2320 block heater - needed?

[purpony]

I am purchasing a new 2320 in the next several days. I was wondering if a block heater is needed for extremely cold weather. I live in CT and plan on using this for moving snow and it can get very cold out. All of my older tractors and trucks have always had to be plugged in for extreme cold starting... i am figuring the 2320 will be the same and mine as well have the dealer install a heater before i pick it up.....

 

[dirtworksequip]

The block heater will be a lot of help in cold weather starts. Maybe not necessary, but a big help. Why strain your battery and starter? With the block heater it will start up very easy. I bought one for my 3520,but was unable to get the threaded plug out of the engine block. I just need to take the time to figure out what to use to get the plug out.

 

[al3]

I'd highly recommend both a block and a tranny heater. Routinely see air temps in the -30 range here. If snow is anticipated, set up two high amp timers to run for 2 hours prior to start time. Both are relatively cheap, will save wear and tear on equipment. Good luck.

 

[Rob-D]

I live in the Catskills and I've seen some wicked cold here, over 30 below but most of the time it doesn't run much below zero. I went out last week and started my tractor when it was in the teens with no trouble. My dealer says he has these guys sitting on the lot and he goes out after it's been cold out and they start right up. My 2320 does every time. As soon as the glow plug light goes out it kicks right over and I mean right over, every single time.

In all my vehicles I run synthetic oil in the tranny and the engine. I don't run block heaters because a car can sit in a parking lot for several hours while I'm working or shopping and I still have the cold engine to come out to where there is no place to run a block heater.

Put a quart of synthetic in you below zero freezer next to a can of regular oil and see what happens after six or eight hours.

My tractor has less than 50 hours on it but when I do the first change it will run Amsoil HDD 5W-30 synthetic and Amsoil synthetic in the box too. I suggest you run synthetic too.

First off, your engine will be braking in most if not all winter, so you're not going to accelerate the wear. It's supposed to be wearing in, that's what engines do the first few hours.

 

[johndeere_2210]

What's a $100 bucks after spending $13-16K? Have it in my 2210 and you need the same set up.

 

[purpony]

i plan on running amsoil after the first change since i am a dealer. I run amsoil in everything i own.

 

[Rob-D]

Good stuff!

 

[rmonio]

Get a Block Heater AND a Hydraulic Heater for your 2320. You'll not regret it. I have them on my 4600 and we get some pretty cold winters here in MN... the cost to plug the them in is nominal and it really saves on the wear/tear to the tractor. It's a cheap investment when you look at the overall cost of the equipment.

-Bob

 

[Rob-D]

OK, I’m not being argumentative here but let’s look at what a block heater does.

What happens to dino oil when it is subjected to sub-zero temperatures? And by the way, Conn., especially the coast, rarely sees prolonged sub-zero temps.

The oil viscosity changes, empirically it slows down, it simply doesn’t flow as readily. And what does a block heater do? It raises the temperature so that the oil acts similarly to a hotter environment. That’s all it does. Period.

What is the temperature reaction difference between dino oil and synthetic oil? Synthetic oil stays fluid. Amsoil and I’m not a dealer, stays fluid down to - 60 F.

Wear? Dino oils can’t come close to synthetic oils for wear. So even if your dino oil engine starts more easily it still contends with greater engine wear. And when does an engine wear most? In the first few seconds after starting. Does a block heater equal synthetic oil in starting wear? Not even close.

What good is a block heater when you blow a tire on the back forty and you have to leave your tractor out for two days while you get it repaired? None.

So if you want to indulge yourselves and buy block heaters, have a ball.
I’ll run synthetic oils in my engine and box, have a longer lasting engine and tranny, better fuel efficiency, less oil changes and save on electricity too.

Don't believe me. Take a look at the list of cars that come standard out of the factory with synthetic. Aston Martin, Porsche, Corvette, MB, etc.

How many of you have been inside a Porsche engine with mileage on it? I have. All I use is synthetic.

 

[ducati996]

i Could be off base here but dosent the block heater warm up the antifreeze so the engine warms up faster? so why would the freeze out plugs need to be popped off, and replaced with the heater coil if its heating oil? I know my diesel truck works this way - I understand the hydrolic fluid in the tranny gets warmed up directly, but the block heater I always thought was the antifreeze for the most part (on tractors). I know the magnetic warmers warm the oil pan