Should I install a block heater?

Rfisher7381 · Aug 22, 2011

I have a BX2360 (purchased 4/11). I live in Southwest Michigan. Winter low temps occasionally drop to 0 degrees F. BX is kept in an unheated barn. I have a BX2750 and plan to use the machine for snow removal this winter. Should I install a block heater or take any measures to warm the unit up before starting on those cold winter days? Thanks. PS: I am using 5W40 synthetic oil and SUDT2.

WilliamBos · Aug 22, 2011

Rfisher7381 said:
I have a BX2360 (purchased 4/11). I live in Southwest Michigan. Winter low temps occasionally drop to 0 degrees F. BX is kept in an unheated barn. I have a BX2750 and plan to use the machine for snow removal this winter. Should I install a block heater or take any measures to warm the unit up before starting on those cold winter days? Thanks. PS: I am using 5W40 synthetic oil and SUDT2.

Install the block heater. You will be happy you did. Cold started it, just to make sure it would if the power went out.

But the block heater is cheap insurance for a long life. Plus, the travtor warms up faster = warm cab.

PHILIP8N · Aug 22, 2011

I am in Indianapolis, and we had 2 weeks of 0F temps last winter. I run 5w-40, SUDT, winter diesel, and power service (white bottle). In an unheated pole barn, with glow plugs, I had no problem starting at 0F. I did let engine and hst warm up for about 10 minutes till coolant indicator read 2 bars until I moved tractor. I have a block heater on my truck that I use with a timer to pre-heat before I leave for work, but a timer will not work for how I use tractor for snow removal. When I need tractor to remove snow, it is usually an 'I need it now moment', and don't have time to mess with a block heater. If I lived where it was really cold, I would probably let a salamander heater blow on it for 10 minutes. Philip.

bp fick · Aug 22, 2011

Love block heaters, of course, I'm up here in N. Michigan (land of -30F) and it's such a cheap way to treat your engine right, imho.

2458n · Aug 22, 2011

I have started my tractor at below zero just using the glow plugs. Treat your tractor right go with the block heater. The f-350 diesel has the block heater for a reason. I always keep a gas truck around for the -25 degree day with no electric. Sometimes you just have to get out.

art · Aug 22, 2011

It is hard to find a diesel that will out start a Kubota in the cold. I know when the temps drop many perspective customers are shocked of an offer at 0 to go out to demonstrate their ability to start with out being plugged in.

They were one of the first that I could find that would start well below 0 twenty plus years ago!

grsthegreat · Aug 22, 2011

It is not so much as just starting as it is in getting the fluids at the right temp to protect the tractor and motor, transmission, etc.

Im going to install the Wolverine Heater on mine. They size them according to the oil capacity in the pan. oops...dang fonts there, thats better.

I live in North Idaho and its too cold in the winter to risk hurting my tractor with cold starts. the glow plugs dont help with friction damage to the block.

crazyal · Aug 22, 2011

I had the dealer install the block heater and have never used it. It's kept inside a unheated garage but it starts so easy that I just never needed it. The problem with a block heater is you need to leave it plugged in all the time or need to know when you want to use your tractor at least a half hour before hand. If you wake up one morning and mother nature decided to prove the weatherman wrong once again with a blessing of 6" of snow and you need to get to work it's too late to decide to plug in the block heater.

It's not expensive and there's no real downside to getting it. I may never use it but it's there.

flyingcow · Aug 22, 2011

As pointed out here already, you should be able to start it without a block heater. But i would have one put on. Best way to do it is have it plugged into a switch that you can throw from your house. Put the biggest one you can. ideally plug them in for at least 2 hours, but even 45 minutes is a help. I drive truck and if my unit is outside, it's plugged in all night. On a big truck(10 gals of antifreeze/10 gals of oil) only uses a couple of bucks worth of electricity. My tractor is inside an insulted garage, never below 30/35. But i occasionally leave it outside and if I know I'm gonna need it, it's plugged in all night

grsthegreat · Aug 22, 2011

I have mine on plug in timer. It starts 1 hr before i need it in AM and 1 hr before id need it in the PM. have used it that way since 1996 on the old tractor, will do so again with the new tractor. I always know when i need to use it in winter.....as there set times to move snow. If i dont need to use it, ive only wasted an hours worth of elect to warm it up (about $0.02 cents here in Idaho).

flyingcow · Aug 22, 2011

Also, up here when it snows we don't get deep cold with the storm. Maybe 15f ish. Bit i still plug in if its outside. If anything saves on batteries.

