Block heater in XR4145HC? Worth it or not?

[RSR]

I have an XR4145HC on order that should be here in a couple of days.

My dealer (who is relatively new) called the other day during final prep of the tractor. I had originally told him I wanted to put a block heater in it, as temps get very low here during the winter. Below 0 F is just a "normal" winter. In my 8 years here I have seen as low as -35. While that is somewhat rare, -15 to -20 is pretty common at least a couple of times a winter.

My dealer said that when he started looking into the installation of a block heater, it involved more than he originally anticipated, so he called another LS dealer (another 1.5 hours down the road - I have visited them and they are a great small place as well, that have been selling LS since they started selling in the USA) to get some advice on how to do it.

He informed me that this other dealership said in their 10'ish years of selling LS tractors, they have never installed a block heater.

Now, I will be storing my tractor in a heated garage, so installing a block heater probably isn't necessary, it just seemed like relatively cheap insurance if for whatever reason I did need to leave it outside.

My question, is, is my dealer being truthful that the LS tractors don't need a block heater, or is he just trying to save himself some time/money on an install that may be more involved than he initially thought? Does anyone use/have a block heater? How cold of temperatures have you started your tractor in? Comments/suggestions?

 

[LouNY]

It would be nice to keep a tractor in a heated garage, mine has to start where it's parked in ambient temperatures.
I don't have an LS but I installed a block heater in my Branson after the dealer installed a lower radiator hose heater that didn't work very good much of the time.
The block heater is much more effective, one problem with a block heater is with the newer engine controls is that the manifold heaters or glow plugs are controlled by the engine temperature.
I have had the engine fire right off and then die from the cold air, and then have difficulty getting it started as the battery was to low to crank again ( that was in one of those -20 mornings).
The new common rail engine do start very well in the cold, but the oil and hydraulics are not happy and flowing real well so adding heat before starting helps with that aspect of cold weather starting.

 

[CobyRupert]

I store my tractor at undercover, but at ambient temp (which I think is often colder than if outside). Block heater definitely makes a difference on how easily it starts.
I was going to suggest a radiator hose heater as an alternative. Lou, why the bad experience? Not enough heat (watts)?

I've only used a hose heater installed in a car's heater (core) hoses. It was nice to have heat first thing upon starting car on a cold morning.

 

[LouNY]

Sometimes the lower radiator heater would work good, the next day it wouldn't.My normal parking spot isn't level and I don't know if the slope was enough for the heat to head toward the radiator and not the block or what,it didn't look like enough slope to bother but.
I also have one in my 574 but that hose has a lot of slope up to the block, that one works.
Most block heaters are installed low in the block, they usually seem to be several inches below where the radiator hose goes back into the block.
They also seem to work faster in the block. My Branson block heater is 400 watts the lower radiator heater was 600 watts.

I like the tank type circulating heaters they are a bit more work to install and find a good location for but are very effective and can be gotten in higher wattage units which should result in faster warm up times.

 

[Avenger]

Where I live, it gets cold too. Maybe not quite that cold, but cold enough. Last year was my first winter with this tractor, and I wish I had a block heater. The tractor never hesitated with starting, but being a turbo charged tractor, you need that oil in the turbo quickly, if its sludge, then that turbo is spinning without lube.

I am not sure why something so easy would be difficult to install. I have looked at the sticky mat type (almost like a heating pad with adhesive), and magnetic. The oil sump is split to accommodate the front drive shaft, but I believe if I snake the pad up and over the shaft, it would work. But that seems like a pain. The magnetic would work, but would likely only heat one side of the sump. I could put two heaters on the sump, but that would be two plugs and two extension cords, etc. So I am leaning toward the pad type.

In the past, all of our older machinery had the magnetic type. They seemed to work well.

I am not familiar with circulating heaters, or radiator heaters. Seems to me that the objective of keeping the block warm, is keeping the oil from getting too thick. Keeping the oil warm would also warm the metal around it, and in combination with the glow plugs, they cylinders shouldnt be so cold that it wouldnt crank. Just my thoughts.

 

[Scottw32]

I have an XR4145HC on order that should be here in a couple of days.

