Cold Weather Heaters

casey lb1914 · Dec 23, 2007

Has anyone used a lower radiator hose heater by KATS ? Iam having trouble starting my LB1914 in temps below 30. I thought about the other choices, block, battery, and now the hose heaters. Theres alot of reviews on the web, but those are the companys selling there products.

Dirtnut · Dec 23, 2007

put this one on my lk3054 i plummed into a small hose on the opposite side of the radiator hoses, this hose was the same size as the nipples on the heater so i didnt have to cut my radiator hoses and the hoses go right in at the fuel pump it works great half hour plugged in (down 20degf) 1 hour if colder and it starts without the glow plugs, havnt used my glow plugs in ages,other than when i am away from electricity. no smoke no coughing starts like it was running already. best of all i was able to mount it right to the frame in line out of the way. cost $40 bucks a few years ago at napa. they called it a tank circulater 1200w or 1500watt i think.

George2615 · Dec 23, 2007

I use the KATZ's lower hose heater on my tractor. Purchased it at local auto parts store. Drained radiator, cut hose and installed, refilled and bled out air. Job took about a half hour or so. I have it plugged into a timer since leaving it plugged in all the time is a waste of electric. It works great. Natural convection (heat rises) circulates the water through the engine and radiator. Heats radiator coolant to about 140 deg. making for easy starts.

Highbeam · Dec 23, 2007

It seems that heating the raditaor is a waste of energy since the radiator water just sets there and will be immediately cooled off by the fan. You really want the heat to be in the block where it will help the engine come to life.

For ease of installation, the hose type are better but for cons: you have sacrificed hose integrity and you will waste electric heat to warm up a radiator.

For superior block heating, a block heater is ideal. It is harder to install though since you need to replace a freeze plug. It only heats the engine block.

I have been looking into a block heater for my pickup and the large hose heaters look nice but then you are actually obstructing your main radiator hose as far as flow. The tank type heaters look to be a better deal to go into a heater hose or other small hose. Does your Kioti have a small diameter hose somewhere that would be suitable?

Mike058 · Dec 23, 2007

I got go to looking around and found this kind of interesting. Two Guys Garage Forum - Engine heaters

Dirtnut · Dec 23, 2007

yes true but mine is heating the block right away.

George2615 · Dec 23, 2007

Highbeam said:
It seems that heating the raditaor is a waste of energy since the radiator water just sets there and will be immediately cooled off by the fan. You really want the heat to be in the block where it will help the engine come to life.

For ease of installation, the hose type are better but for cons: you have sacrificed hose integrity and you will waste electric heat to warm up a radiator.

For superior block heating, a block heater is ideal. It is harder to install though since you need to replace a freeze plug. It only heats the engine block.

I have been looking into a block heater for my pickup and the large hose heaters look nice but then you are actually obstructing your main radiator hose as far as flow. The tank type heaters look to be a better deal to go into a heater hose or other small hose. Does your Kioti have a small diameter hose somewhere that would be suitable?

When using a lower hose heater I mentioned previously that heat rises. As the coolant in the hower hose heats up it rises up the hose into the engine block through the water pump then out the thermostat to the radiator and down through the radiator and back to the lower hose to repeat the process. Hot water pushes cold water. A lower hose heater doesn't just heat the radiator if installed properly.

williekioti · Dec 23, 2007

My dealer automatically installs block heaters(through frost plug) on all new Kiotis he sells. Mine works excellent, I plug it in when the temps dip below 20* and I anticipate needing the tractor. Starts immediately as it would in August and ready to work. I would rather have this setup than something added on externally, but if I had to do it myself I would probably explore one of those other options as well.........