Magnetic Engine Block Heater

[grsthegreat]

I an sure that is why every diesel truck that I have drivin has come with the factory option block heater.

use the right oil and starting should not be a problem.

Only when your ideas are encouraging people to do things to damage their equipment.

well, this will be my last reply on this thread, then im logging off of this particular thread.

You show us....ANY ... data that proves that a stick on heater will damage a diesel engine than ill print a retraction. But you wont find any. I looked into this heavily before i purchased mine. All i found were good reviews.

nite all, and have a Merry Christmas

 

[Scotty370]

My experience has been to change to a synthetic oil.........Mobil-One or the like. It did wonders for my cranking speed....sans heater............~Scotty

 

[roman]

"I gots to know!"

Why would you heat a sattelite dish? mmmm...

 

[sparc]

Oil or lack of oil will destroy a cylinder wall faster than anything . Heating the oil to assist flow is all that i want to do, and is all that needs to be done.

But won't heating the coolant using a block heater transfer heat into the block itself and also into the oil and oil passages where the flow of cold oil is restricted? Won't heating those oil passages and keeping that oil, the oil which is first to arrive at the critical wear points in the motor, do more to prolong engine life and aide in starting than having a mass of warm oil in the bottom of the pan that won't reach those critical wear points during the first few seconds? The point(s) with the most restriction or friction are all the places that oil is sent to lubricate. These to me seem to be the points that need oil which is in a free flowing state and not thick as sludge.

 

[digger2]

Twinjay,
I dont know about the magnetic heaters,never had one.BUT,about a month ago i installed a screw in block heater on my Kubota and it really works great.I mean i am impressed.It starts like its summertime and no more of that "cold start diesel" noise.I plug it in for about an hour and what a differance.I dont know what make machine you have but I paid about $40
for it at my Kubota dealer and it was well worth it.
As far as the engine oil itself being cold,i dont know myself if the block heaters help much,maybe.But as far as the engine starting,the block heaters do work great.And......I believe that ANY preheating of the engine saves untold wear and tear.I have always thought it would be a good idea,if you lived in an area where
it was EXTREME cold,to possibly have a small stick on heater on the oilpan also,heating the oil as well.That may be overkill for where i live.But if i lived someplace where it was EXTREME cold,I think i would do that idea too,
but thats another story.


digger2

 

[sparc]

"I gots to know!"

Why would you heat a sattelite dish? mmmm...

just guessing but maybe to help stop any ice or snow buildup which will degrade signal reception.

 

[whitetiger]

But won't heating the coolant using a block heater transfer heat into the block itself and also into the oil and oil passages where the flow of cold oil is restricted? Won't heating those oil passages and keeping that oil, the oil which is first to arrive at the critical wear points in the motor, do more to prolong engine life and aide in starting than having a mass of warm oil in the bottom of the pan that won't reach those critical wear points during the first few seconds? The point(s) with the most restriction or friction are all the places that oil is sent to lubricate. These to me seem to be the points that need oil which is in a free flowing state and not thick as sludge.

Using a block heater works so much better and you do not chance scorching your engine oil like the magnetic heaters on an oil pan can. Thats probably why manufacturs do not offer stick on heaters as an option like block heaters.

 

[Egon]

Well, you want to get serious with the oil you need heated oil and a pre/post Lube oil circulating system.:thumbsup:

 

[Don87]

Using a block heater works so much better and you do not chance scorching your engine oil like the magnetic heaters on an oil pan can. Thats probably why manufacturs do not offer stick on heaters as an option like block heaters.

I also had heard that they can scorch the oil, but this thread got me investigating a little.

Heres what I found. Audi offers oil heaters as OEM equipment:


Oil Pan Heater - Audi Forum - Audi Forums for the A4, S4, TT, A3, A6 and more!


Image Search Results for audi oil heater


My searches showed that VW uses oil pan heaters also. Along with Piper Cub airplanes.

Personally, I'll stick with the coolant heater.............If I ever get one.

 

[medic1050]

"I gots to know!"

Why would you heat a sattelite dish? mmmm...

Up here in the great white north it might not be a bad idea, depending on how high up you mounted your dish. Mine is only 10' off the ground so when it gets covered in snow I can tap it with a broom and restore reception. A heater would keep the snow from sticking. 1" of snow accumulation on the dish and no reception.

