heater for winter

amashinga · Nov 7, 2009

Last year I had some issues with starting on cold days with my Ford 1100. I want to add a heater. Certainly the easiest option seems to be to splice a heater onto the lower rad hose, but I don't know whether they are as effective as a freeze plug block heater. Any experience in this regard ?

Thanks
Bruce.

PILOON · Nov 7, 2009

Hose heater is about same effectiveness as freeze plug ones.
Magnet types are not.
Go for it, your tractor will thank you.

Frost plug type is real easy to install as well, 15 min job at worst and both require draining coolant.
IMHO seeing the possibility of hose damage/replacement I'd go the plug route.
(read on another post where hose heater would get snagged in certain work conditions)

Also I believe frost plug types cost less.

JB4310 · Nov 7, 2009

I put the lower heater in my Ford 1700 last year, works good and was easy but takes a couple of hours to circulate to the the other side of the engine where you can feel it with your hand. I think an internal plug heater would be faster.

With the hose heater is has to have a slight incline to facilitate heat rise.
Tractor is definitely happier starting.

Oh yeah, DON'T grab the heater housing with your bare after it's been on for awhile to see if it feels warm!!! Don't ask!

JB.

Train · Nov 7, 2009

I have a block heater in my Ford 1900 and it works fine. That and I put one of those magnetic heaters on my fuel tank and I've had it running at -32 celcius. By the way that poor tractor lives outside year round.