Engine Preheat

[Malvern Michael]

Ok guys, can anyone tell me if it is normal for the engine preheat light to come on Every time the tractor is started even when the engine is hot?

I am asking because I did a day of trailer loader work on Sunday when I was stop starting my Branson quite often and the following day the engine wouldn稚 start because the battery was flat, I am guessing that the preheat coming on every time I start will drain the battery

My Branson is a F47CHN and is 9 months old

Thanks
Michael

 

[TomIre]

Mine comes on every time I start the tractor even if it's hot from running. Wouldn't think it's enough to drain the battery though.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Unless my tractor is going to sit quite a while, while I work I leave it running, especially if it's only a small job.

I want the diesel warmed up when I'm done with a small job and I want to make sure the batt. is charged back up too.

But then again, my FARM tractors don't need a glow plug, even to cold start.

SR

 

[LouNY]

I have noticed that mine comes on even on a warm start for a few seconds,
if you had been starting and stopping your engine enough to run the battery down I would expect that the frequent starting was a much larger battery draw then the engine pre heater..

SR a lot of our farm tractors have manifold heaters or glow plugs.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

My farm tractors have a glow plug, it's just not needed to cold start them, my Agco's crank right up without using it.

I can't say the same for my tinker toy tractors though, that dam indirect injection requires the use of a glow plug!

SR

 

[LouNY]

Our Internationals and New Holland start much better with them especially when it gets down close to zero.
My Oliver required it when it got close to cold.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

My loader tractor that you see in my picts a lot, I've never had to use it, not even down to zero. The other Agco you see in the picts, I have to use the glow plug in the colder part of winter, but never otherwise.

SR

 

[Roadworthy]

Going back to the OP, there is no indication how long the tractor was running between starts. If the starter and/or glow plugs run the tractor must then run for a period of time to charge the battery. Starters and glow plugs do make a huge drain on the battery. There is also the matter of the age and condition of the battery. Take it to a shop and have it load tested. It's possible your battery is just too old.

 

[ericm979]

On my 3725 the preheat light goes on for a shorter time when the engine is warm. If the engine really is hot I often just start it even though the preheat light is on. It starts right up with no smoke, unlike the few times I have forgotten to wait for the light when it's cold. If you do that, it's obvious that you did something wrong.

 

[Branson Bob]

What I assume to be my glow plug indicator light ALWAYS goes on no matter how long the tractor has been running. The duration is always 5-6 seconds.

If I have been running the tractor for a long enough period of time, I don't bother waiting for the glow plug indicator light to go dark because I assume glow plugs work on the principle of a resistive heating coil/heating element and draws a fair amount of current to generate heat... heat which is not needed when the engine is already warm.

If I'm incorrect in this assumption I'd be glad to be corrected by someone who KNOWS differently.

 

[Cougsfan]

I think you are correct, Bob. My light also comes on for a while when you turn the key on even if the engine is warm. I wait until the light goes out if the engine is cold (starts easier) but also start the engine without waiting at all if the engine is already warm. I agree with the advice that it better to not shut the engine off and just let it idle if you are only stopping use of the tractor for up to a few minutes. With some of the new DPF's, idling too long can be a problem (one of the reasons I gutted mine). But in any case I suspect your battery going dead is most likely caused by something other than your glow plugs.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Well, we call "down to zero", "Spring" and "Fall" around here.

None of it will start without glow plugs once "Winter" hits, and yes that includes FARM tractors, unless it's kept in a very well heated building.

But it gets cold here. Real cold, not "kinda chilly out".

The battery drain combo of the starter motor and the glow plugs being frequently used together is what drained your battery, without enough run time between starts for the alternator to catch the battery back up again. In warm weather operation (above zero), once the engine has been fully warmed up, it would have to sit quite a while to need the glow plugs again. I would just go ahead and start it without waiting for the glow plug cycle when it's warm out, and you're just restarting a warm engine.

 

[Malvern Michael]

Hi Guy’s
Thank you for all the comments, the reason I question the glow plugs is my other tractor is a Kubota and the glow plugs only come on by holding the key in correct position so once started that’s it for the day but the Branson glow plugs every start with a hot engine which is unnecessary use of the glow plugs and additional drain on the battery

 

[oosik]

My pre-heat comes on if the ambient temperature is 32 or colder AND the engine is cold. Otherwise - no pre-heat.

 

[Cougsfan]

Hi Guy痴
Thank you for all the comments, the reason I question the glow plugs is my other tractor is a Kubota and the glow plugs only come on by holding the key in correct position so once started that痴 it for the day but the Branson glow plugs every start with a hot engine which is unnecessary use of the glow plugs and additional drain on the battery

It may indeed not be necessary for the glow plugs to come on every time you start the tractor. But over time it has proven to be a simple and reliable method and, in my mind, the less complication you put into a system; the better. No relays, inter-ties or logic to fail and troubleshoot when it stops working. I have not read a single thread of the glow plugs wearing out on a Branson. If your battery and charging system is in anything but in a state of desperately needing repair, it wont be a troublesome overload for your electrical system. The drain caused by glow plugs is minuscule compared to drain caused by the starter motor. These days you don't often hear people saying you should push start your tractor to reduce drain on the battery.

It reminds me of old 360 degree twin cylinder motorcycles (Honda 350s etc.). The points and plugs fired every revolution of each cylinder versus every other revolution as required for a 4 cycle engine. The reason was simplicity. To do it "properly" would have added much unwanted complexity and potential failure points. The points and plugs lasted just as long on those engines as they did on any other that used this now outdated method of ignition.

 

[ericm979]

I have not timed it but I'm pretty sure my 3725's preheat goes on for a shorter time when the engine is warm.

 

[LouNY]

The 8050 has a block temperature sensor that goes to the manifold pre heat control, the colder the engine the longer the pre heat.

 

[52wej]

Hate to disappoint you Cougsfan, but I replaced the glow plugs on my 2004 Century 2535 a few years back. It was not a big expense and the tractor continues to start easily in the cold weather. I generally just use the preheat cycle even when the tractor is warm. Much less smoke that way. W Jones

 

[sikmusicfreak8]

So, last winter I noticed something on my 2005 4720: My glow plugs will come on with the key turn, but after it starts it immediately goes out. I could swear that the plugs use to run for a period of time after the engine starts? I could be wrong, but thats for sure the case with other engines I own.

 

[ptsg]

So, last winter I noticed something on my 2005 4720: My glow plugs will come on with the key turn, but after it starts it immediately goes out. I could swear that the plugs use to run for a period of time after the engine starts? I could be wrong, but thats for sure the case with other engines I own.

I believe it will run for a couple seconds after the engine starts but the light will definitely go out right after it starts.

At least mine does and I've checked the timing table on the service manual.