Block Heater Question???

[Gobblin Tom]

I am just curious to know at what temperature do you plug in the engine block heater?

 

[bigtiller]

I sold the tractor I had with a block heater but I never plugged it in until about an hour or two before I was going to use it. If it was cold enough for me to zip up my coat and put on gloves then it was cold enough to plug in that old cold blooded 3020. Usually somewhere around 20 degrees or less.

 

[JB4310]

With a modern JD I don't need block heater and only tried the preheat glow plugs a couple times just to make sure they work.

When I ordered the tractor I made sure I got the block heater but have not needed it down to close to zero. I'm sure the engine would probably be happier prewarmed for those 10 degree starts, but you don't need it to start.

Unlike my older Ford witch is much more ornery.

JB

 

[greg_g]

I am just curious to know at what temperature do you plug in the engine block heater?

As effective as the OE cold start systems are nowadays, I think you might get by without one. But given the comparatively large volume of trans-hydraulic fluid, you might consider installing a transmission heater.

//greg//

 

[chipsndust]

Tom:

My tractor is parked under a shelter, not heated. I plug my block heater in while I do some shoveling, then start the tractor to snowblow. I wouldn't leave it plugged in for extended period of time. Half an hour seems plenty for me.

 

[grsthegreat]

I just added 2 Wolverine brand block heaters Wolverine Engine Heaters | Outperforms Engine Block Heater - Cold Starts

Were easy to install and i added one to heat the oil pan and one for the HST transmission unit. I also ordered a 3rd for my hydraulic powerpack that will power my snowblower.

The tractor will start just fine without the heaters, but i would have to idle it for 5-10 minutes to warm up the engine, and the HST would sure whine until it warms up. I figure that anything i could do to help preheat it cant hurt. Cheap insurance if you ask me.

I have mine installed on an Intermatic wall timer that turns it on 2 hours before i would normally use the tractor for snow removal. I don't even plug it in until the temps get to and stay below freezing. As long as the daytime temps stay in the 40's or higher i don't bother.

I generally move snow at the same times during the winter, so the timer only makes sense. If i don't use the tractor, its being on for 2 hours will have wasted $0.08 in electricity. That's about $2.60 per month to protect the engine and tranny.

 

[JB4310]

Tom:

My tractor is parked under a shelter, not heated. I plug my block heater in while I do some shoveling, then start the tractor to snowblow. I wouldn't leave it plugged in for extended period of time. Half an hour seems plenty for me.

Yeah those little timers seem to be made for tractor block heaters, just make sure it's rated correctly.
From my experience with machines that do need block heating, in other words will not start with out it, usually 2 hours is the minimum to really make a difference. but I'm sure any amount of time wouldn't hurt.

JB

 

[grsthegreat]

i used this timer, it has 15 amps, 1850 watt load. great little unit with battery backup. Have 2 others that control the block heat on the ford and the dodge also.... Im all ready for old man winter.

 

[RoyJackson]

I just added 2 Wolverine brand block heaters Wolverine Engine Heaters | Outperforms Engine Block Heater - Cold Starts

I'm very interested to see how this works out for you. I've read bad things about some of those external oil pan heaters (mostly the magnetic type, IIRC).

Since my tractor is in a garage (under the house) most of the time, I don't have a heater. However, there are times I leave the machine outside and have considered adding a heater.

 

[Gobblin Tom]

With a modern JD I don't need block heater and only tried the preheat glow plugs a couple times just to make sure they work.

When I ordered the tractor I made sure I got the block heater but have not needed it down to close to zero. I'm sure the engine would probably be happier prewarmed for those 10 degree starts, but you don't need it to start.

Unlike my older Ford witch is much more ornery.

JB

I also already had the engine block heater installed when I bought the tractor, figured it would be a good idea to help warm things up....

 

[grsthegreat]

I'm very interested to see how this works out for you. I've read bad things about some of those external oil pan heaters (mostly the magnetic type, IIRC).

Since my tractor is in a garage (under the house) most of the time, I don't have a heater. However, there are times I leave the machine outside and have considered adding a heater.

this one isn't the magnetic type, it uses adhesive to adhere to the pan.. I have used a similar style heater as this wolverene on my satellite dish for about 4 years. it had always worked wonderfully....no snow on the dish. This thing gets too hot to touch in about 5 seconds after plugging it in. it sticks to the pan and is heat siliconed along the outside so its about the thickness of 8-10 sheets of notebook paper.

I too have tried the magnetic ones..they suck. I have one on my generator for the past 10 years, and it is still working, but that oil pan only holds 1-1/2 quarts of oil..... using one of them for a tractor engine would be a waste of electricity indeed.

