Oil & Fuel Diesel oil heaters

ron45 · Dec 8, 2016

Hello everyone, Been trying to read up on heaters for cold morning tractor starts. I learned some things but no one mentioned what I want to know. I'd like something that can do the job in less than an hour if possible. We live off grid so that probable amount of wattage is a concern. Depending on the answers, I could always start the generator to run the heater. (another place an oil heater would come in handy)

If it's a sunny day... usually not a problem in N.M. then 12 to 15 hundred watts for an hour or 2 shouldn't matter much.
It was 20 degrees this am @ 10 o'clock. It can get to single digits below zero but it's not a yearly occurrence.

Many people like the freeze plug version. Given my concerns, what would some workable options please?

Ron

RNeumann · Dec 8, 2016

If it's something for an off grid situation you are going to want good direct contact with the oil so you are not "wasting" energy heating the block etc. My vote would be something that replaced the oil drain plug so it has that direct contact with the oil.

Another more extreme off the grid solution would be a propane heater or torch directed at the oil pan. Most off the grid folks enjoy projects and I'd bet you could fashion something that directed a lot of heat on the oil pan and around the block.

rustyshakelford · Dec 8, 2016

Is your tractor stored inside? I just bought a diesel torpedo heater to heat the shop/gym this winter. 190k btu and burns a little over a gallon an hour. Uses very little electricity, just for the ignighter and blower. Might be double use as warming your shop and the tractor prior to use???

Brett

George2615 · Dec 8, 2016

Using a block heater or inline coolant heater running off a generator would take several hours to warm up. A better use for running the generator would be to plug in a diesel / kerosene fueled salamander (say 135K BTU) aimed under the tractor. They are available at many places and give immediate heat. Warms up the tractor, fuel, oil, all at once. No generator then go with a propane type salamander.
I used a salamander before I had a garage to keep the tractor in. Stuck it behind the tractor and plugged it in for about 20-30 minutes on those below freezing days and tractor started right up every time.

CalG · Dec 8, 2016

ron45 said:
Hello everyone, Been trying to read up on heaters for cold morning tractor starts. I learned some things but no one mentioned what I want to know. I'd like something that can do the job in less than an hour if possible. We live off grid so that probable amount of wattage is a concern. Depending on the answers, I could always start the generator to run the heater. (another place an oil heater would come in handy)

If it's a sunny day... usually not a problem in N.M. then 12 to 15 hundred watts for an hour or 2 shouldn't matter much.
It was 20 degrees this am @ 10 o'clock. It can get to single digits below zero but it's not a yearly occurrence.

Many people like the freeze plug version. Given my concerns, what would some workable options please?

Ron

If your intent is to aid STARTING the diesel engine, I see little need to heat the oil at all.
Somewhat contrary to a previous comment, I have had best performance and starting assistance by heating the head. After all, that is where the initial combustion needs to occur.
Freeze plug heaters on the INTAKE side of the block serve well in a small foot print. Heat output may be a limitation, (fit two?), but I don't think so in your climate. I use a lower radiator hose heater. Warm water rising into the head. I've never needed to operate the heater more than an hour to get a good start, And the Mitsubishi engine is a sluggish starter when cold weather arrives.

Multi grade oils take care of any "cold weather oil starvation issues" unless you are down to -30. Which from the forcast, could come next week! Get that heater in soon! ;-)

sixdogs · Dec 8, 2016

When I lived in a very cold climate, everyone used a block heater that heated the coolant. We left it plugged in overnight and it worked like a champ. Oil heaters or magnetic heaters on the block were a distant second and didn't really work at all.

And yes, synthetic oil is a huge plus, as CalG noted.

VictorW · Dec 8, 2016

I run 5W-40 synthetic and at 0'F, just need two cycles on the glow plugs. It starts fine but warming with the torpedo heater might be the best in your situation.

Billrog · Dec 8, 2016

A couple hrs. with a block heater will work just fine. If your going to heat the oil pan with any kind of torch you use a piece or 2 of stove pipe with an elbow to keep the flame a long way from the engine.

CalG · Dec 8, 2016

Not so funny tale told to me by my grandmother some years back.

My father was the eldest of 7 kids , A family farming on shares in the the South Dakota plains.
My Grandfather died mending fence while my own father sat on the horse pulling the wire.
Farming continued, until the "hired man" set a coal fire under the tractor one cold winter's morning to get the tractor started to grind grain. The fire got away, burnt the tractor, burnt the barn that the tractor shed was attached to.
Grandma said "'can't farm without a barn or tractor! we moved into town".

Be careful with open flame !

CalG · Dec 9, 2016

If "off grid", electric heat is completely the wrong way to go.
Petroleum combustion is your path.
Sometimes, all it takes is a good battery charger/heater.