Engine Block Heater Use

[Ace3]

With the temperature dropping down to zero last night I decided to try the engine block heater on my B3030 this morning. I plugged it in and went back into the house for a cup of coffee. About a half hour later I went out to the garage and fired her right up. No problems.

My question is is it OK to just plug it in when I'm done snow plowing to keep the engine warm or should I only use it just before cold starting? Does anybody have any thoughts on the matter?

 

[Farmall45b]

I only plug mine in before I am going to start the tractor. Ussually 15-30 minutes is all that is takes to warm the tractor so it starts like it is summer time. I think that if you leave it plugged in all the time you will burn the heater element up sooner that if you only plug it in when you plan to use it. Having it plugged in all the time may also create condensation in the crankcase that could collect over time. This is not a problem normally because you are ussually going to start the tractor and heat it up and disipate and minimal condensation.

 

[thatguy]

I typically only plug my truck (dodge cummins) or tractor several hours before I plan on using them.. IF it is very cold you may need to keep it plugged in longer to get it warmed up - but here in VA 3 hours is probably the max time you need it plugged in.

I have a timer for my truck and have it set to come on around 3am and cut off around 9 and then again around 2pm until 6pm - but I only plug it in if I am going someplace (i work from home so it doesnt get driven alot).

Brian

 

[lakeside]

I have a G1800 which is a lot smaller than yours, but a diesel is a diesel. I plug mine in for about half an hour and it starts up first time. Although my tractor is in an unheated, attached garage the temperature does go down to -18c.

I'd say that if you have a good, decent battery plugging in your tractor for half an hour to an an hour should be enough. Any more and you're likely wasting power.

 

[Ace3]

Thanks for the info. I think that I'll stick to the half hour coffee routine. (Plug it in ... Have a cup of coffee ... Start it up)

 

[Reg]

I recently put a 400 Watt lower radiator hose heater in a 42 HP Kukje (Branson/Century twin) Cummins engine tractor.
It is about a 2.2 liter diesel, I'm not sure of the cooling capacity although I got about 2 gallons of anti-freeze out when I drained the rad and block to install the heater.
Not out of "need", it was starting fine, but for under $40 and an hour of my time, etc.
I tried it for the first time yesterday, I had plugged the tractor end in and threaded the power cord through the steering wheel to REMIND myself that it was there. I plugged the house end in before breakfast and because this was the first test tried to time it for exactly 1 hour.
The temp was 16 F, I had planned to feel the radiator hoses and valve cover, but there was 4 or 5 inches of snow on the hood and I didn't want to lift it.
I can't claim that it started or ran any better, or got running smoother any quicker.
More experiment is needed to decide if it is worth using at all.
In winter I generally only use the tractor to clear snow, so it is unlikely that I will do the hose feeling part of the experiment, since there will usually be snow on the hood.

 

[amigauser]

I agree with the other posters. With both my previous B3030 and my current Grand L3240 I plug my block heater in for an hour or slightly longer. That is all it takes to warm the coolant up. Both tractors would actually start without plugging in the bock heater but they warm up a lot quicker (much better for the engine) by using the block heater first. I actually leave the block heater plugged in during the 10 - 15 minute tractor warm up period after I start it to.

 

[brandoro]

I have lived my whole life, so far, where block heaters are a requirement if you want to be sure of going anywhere in the winter. Rule of thimb is that four hours plugged in is about as good as it will get, after that the engine will dissipate heat as quickly as the block heater can add it. Since the Kubotas have a relatively large (wattage) block heater for the size of engine they heat up more quickly than average. Same wattage block heater in the 3 cylinder Kubota as in my 5.7 litre Tundra. An hour is enough for the block to be warm, four hours might be enough to show on the temperature guage. Even here I seldom plug the Kubota in for more than an hour.

 

[ByronBob]

I would say 30 minutes on my BX will get me water which is around 100 degrees warm. So I can touch the hose and feel the warmth through the hose.

In my mind anyway it seems to help the engine turn over easier with the warmer coolant. There is the army of people here who don't think a heater is necessary and I've never been able to disagree with them either becuase there isn't a right or wrong answer.

1 cup of coffee would be about right unless you drink quickly. You might want to stay for a 2nd cup

 

[JoeL4330]

in the winter I keep the block heater and a battery tender on my tractor plugged in most of the time ...cost of electricity seems like the only issue. I like instant gratification, not going out twice. Interestingly, I don't normally use them on my diesel vehicles: Jetta, F350 and Jeep Grand Cherokee, all of which have both trickle charger and block heater ...but, then, it's normally not that cold here.

There are electical "cube taps" that are thermostatically controlled (used for pipe heat wrap, etc.) and, of course, timers ...

 

[Saxman]

I had a block heater installed on my 3830 when I purchased it. I am sure it does not need it to start in the coldest of weather, but it is like my Powerstroke truck engine, it sure sounds better to me. I guess the reason I like a block heater is for piece of mind, the engine sounds better when it starts in extremely cold weather.

 

[rut3556]

My L2250 has never failed to start in 23 yrs. of usage, but I'd still like to install a block heater. However, it looks like a nightmare to access the freeze plug, so I'll probably have to bag it.

 

[tmc2318]

I've just recently come across these ' thermo cubes':

Draw Layout Cell

I'm going to get one for my tractor - probably the 'on @ 20F' version - then I can leave it plugged in all the time and not have to worry about it.

 

[smfcpacfp]

The colder it is, the longer I plug mine in. We had a day last year when it was -10F. I plugged it in for two hours and it started just fine.

A couple of guys said they didn't need it, but it sure makes a big difference if you do use a block heater. The other day it was about zero and I had it plugged in for an hour and a half and it started just fine - just like on a warm summer day.

I knew I was going to use the tractor today as my wife and I were engaged in the least favorite thing I have to do - clean snow off of our roof. I didn't realize I was going to need to use it partway through the job and I hadn't plugged in the block heater. It was about 25F and I thought it should start just fine, but it did take a few cranks before it fired. I was surprised, but I know now that I will always plug the block heater in when it is below freezing for at least a half hour.

 

[dcabernel]

My cousin is a car mechanic and once told me that he that when he took an engine apart he could tell there was less wear in the cylinders on the side of the block (V8) that the block heater was on. While the engine may start without a block heater I always make sure to plug in below -10C just to minimize wear to the engine.

Both tractor and Jetta.

 

[chinawall]

I just replaced the block heater in my B7800, lost about a pint of coolant.Can I replace this by just filling up the plastic container?