guys here that may run a synthetic in their trucks, but get a funny "Oh Yeah !" look when I ask about the tractor crankcase.

Rgds, D.

 

[buickanddeere]

Dipstick heaters are for dipsticks.
Better to purchase and use winter diesel instead of trying to dope summer diesel into not gelling.
A low wattage block heater if plugged in 24/7. High wattage block heater if 20 minute warmups are desired.
Is there a tapped threaded port on the block, a frost plug or is a tank heater required? may have to cross reference the catalog for a generic heater that will fit.

http://www.phillipsandtemro.com/userfiles/file/2013_ZEROSTART_CATALOG.pdf

 

[buickanddeere]

I live in SW Ohio. If you have a good battery and keep it charged it should do just fine. I have never had need for a block heater.

Cuz there is less wear on the starter, battery and alternator. Cuz the engine suffers less wear due to less time operated below rated coolant temp. Cuz there is less fuel dilution of the crankcase lube.Cuz the heater/defroster blows heat almost immediately. Cuz less fuel wasted warming the engine.
The same people I see idling equipment and vehicles for extended periods of time to "warm-up". Are the same people who gripe about fuel prices.