John_Mc
Elite Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2001
- Messages
- 4,045
- Location
- Monkton, Vermont
- Tractor
- NH TC33D Modified with belly pan, limb risers & FOPS. Honda Pioneer 520 & antique Coot UTV
<font color=blue>With regards to the block heater, my main concern is not only with starting ease in extreme cold, but reduced wear on the engine. Most wear in a modern motor occurs at startup and if the oil is warmed it will flow and lubricate just a bit faster, hence in theory reducing startup friction and wear.</font color=blue>
It's not just the warm oil that helps, though that is a significant factor. A cold engine also has tighter clearances between moving parts. Until it warms up, you get increased wear from the tighter fits. (This is more of a factor in some piston aircraft engines, where aluminum cylinder heads and other parts expand at a different rate than the steel pistons, but it will also affect an all-steel engine).
John_Mc
It's not just the warm oil that helps, though that is a significant factor. A cold engine also has tighter clearances between moving parts. Until it warms up, you get increased wear from the tighter fits. (This is more of a factor in some piston aircraft engines, where aluminum cylinder heads and other parts expand at a different rate than the steel pistons, but it will also affect an all-steel engine).
John_Mc