Block heater

[chris the wrench]

Ive got block heaters in my two diesel trucks(5.9 & 6.7 cummins) and my l3902. I can’t feel any heat on any of them. I usually don’t plug them in until temps get down to 10f-15f.

 

[WinterDeere]

I've had block heaters on each of my diesel CUT's, and can always feel the block and/or exhaust manifold getting warm to the touch after 20-30 minutes with the block heater plugged in.

That's with the tractor in a cold shed, where there's no wind to strip heat off the block. I do remember having a block heater in a pickup truck stored outdoors 20 years ago, and whether it was due to the wind or the larger block, I could never feel the heat coming off that one unless I put my hand basically right on the block heater itself. So, wind and engine size vs. heater size might dictate how well you can detect functionality by feel.

But it's also easy enough to check current draw with an ammeter or watt meter, and you can usually hear them heating the coolant after several minutes plugged in.

 

[Chewwy]

Any time you want to check any of my tractors after they been plugged in you are welcome to. I listen for them to kick on most of them. The external ones I can watch for the snow to immediately melt off the block heater. On the smaller tractors the snow is starting to melt off the hoods after about an hour. On the 6 cylinders takes it a couple hours. Yes you can feel the heat.

The OEM block heater for the OPs machine is rated for 400 Watts. Based on a cursory check of block heater for one of your Deere machines indicates they are at least 1 kW. They could be up to 1.8 kW if supplied by a dedicated typical homes 15 A service.

As Winter Deere noted,

“wind and engine size vs. heater size might dictate how well you can detect functionality by feel.”

I do not have heaters for my tractors. No need where I live. I HAVE had block heaters for two previous diesel motor vehicles. They were able to facilitate starting when I visited locations with really frigid temps, but I could never “feel” any heat other than at the heater itself.

Deeres and Kubotas, apples and oranges.

 

[nybirdman]

If working ,your glow plugs will only stay on for a few seconds.I have the OEM block heater in mine(15 years) and still works fine.

 

[WinterDeere]

If working ,your glow plugs will only stay on for a few seconds.I have the OEM block heater in mine(15 years) and still works fine.

I thnk every tractor model might be different, in this regard. I seem to remember my glow plugs not coming on at all, the few times I've used the block heater on my 3033r. My 855 and 750 both had block heaters, but too long ago to remember such details.