Block Heater

[nando]

I would like to hear any real world experience with magnetic block heaters. I have a couple of diesel tractors with block heaters that go in the water jacket, they work great, usually 2 or 3 hours on a timer. Recent Deutz purchase looks to require an act of Congress to access the water jacket for an immersion heater. Most of the magnetic block heaters are only 300 watts. My local temps are seldom below 10f. Tractor is stored in a shed with open front. Thanks for any guidance.

 

[RjCorazza]

I have (2) 300w magnetic heaters that I bought to heat up the hst oil. They never really significantly heated the hst, and certainly not in just a few hours. My take on them was they could be useful if left on for say 12-24 hours prior to using the tractor.
The hst is significantly more mass than the engine block, but I still don't think 600 watts of magnetic heat is going to compare to the average 400 watt coolant block heaters.

I haven't heated the hst in several years, but I'm setup to use a 1500w infrared heater on the same schedule as the block heater.

 

[LHF2019]

Why not an external style block heater.

 

[grsthegreat]

Those magnetic ones are useless…..less than useless. I know, I used to have 2.

 

[mrmikey]

Those magnetic ones are useless…..less than useless. I know, I used to have 2.

Yup, agree 100%. I couldn't get at the frost plug on my Iseki so I figured I'd try one of those. 'bout as useful as a weak fart in a strong wind.
I ended up getting an inline one similar to LHF's above, 350W if I remember right. Seems that 3 hours is the ideal time in cold weather. Tractors in an uninsulated shed on the back of my garage with a tarp over the opening. I put it on a remote Christmas light controller so I don't have to go out to turn it on during the storm.

 

[nando]

Why not an external style block heater.

I have an external heater on an older tractor just like the one LHF pictured. Works great. The Deutz engine compartment is quite cluttered compared to the older tractors I am used to. Think of looking under the hood of new automobiles for a comparison. These magnetic block heaters of 300 watts seem to be quite small heat-wise. Just wondering if "too good to be true" apply to these heaters in the real world. I'm sure they would add some heat but would it be enough to actually help with diesel starting and warm up?

 

[nando]

Thanks for the replies from Idaho and Novia Scotia, tells me what I suspected but now know, thanks again.

 

[bigtiller]

Last winter I clamped a 5" x 10" x 3/16" piece of flat metal to my bench vice and set a new 250 w magnetic heater under it. I let it run for 2 hours inside my tin shed with an ambient temperature of 40 degrees, just to see how hot it got.

I could put my bare hand on it as long as I wanted to.
I was hoping it would get hot enough to keep my coffee warm but it failed the test.

 

[oosik]

Before we got a heated garage in AK - our poor car had to sit out in the cold. We tried many options. Block heater, dip stick heater, heated battery blanket, external circulating tank heater and one that was a real PITA. In the evening - after all work was done - drain engine oil, bring in the house and refill in the AM.

When it's - 40F - or colder outside, no fun at all - refilling engine oil.

The heated garage worked best. Otherwise - the external circulating tank heater was OK and better than all except the heated garage.

I hope nobody has to experience plopping down on a frozen vinyl covered seat at -40F. Believe me - your hemorrhoids DO KNOW HOW TO mutiny!!

 

[nyone]

I also need a block heater for my tc40. We just had a 18in storm in single digit temps. I needed to plow 3 or 4x during. With no block heater it's pretty hard on the machine and needed long warm up times.