FWIW- have started tractors at -40. Block heaters plugged in for a few-(plus) hours. These were 145hp V-8's. Hooked booster cables up from the pickup. If you don't start equipment up in that kinda cold, the first try...give it up. These tractors had synthetic in them also. Might not have needed to hook up booster cables...but good insurance.

Will_C · Aug 22, 2011

Absolutely! The timer idea is a good one, but I notice my tractor starts better if the block heater is on for only 30-45 minutes-if I suspect a storm, I'll leave in on overnight.

I'll run a space heater pointed at the tractor for 30 minutes or so if it below 0.

Will

LWG · Aug 22, 2011

I've read that most of the internal engine wear occurs before the engine coolant temperature reaches 180 degrees. After the block reaches that temperature, assuming constant lubrication, the wear is so slight it is difficult to measure. Even if the engine starts without a block heater, you could be saving wear.

peterc38 · Aug 22, 2011

flyingcow said:
But i occasionally leave it outside and if I know I'm gonna need it, it's plugged in all night

Ahhh yes, The County, home of -50 F January nights

warcloud · Aug 23, 2011

i live in up state NY near Canadian border my BX 2360 sits in ploe barn starts in the coldest weather -20 below. just make sure you let it warm up before put a load on it

bp fick · Aug 23, 2011

5 am. Below zero. 10" of snow to push with more coming. Plug in the block heater, go do your morning S.S.S., have a second cup of coffee with some toast, blab a bit on TBN, check your email, watch a weather radar or two, and 2 hours have passed and it's 7 a.m. and it's finally getting light enough to see. Glow the plugs for 4 Mississippi's and she roars to life. The temp gauge is already up 1/3. Priceless.

Rfisher7381 · Aug 23, 2011

Thanks for the great feedback. Looks like a mix of those who use them and those who don't (who'd a thunk!). I'm planning on ordering one from Messick's as it can't hurt to have the engine a bit warm when starting at low temps. I'll probably put it on a timer. Thanks

PHILIP8N · Aug 23, 2011

Sorry brother BP, but I gotta be at work at 6:00am. Get up at 4:30am, 0F outside, got 6" of snow, don't have time for a stinkin' block heater. Turn key, she fires up everytime. Go shovel steps and walkway for 10 minutes, temp gauge is up to 2 bars, ready to roll. Use front blade to remove snow from drive and road for 15 minutes. Put tractor in barn and head in house. Now it is 5:00am (normal wake up time). Take shower, eat, leave for work at 5:30am. Arrive at work at 6:00am, get on TBN. You are not going to kill your tractor by not using a block heater at 0F if you take the right precautions. Is it better to use one? Yes, but it does not always fit my lifestyle or work schedule. I have a 1950 8N with about 3000 hours on it that did same (and sometimes more) work than my L3940, and it is still running strong and has never had the luxury of a block heater. The only reason I use a block heater on my truck is so I will have quicker heat for me and to thaw ice on windshield. Come to think of it, I should probalby eat less mexican and cheese to prolong the life of my hearts arteries. Not bad-mouthing block heaters, they have their place, I just think some people are going overboard here. Check the wattage 1st too. Some of them are up to 750 watts. Thats like running a deep freezer and 4 x 60 watt light bulbs for hours straight non-stop! Yes, I am tight. Good luch with your decision, you only have to satisfy yourself! Philip.

Gordon Gould · Aug 23, 2011

Rfisher7381 said:
Thanks for the great feedback. Looks like a mix of those who use them and those who don't (who'd a thunk!). I'm planning on ordering one from Messick's as it can't hurt to have the engine a bit warm when starting at low temps. I'll probably put it on a timer. Thanks

Good decision. I think it is cheap insurance and makes it easier on the battery. When I get up I let the dog out and plug in the heater. By the time I'm ready to head for the woods the tractor block is warm. All set to start easy.

crazyal · Aug 23, 2011

The only people I know who use a block heater are the ones who don't know if their vehicles (or tractors) will start if the don't. For every block heater out there on a diesel I can point to at least 100 diesels that get a shot of starting fluid to fire them up on the cold days. I even know loggers who light a fire under their skidder in the morning if it's too cold for the starting fluid. If I can get the amount of hours they get out of their machines I'll be a happy camper.