My dealer (who is relatively new) called the other day during final prep of the tractor. I had originally told him I wanted to put a block heater in it, as temps get very low here during the winter. Below 0 F is just a "normal" winter. In my 8 years here I have seen as low as -35. While that is somewhat rare, -15 to -20 is pretty common at least a couple of times a winter.

My dealer said that when he started looking into the installation of a block heater, it involved more than he originally anticipated, so he called another LS dealer (another 1.5 hours down the road - I have visited them and they are a great small place as well, that have been selling LS since they started selling in the USA) to get some advice on how to do it.

He informed me that this other dealership said in their 10'ish years of selling LS tractors, they have never installed a block heater.

Now, I will be storing my tractor in a heated garage, so installing a block heater probably isn't necessary, it just seemed like relatively cheap insurance if for whatever reason I did need to leave it outside.

My question, is, is my dealer being truthful that the LS tractors don't need a block heater, or is he just trying to save himself some time/money on an install that may be more involved than he initially thought? Does anyone use/have a block heater? How cold of temperatures have you started your tractor in? Comments/suggestions?

I installed a block heater on my XR3135C. It’s easy to do- just knock out a freeze plug and tighten the bolt in the middle of the block heater. You will loose a lot of antifreeze so be prepared to add new. Also, be careful when you knock out the freeze plug and don’t mar the smooth surface of the block like I did. Because of that I had to use a sealant around the O ring to keep It from leaking. I’d say it’s a 15 minute install for someone that knows what they are doing. It drops below 0 where I’m at and it does seem to make it easier to start when it’s plugged in. The glow plugs definitely don’t cycle as long.

 

[Bluesteel]

I have an XR4145HC on order that should be here in a couple of days.

My dealer (who is relatively new) called the other day during final prep of the tractor. I had originally told him I wanted to put a block heater in it, as temps get very low here during the winter. Below 0 F is just a "normal" winter. In my 8 years here I have seen as low as -35. While that is somewhat rare, -15 to -20 is pretty common at least a couple of times a winter.

My dealer said that when he started looking into the installation of a block heater, it involved more than he originally anticipated, so he called another LS dealer (another 1.5 hours down the road - I have visited them and they are a great small place as well, that have been selling LS since they started selling in the USA) to get some advice on how to do it.

He informed me that this other dealership said in their 10'ish years of selling LS tractors, they have never installed a block heater.

Now, I will be storing my tractor in a heated garage, so installing a block heater probably isn't necessary, it just seemed like relatively cheap insurance if for whatever reason I did need to leave it outside.

My question, is, is my dealer being truthful that the LS tractors don't need a block heater, or is he just trying to save himself some time/money on an install that may be more involved than he initially thought? Does anyone use/have a block heater? How cold of temperatures have you started your tractor in? Comments/suggestions?

You won't need a block heater. Just make a conscious effort to put it inside the heated garage. I have a 2014 and also have a heated garage. I never let it sit out in the bitter cold when I have a garage to put it in. In addition to the ease of starting, everything is better if it's garaged. Fluids, glass, plastics, etc.

 

[alexsbuddy]

I had thought about installing a lower radiator hose heater on my 2016 XG3037, but decided against it. I always park it in the barn so it is out of the elements. I did install an aux power port and use a Battery Tender plugged into the power port during the cold months. Starts right up every time. I would recommend this type of setup if you should ever have to leave it parked outside in the cold. A good strong crank with the proper prewarming of the plugs makes a big difference.

Also, be sure to use a good quality winter diesel additive to keep the fuel from jelling in severe cold weather.

 

[goddom]

I have a G3038 and I have used the magnetic heater. I stick it up kind of on the inside of the pan where there front drive shaft runs. The thing get really hot - like it boils off snow that falls on it. It does well enough to help the tractor start in cold weather. The first couple years I had the tractor I didn't do anything but I think the battery is startign to get tired and after 4 years I added the magnetic heater. Though, Scottw32 makes it sounds pretty easy I might look into a block heater for the future. It would be easier on the engine, thats for sure.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have a block heater in just about everything. It's such cheap insurance if you need it. And later, finding the right size, and style can be time consuming.