Has anyone installed a block heater in LS4100 series?

[durf 700]

I forgot to ask if a block heater was included with my new tractor... and it wasn't. They appear to be pretty inexpensive and simple. Has anyone installed one in the LS 4100 series? I own a XR4145H and would like to install one to help with cold starts in central NY. pics of where it goes would be great!

thanks

 

[jdom84]

My tractor came with one but i probably wont use it unless its below zero and I need to run the tractor. I usually don't run my tractor much in the winter except for getting firewood. All my vehicles can handle the little bit of snow we get each year and I don't care much for moving something that is just going to melt, so that stuff stays where it falls...

Maybe the LS engines have a spot for them already, rather then using the frost plug type that end up leaking all the time. On my Ram truck, Cummins has a threaded plug just for the block heaters. I would check in your manual or ask your dealer.

 

[Doofy]

My brand new XR 3135 has the engine heater installed in the lower radiator hose. Never hurts to have one, that's for sure. Cost is minimal. Drain antifreeze, cut hose, install heater, tighten hose clamps, refill system, burp it and you are all finished. Good Job!

 

[durf 700]

sounds good. sometimes it gets well below zero in upstate NY so I would like to get either a block heater or a in line heater for the antifreeze in the event we get a cold streak and I need the tractor.

 

[Doofy]

Hi durf 700. Not sure why my dealer installed the in-hose heater instead of the usual " frost plug heater". I'll give it a good workout this winter. Should work just fine.

 

[jdom84]

I looked at my tractor this weekend and it also has the inline coolant heater, which I'm pretty happy about, I have had bad luck with frost plug type in the past. You can also use the magnetic heater type if your in a pinch.

 

[Doofy]

Normally, core plug heaters work well and last a long time. I've seen several fail recently though. The in-line radiator hose heater is out in the open and easier to see and keep an eye on. Should work well.

 

[ehinson]

I put a Kat's pan heating pad on all my vehicles including the tractor, I prefer the oil to be warm over the coolant, " my preference ".

It covers a large portion of the pan so lots of oil gets heated, thinking about the Hydro part now, just have to figure out where to put one.

 

[Doofy]

ehinson, sorry I didn't even think of pan heaters when talking about block heaters. My 7.3 Ford diesel I use for snowplowing sits outside all winter and has pad heaters on both oil pan and transmission pan. It also has a 500 watt block heater and a battery trickle charger.

The trickle charger is always plugged in to keep the batteries from discharging and freezing. When I plan to plow, I plug everything in for 1/2- 1 hour and it always starts. I don't plow when temps are below -20.

 

[jdom84]

I don't plow when temps are below -20.

You are quite a bit further north, I don't know how you do it! This year it was -18F for a while and that was enough... made me start contemplating buying a winter home in Oregon, still gets snow and cold... just not nearly as cold.

I've been wondering how well those pan heaters work, been thinking about putting one on my daily driver Subaru Outback. It didn't come with any sort of engine heater aid and although it still starts fine, even in -18f... it doesn't seem to like it.

 

[Doofy]

jdom84: A pan heater would work well on the Subaru if it has a smooth oil pan. They are usually just glued on using silicone sealant. What has really helped me the most is when I switched to 0-30 Mobile 1 synthetic motor oil for winter use. The thinner oil makes a big difference in this climate. Also, the use of a heated battery blanket helps tremendously.

 

[ehinson]

Well it doesn't qualify as cold here compared to you guys, we might see teens or 20's.

But I like to protect my vehicle and I don't have to wait as long to get going cause the oil gets where it's needed quickly.

If you get one, make sure the surface you attach it to is real clean " there adhesive " , put rtv silicone around the edges.

You can't remove them without destroying them so make sure where you want it.

I've never had one fail.

 

[Doofy]

It has been long stated that the most wear on an engine occurs during start-up. A warm engine and warm oil go a long way in reducing wear and tear. Even in Anchorage, they recommend plugging in vehicles at +20 degrees F and lower to reduce emissions and increase longevity of your vehicle.

 

[Drewmon]

Did you ever find out what size lower radiator Kat's unit to order? How did it work? For those that went with the block heater type, which freeze plug did you use and what wattage did you go with?

 

[Doofy]

Not sure of the Brand of the Lower Radiator Hose Heater but the Model number is LR 93521 and it is 120volt/600 watts. The hose measures about 1-7/8" or around 48mm.

Won't know how well it works for a few months yet.

 

[nickmags]

I forgot to ask if a block heater was included with my new tractor... and it wasn't. They appear to be pretty inexpensive and simple. Has anyone installed one in the LS 4100 series? I own a XR4145H and would like to install one to help with cold starts in central NY. pics of where it goes would be great!

thanks

I know this is going to sound dumb to you folks that live near the Arctic Circle and use dog sleds half a year, but us ole boys down in the warmer latitudes don't get a lot of experience in these matters, so... Can you use a magnetic pan heater? Are they worth the money? My XG3032 needs some help in Dec/Jan. I keep both it and my 20year old Dodge Cummins in an unheated garage on trickle chargers, and the Dodge has a block heater that I use when it gets down near zero. Neither get used daily, sometimes might sit for a week or more in winter, but when I need them, I want them to fire right up.

 

[jdom84]

The magnetic heaters work great for certain uses. I used one on my Mitsubishi tractor for a few years but the biggest problem is, if placed on the pan, its only heating the pan full of oil and the engine doesn't receive much of that heat. Coolant heating is ideal because your engine is always full of coolant and heating the water will start a convection. I have found the biggest issue in the cold to be batteries.

 

[Doofy]

nickmags, I don't see any reason why a magnetic oil pan heater wouldn't work, unless you had an aluminum oil pan.
Before Global Warming, we even resorted to electric blankets, light bulbs and even the wife's blowdryer when she wasn't looking.

Not much experience with diesel engines but my Ford 7.3 has never failed to start by using pan heaters and a trickle charger on the batteries.

 

[jdom84]

Before Global Warming, we even resorted to electric blankets, light bulbs and even the wife's blowdryer when she wasn't looking.

:laughing: that sounds like something I would do, last year I had propped a plastic fan heater up to heat the rear gear box/hydro fluid on the Mitsu and "forgot" about it. This was after a spell of -20 weather and the tractor didn't want to move and seemed like it was frozen solid even thought it was back up to the +20's. The tractor started fine and I left it running for a while with the heater fan also running and the magnetic heater on the other side. I came back out and jumped on the tractor moved forward a couple of feet and heard a "CRUNCH". OOPS! :shocked:

 

[Doofy]

Hahahaha jdom84, A funny thing happens up here every winter..."Power Snakes" all over the streets and highways(extension cords people forget to unplug from their vehicles)! We all have those "uh-oh" moments. You have to laugh at them to keep from crying sometimes.