Oil Pan Heaters vs Coolant Heaters?

[ragkar]

Might I suggest another alternative 'battery blanket' (heater). It works for me.

 

[kennyd]

JD offers a block heater for your tractor.

 

[Argosy]

i agree with the block heater. I had been using a torpedo heater but with the price of diesel on the increase decided to put in a block heater a couple of days ago. Used it the first time this morning, the block was 17 degrees. One hour later it was 73 degrees.

 

[Gibberish]

coolant block heaters are far more effective. they warm the coolant around the cylinder sleeves making for a faster, easier start.

 

[Mechanos]

JD offers a block heater for your tractor.

Yes, they do. They also offer a block heater for my tractor (955). $73 for the "field install kit" which comprises a 1" NPT heater and a cord. I sourced the same thing from an "other than Deere" supplier for $36. As usual, go green and take it in the shorts.... or excercise your options and keep a lot more green in your wallet.

 

[svcguy]

I have to agree with Kuboman. -20 is cold and if you want the best protection, use both. I use both on my tractors and find I don't have to plug them in for that long to have easy starting and warm oil. If you have to choose one or the other, I would go with the jacket heater, but warming the oil at the same time makes sense, is cheap and doesn't hurt the oil.

 

[Zebrafive]

Between the two, a coolant heater is the best for cold temp starting. Heat of compression is what makes diesels go, lose too much heat to a cold engine and starting is hard. If your oil is the right weight for the temperature I would skip the oil heater. An oil heater will not hurt, but wont really help cold temp starting. It might reduce startup wear on the engine.

 

[kuboman]

It might reduce startup wear on the engine.


Says it all right there. Use both

 

[wolc123]

Those block heaters do work wonders. It was -10 this morning when I plugged my 4120 in. 1 hour later, it started smoother than it does in the middle of the summer. I cant imagine a better $40 spent on a tractor used in cold climates.

 

[Nitro-Fish]

Well, I'm no expert, but I have installed back-up generators as large as 2 Meg, in various climates along the East coast and the diesel powerplants for them use jacket water heaters as opposed to any type of oil pan heater (they also use condensate heaters in the windings of course). Keep in mind these things also have circulating pumps to keep exchanging the water (then again the radiators for these units are as large as your garage door & very thick too), I doubt you will need a circulating pump for your tractor!