One way to get an engine started on a cold morning

[thcri]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm not sure how a head would crack. The hot water is a lot cooler than flames from internal combustion racing though internal passages of the head and manifold. )</font>


Oh I don't think the heat would hurt the manifold or block, but the sudden change of temperature might. Would taking a 5 degree chuck of hollow cast and hitting it with hot water over 100 degrees you just might?? It is one thing I guess I have never thought of, but then never thought of dumping hot water on a cold engine either.

murph

[Mike_Lipke]

Well, I guess that is what I meant. A cold engine that starts has flames and exhaust gas suddenly running through it. Seems like that would be at least as much of a thermal shock as hot water. I dunno.

[MikeD74T]

In northern NH, VT, ME loggers put quick connect fittings on the heater hoses of their pickups. When they get into the woods in the AM, with temps 0 to -40F, they couple the hoses onto similar fittings on their skidders &amp; circulate coolant until the diesel is warm enough to start. So they're injecting 200F water into a block that may be -40F. The worst effect is the -40F water from the skidder that next goes to the truck cab heater &amp; instantly cools the truck. Phase 2 is lifting the skidder wheels off the ground &amp; spinning them until the hydraulics warm up.
It would seem that it's unlikely to get water hot enough to crack cold metal as the heat transfer isn't fast enough. It's not like cold water on hot metal as the temperature difference is not the same. The only downside I see to pouring hot water directly on an engine, besides lugging the water, is the icy mess you'd leave behind.
I have a kerosene gun type heater that I use under a big blue tarp pulled over whatever cold vehicle I want to start. Use that more often for extremely cold snowmobiles with frozen suspension, outside winter repairs, frozen hydraulics, etc.

[BadDog]

Around 20 years ago, I worked as a roughneck on the big oil drilling rigs in northern Alberta. When starting a new hole, in minus 40F temps or often worse, we'd always run a big propane torch directly under the oilpan of the engines for a while before trying to start them, and we'd also spray ether in the intake to get them to fire. The engines were big caterpillar diesels for the most part, a heck of a lot heavier than the little guy you're pouring hot water on. The point is that heating those engines in those extreme temps never hurt them during the few years I spent working out there.

I'd have no problem pouring hot water, or using ether over pretty much any cold engine to raise the temp if it would help starting. I can't see any way to damage the thing if you're sensible about where you put the water. If the block cracks from the water, the block was probably going to crack pretty soon anyway from normal use. For the most part, large or small, engines are built to take a lot of abuse.

[beenthere]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ""I am not heating the oil,it heats the area up around the injectors/fuel pump/head the tractor rolls easier on the woodsplitter it actually pulls much easier "" )</font>

Between your first post and this one, I don't know when we are talking 'tractors' or when we are talking '8hp wood splitter engine'. Or why the tractor is rolling easier on the woodsplitter [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

If it works for you, go for it. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] But it sounds like maybe tired engines on both.

[thcri]

We have always been cautioned to not dump cold water in a hot radiator. The -40 or even 300 degrees won't hurt a block. It is the sudden change from one to the other extreme that will kill it. In the instance of the original poster I doubt he is changing it far enough or fast enough to cause any damage, but you just never know. And does the amount of times one does it also effect it? Me personnally I am not sure I like the idea but if it works for him, great.


murph

[jimmysisson]

I like that pickup/heater hose idea. Years ago I went looking for a chunk of land in New Hampshire. The old logger who was selling it walked us up into the December woods, and up there was an ancient Bucyrus Erie crawler he used to yard logs. To start it, he'd drain the oil into a metal pan, start a fire with kindling then a couple of pine branches, heat the oil up hot then pour it back in. That allowed him to hand crank the engine and he said it worked most of the time. Of course, pretty low compression on that motor, no doubt. Still, that seemed like a good idea, too.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Jim

[turnkey4099]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I won't laugh at you or disagree with you.
But I won't do it that way either. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I don't know at what temps you are doing this, but my 8hp wood splitter engine has started in 0°F (yes it pulls hard, but still starts when the gas fires) and my Deere 4300 diesel at colder temps than that.
Not only would I not want the water freezing on the engine at those temps, I seriously doubt enough heat will warm up the cold oil to help any. And I won't try it just because of the icy mess it would create all around my storage area from the frozen water.
But happy for you that it works for you.

The idea of the hot water on the manifold has nothing to do with warming the oil. It just warmed up the manifold and carb for, I guess, better fuel atomization. It worked. As for cracking the head (anohter poster). No, not even remotely likely.

Ice on the floor. Yep. but then that was one of my problems. I had to park it on the street and ice did build up there. Not on the engine though although I expected it to.

Harry K

[tposts]

I found this being discussed on this forum,this gentlemen advocates doing it.


Hotwater on diesel engine,cold weather start

[automech]

An electric heat gun, if you can run an extention cord to the motor would do the job nicely I think. The one I have is shaped like my wife's blow drier, but blows some seriously hot air. No flames to worry about, no water, no ice. It does get so hot that it will melt rubber or plastic so you can't go to sleep when using it. Used in the auto body/repair bidness. You can get cheaper versions under 50 bucks I think.