 

[PioneerMan]

Just my two cents but on my p/u half an hour would probably be enough to warm the pan. I know of some guys leaving them on overnight, might up your electric bill a little though...

 

[grsthegreat]

Just my two cents but on my p/u half an hour would probably be enough to warm the pan. I know of some guys leaving them on overnight, might up your electric bill a little though...

We just replaced the one on the 94 dodge, and the service tech told me to let it run between 1-2 hours prior to a real cold start. My Kioti sales guy recommends at least 2 hours also. might be due to the huge amounts of fluids to warm. My rear mount pto hydraulic tank holds 25 gallons. I put the small 125 watt heater on the oil pan and the 250 watt on the HST and hydraulic power pack

 

[greg_g]

I'm very interested to see how this works out for you. I've read bad things about some of those external oil pan heaters (mostly the magnetic type, IIRC).

Magnetic and dipstick heaters are useless. And there are some Chinese knock-off adhesive pan heaters I'd never touch too. Kats comes to mind. But Wolverines are the real deal, plus - as far as I know - they're still made in America. I've installed them on each of my previous 3 tractors, and can't say enough good things about them. I too used a grounded timer, and - when overnight temps were predicted to drop below 20F - would set it to start heating 2 hours before putting the tractor to work. That said, they must be sized and installed correctly. Too small, and they won't thin the oil enough. To large, and they can coke the oil. And even a correctly sized pad - when improperly installed - can lead to disappointment. Follow the selection guide and installation instructions, and you can't go wrong.

My John Deere direct injection engine on the other hand, shouldn't need additional cold start assist. But it's a cabbed tractor, so I want fast heat to the interior. I've got a 750w circulating tank heater ready to install, as soon as I can figure out which heater hose to cut. This is the first winter, so I'm going to wait on the transmission heater. The low viscosity HyGard is very thin (about 10W I think), so it remains to be seen if it needs pre-heating during Kentucky winters.

//greg//

 

[grsthegreat]

Magnetic and dipstick heaters are useless. And there are some Chinese knock-off adhesive pan heaters I'd never touch too. Kats comes to mind. But Wolverines are the real deal, plus - as far as I know - they're still made in America. I've installed them on each of my previous 3 tractors, and can't say enough good things about them. I too used a grounded timer, and - when overnight temps were predicted to drop below 20F - would set it to start heating 2 hours before putting the tractor to work. That said, they must be sized and installed correctly. Too small, and they won't thin the oil enough. To large, and they can coke the oil. And even a correctly sized pad - when improperly installed - can lead to disappointment. Follow the selection guide and installation instructions, and you can't go wrong.

My John Deere direct injection engine on the other hand, shouldn't need additional cold start assist. But it's a cabbed tractor, so I want fast heat to the interior. I've got a 750w circulating tank heater ready to install, as soon as I can figure out which heater hose to cut. This is the first winter, so I'm going to wait on the transmission heater. The low viscosity HyGard is very thin (about 10W I think), so it remains to be seen if it needs pre-heating during Kentucky winters.

//greg//

I wanted to get a circulating water type heater like i had on my old truck, but the Kioti's lower radiator hose was already cut and had a "T" installed for the cab heater, and there was no place to add the heater.

 

[foggy1111]

I wonder about the repeated use of a block heater or tranny heater on a timer in super-cold (below zero) weather.

Say for example.....if you had the heater come on for an hour each day....but never fired up the tractor over a two week period during severe cold. Would you be making moisture problems?

 

[grsthegreat]

I wonder about the repeated use of a block heater or tranny heater on a timer in super-cold (below zero) weather.

Say for example.....if you had the heater come on for an hour each day....but never fired up the tractor over a two week period during severe cold. Would you be making moisture problems?

hmm, good question. not sure. I do know that i did this for 14 years on my old tractor without an issue. Good question though

 

[Tractor Pilot]

I installed a block heater on the left side of the engine block of my JD770. I plug it in about 1-2 hours before I use the tractor when the temperature is 35F and below.

 

[Pipestone Kid]

I wonder about the repeated use of a block heater or tranny heater on a timer in super-cold (below zero) weather.

Say for example.....if you had the heater come on for an hour each day....but never fired up the tractor over a two week period during severe cold. Would you be making moisture problems?

Moisture problems where? The heater is already in moisture.

 

[RoyJackson]

Moisture problems where? The heater is already in moisture.

Condensation inside the engine...specifically the oil pan and maybe the crank journals.
Foggy has a good question, actually...