For the 4 or 5 times a year that you get the right combination of snow and wind to acumulate snow on the dish though I couldn't justify the expense of heating my dish. The grey paint does a good enough job once the sun comes back out.

 

[roman]

I have a satt dish and live in a snowbelt. Never had a problem. Not that grsthegreat hasn't, but it seems like overkill to me. I guess I am glad I don't need it.

 

[DANOCHEESE]

I have had a glue on heater on a 01 7.3 since new. No issues with it. I also have the stock coolant heater and added battery warmers to both batteries. I also have seriously considered an Espar system. You see when I have to go I have to go. There are thousand of guys using the glue ons for Sat dishs, the Sat guys push this to people

 

[namesray]

i use a electric space heater on my kubota b7800. i put it on a stand next to the tractor engine on the same side as a block heater would screw into, about 6 inches away from the engine, close the hood and wait for about 2 hours. even at 15*f degrees it starts like it was a hot summer day. no smoke, no sputtering. warms the entire engine block, hoses, filters, everything, and i don't have to worry about any modifications to the engine or stick ons falling off. i had a bad experience with magnectic block heaters. i too belive they are junk.

 

[MikeD74T]

I also had heard that they can scorch the oil, but this thread got me investigating a little.


My searches showed that VW uses oil pan heaters also. Along with Piper Cub airplanes.

Personally, I'll stick with the coolant heater.............If I ever get one.

You do realize that those VW & all Piper Cub engines are air cooled - right? MikeD74T

 

[roman]

Dannocheese, I never realized satt dishes could be such a problem. I learn something new each day and will consider myself lucky that ours dosen't need a heater.
I quess we don't get as much snow as the others...

Actually...Snow? where is it?

 

[Danno1]

Actually...Snow? where is it?

These are Bostons stats from yesterday's Chan 7 weather report, but I found them interesting:



So far in Boston, we've had an inch of snow in October (with the Halloween storm) and a trace several times November and December. But the latest we've gone without...

2" snow was on 2/16/80

4" snow was on 4/3/1915

6" snow was on 4/1/97

In addition, 1972-73 (when I was but a wee lad) NEVER saw a snowfall of more than 2" ALL WINTER!



.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I also had heard that they can scorch the oil, but this thread got me investigating a little.

Heres what I found. Audi offers oil heaters as OEM equipment:


Oil Pan Heater - Audi Forum - Audi Forums for the A4, S4, TT, A3, A6 and more!


Image Search Results for audi oil heater


My searches showed that VW uses oil pan heaters also. Along with Piper Cub airplanes.

Personally, I'll stick with the coolant heater.............If I ever get one.

The reason they use oil pan heaters is the engines are air cooled, just like a lawn mower. No coolant to heat up.

Chris

 

[Don87]

You do realize that those VW & all Piper Cub engines are air cooled - right? MikeD74T

That would be why they use oil coolers.

This was just as a frame of reference, my friend(to clarify that oil coolers may work).

Audi, I believe is all water cooled though.

 

[CTPhil]

I just ordered a Wolverine 500W heater on eBay for $48, we'll see. My first choice would have been a freeze plug heater, but I just want something easy to install right now. The loader frame on the tractor in question makes everything to do with the engine extra hard to do.

 

[PILOON]

That would be why they use oil coolers.

This was just as a frame of reference, my friend(to clarify that oil coolers may work).

Audi, I believe is all water cooled though.

99% of aircraft engines are air cooled and that is mainly due to weight.
Block heaters are often used to heat the oil pan or sump however FAA blessing (called an STC) is needed unless the heater device is removed prior to each flight.
Most AC would normally be preheated using an external heating device such as a Herman Nelson or some sort of salamander.
Some pilots are known to direct a vehicle exhaust to preheat.
On aircraft heating is mainly to thin the oil viscosity.

Not generally common knowledge is the fact that in cold damp conditions spark plugs can frost over as the engine compresses cold damp air.
Naturally with frost in the plug gap it wont spark.
For that reason in arctic climates many pilots bring the plugs inside overnight.
It has been known for pilots to hug their plugs inside of their sleeping bags as well.