Magnetic block heater?

[jeff408]

I'm thinking of getting one of these magnetic block heaters for my 4300 and putting it on the oil pan for some heating. It says it heats to 300-400 deg. would this be OK? Does anyone have any experience with these.
Thanks, Jeff

 

[20 20]

If your using it to heat up a very cold engine, don't waste your time, get the inline works MUUUUCH better.

 

[jeff408]

It doesnt get super cold around here in W Wash. Next time I change out the coolant I'll put in a inline block heater. I just want something that will help some for cold starts. Or are the magnetic just a waste of money?

 

[Egon]

Some folks have good success with oil pan heaters. In very cold ?? climates most will prefer an an in line or block heater.

Some will use the magnetic type heaters for warming the hydrostatic oil.

 

[kennyd]

I'm thinking of getting one of these magnetic block heaters for my 4300 and putting it on the oil pan for some heating. It says it heats to 300-400 deg. would this be OK? Does anyone have any experience with these.
Thanks, Jeff

Why not get the block heater from JD that's designed for your tractor?

 

[PILOON]

I'm thinking of getting one of these magnetic block heaters for my 4300 and putting it on the oil pan for some heating. It says it heats to 300-400 deg. would this be OK? Does anyone have any experience with these.
Thanks, Jeff

.
.
Yep!
Waste of time/money.

Frost plug heater is much more effective and less costly.
Easy to install, just pry out a frost plug with a screwdriver, add grease and tighten to seal the O-ring snugly.

Be sure to get a higher wattage (not the 200 watt) and all you need to do is switch on about 1/2 to 1 hr B4 start up.
(I use a dedicated outlet that is switchable from inside the house)

 

[ragkar]

Be sure to evaluate the electrical costs of those heaters.
There is an alternative - a fresh charged battery, winter oil and a battery blanket with an electric controller.

 

[mjncad]

Jeff:

If it doesn't get super cold in West Washington, why even bother with a block heater?

Although my 4200 is garaged, the garage is uninsulated and I've had no problem starting mine in winter, and I don't even use the built-in manifold heater.

It doesn't happen often; but we can get get -20F during January, which means the garage may be 10F+/-.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Be sure to evaluate the electrical costs of those heaters.
There is an alternative - a fresh charged battery, winter oil and a battery blanket with an electric controller.

IMO the electrical costs are mininmal compared to the increased wear & tear on everything in the engine with the "super cold starts"....

Normally I plug the tractor in 30/45 mins minimum before running out and snowblowing...I've forgotten to plug her in before and the difference when starting is noticeable. Not to mention it takes it that much longer to blow nice warm air in the cab

 

[ragkar]

I guess that what you get depends on the temperatures that you expect.
An easy search of Amazon yielded two magnetic heaters of 200W and 300W. 24/7 use of the 300W for four months would be 800KWH. Of course you can plug it in the night before if you want to economize.
In my case with outside temperatures rarely getting to zero, a battery blanket (also called a battery thermal heater) with a charged battery will do the trick. My heater is 80W and the external controller turns it on when the temperatures drop below forty degrees.

As an aside, I had an idea that comes from my ice cream maker manufacturer. My maker has a double bowl and thermal conductivity to the inner bowl is a concern. The manufacturer recommends putting a teaspoon of conductive liquid (denatured alcohol is best but it is poisonous) like vodka between the bowls. I'm thinking that if before you attach the heater, you wipe down the heater base and the oil pan with a rag with denatured alcohol on it. This might improve the heat transfer efficiency.

PS The instructions for the 200W heater say 'indoor use only' !
One user reported that the cover of the 300W heater melted off.