ck3510 do I need a block heater or fuel heater?

[NYCheese]

It was 15F all day here yesterday, and -9F overnight. When I bought the tractor this summer, the dealer (and other brands dealers I was looking at) said that the heaters weren't necessary here. But when I went to get the tractor out this morning, I checked the fuel tank, and it's definitely quite cloudy. I figured better safe than sorry, so I did not try starting it this morning. I'll be getting some additive for sure, because the fuel I still have is from the end of September (half a tank in the tractor, and another 8-10 gallons left in the drum). Just being cautious and doing some reading today before I proceed. Should I get a block heater and/or fuel heater installed?

 

[Agvg]

If my Google is correct that's -22, would get a engine heater, strange that you live in such cold climate and the dealer don't recommend a engine heater, does your tractor have a heated fuel filter?

That could be an good idea because after reading this forum for years I have learned that you in the US has a very variable quality on winter diesel.

 

[sehughes]

I double treat my fuel and use a block heater if leaving the tractor outside. It can only help having it plugged in. When plugged in, mine starts at 20 below just like it does in August

 

[NYCheese]

Thanks guys. I think my first step will just be some fuel additive, since what's in there now is most likely still the summer blend. Supposed to be 40F here this weekend, so I think I'll hold off on doing anything until tomorrow. I'll look into the block heater as well.

 

[xcgreene]

A good 5w 40 is always a big help in climates like that as well.

 

[jrskblx125]

I have always used the winter additive. My machine is in garage, but i live in mass and we had very cold weather yesterday and i started the machine to see how it was. The plugs went thru their normal cycle and it started normally. Battery tenders are always a good idea for outdoor storage. I dont think you need the block heater though. Certainly wouldnt hurt either...

 

[jrskblx125]

Might also note my dealer gave me a bottle of the winter additive in my care package... so it should be used up here in new england.

 

[VictorW]

My weather is similar to yours when the cold sets in. I use the 5W-40 oil that helps a good bit. I also use a fuel additive so the diesel doesn't jel. I don't rely on what comes from the pump even in the middle of Winter and their so called Winter blend. I don't have a block heater and never needed a fuel heater. This will be my 13th Winter with the CK. My tractor sits in an unheated shelter. Below 20F, I just run the glow plugs twice and it always starts. Even in negative temps, twice on the glow plugs, normal starter crank time it fires up, and maybe a few seconds of it rattling before it runs smooth. If you can power a block heater, it'll makes starts even easier but I don't think it's a must have. From numerous members' posts, who use a heater, a block heater seems to work the best but the hardest to install. Next is a radiator hose heater. The oil pan heaters seem to have the least effect and don't seem to really help much.

 

[holeycow]

“0” weight oil,Block heater,done

Yous don’t know much about machinery in winter. Every fall is the same on here; People arguing about using a block heater or not, how many hours to plug it in, yada, yada, yada.

Just get a block heater and use it. Plug it in the night before. Your motor will thank you. And let the thing warm up! Sometimes that takes 45 minutes in cold weather. Work the hydraulics slowly to move warm fluid through the system.


Just because a motor will start doesn’t mean that the motor liked it. Especially diesels.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

You want an automatic fuel heater that works below 30 degrees, and when the fuel is cloudy, you want to use a preheater wrapped around your fuel filter. A block heater is nice for getting the engine warmed up faster as well a limiting cold-engine wear. Here is a video I put together on the subject of cold diesel starting. Links to the heat wraps I use to preheat things are in the description of the video (which I just noticed, I havent set up as an Amazon Associate yet, which i will now go fix lol).

 

[prof fate]

last year was my first year with a diesel and I did a lot of research...

Diesel has wax and oil in it - the winter blend has less - home heating oil will work as fuel, it has no wax/oil in it. The injection system needs lubrication so running heating oil year round isn't a good idea.

Additives...I used them on my old kubota. The new kioti manual recommends DO NOT used additivies. I assume DPF filters are the concern with addititives.

Heating the engine oil or block makes the engine crank easier/faster when super cold. Should help with warm up.

My old kubota (early 70s) and 2018 kioti both say to warm up 10-15 minutes BEFORE using AT ALL. The old kubota..did what I was told as a mechanic - you got oil pressure you're good to go. Warms up faster when working than idling, so you're better off to work lightly till it warms up.

But that was a geared tractor..the new one is HST and I'm noticing a very large performance deficit till things warm up...and it's only in the low 30s here so far.

I have a propane turbo heater and my plan is to run that on the crankcase/underbelly when it gets really cold if it becomes an issue.

tractor had no block heater and dealer said nobody here gets one and it's not an issue. (western PA) Last year the kubota (1400 hours, 45 years old, 7 year old battery) started every time, even in -4 temps. On ONE glowplug (2 cyl diesel).

 

[Egon]

A coolant heater will work well. ( block or in line ). The heat from the heater will get to the Underhood fuel system. Addatives in the fuel tank will handle the gelling problems.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

A coolant heater will work well. ( block or in line ). The heat from the heater will get to the Underhood fuel system. Addatives in the fuel tank will handle the gelling problems.

The fuel is already cloudy which will clog up the fuel filter if the filter doesn't use a heater. When it gets cold enough not even diesel 1 will run without heating the fuel.

If anybody is interested in learning about solving winter diesel problems, check out this informative 3 page PDF. https://www.todaystrucking.com/wp-c..._images/SolvingWinterDieselProblems91-1R2.pdf

 

[Agvg]

Using a proper winter diesel is the only way, I have never even given the diesel fuel any tough even below -35c, no additives or fuel heaters or anything.

 

[jpm1]

It was 15F all day here yesterday, and -9F overnight. When I bought the tractor this summer, the dealer (and other brands dealers I was looking at) said that the heaters weren't necessary here. But when I went to get the tractor out this morning, I checked the fuel tank, and it's definitely quite cloudy. I figured better safe than sorry, so I did not try starting it this morning. I'll be getting some additive for sure, because the fuel I still have is from the end of September (half a tank in the tractor, and another 8-10 gallons left in the drum). Just being cautious and doing some reading today before I proceed. Should I get a block heater and/or fuel heater installed?

I have a DK35SE , I do not have either and have never felt I needed one. It gets down to -40f in the winter where I live. Kioti starts as good as my Chevy 2500hd gasser.
My garage is a steel pole barn with a thermometer it will read -35f inside and -40f out. The proper engine oil and fuel treatment. I have 2 - 150 gallon tanks in the garage which are filled in the summer. I run power service and diesel 911 year round. Never had a problem starts first time, every time.

 

[sehughes]

I have a DK35SE , I do not have either and have never felt I needed one. It gets down to -40f in the winter where I live. Kioti starts as good as my Chevy 2500hd gasser.
My garage is a steel pole barn with a thermometer it will read -35f inside and -40f out. The proper engine oil and fuel treatment. I have 2 - 150 gallon tanks in the garage which are filled in the summer. I run power service and diesel 911 year round. Never had a problem starts first time, every time.View attachment 580287

So you do have an issue with your diesel gelling?

 

[oosik]

I've lived where it gets COLD - Glennallen, AK - and to a much lesser extent in Anchorage, AK. I've found that - other than a heated garage - the lower radiator hose tank heater will be your best friend.

Here in Ea WA state - I've started my Kubota at -22F. I do put Power Service in my diesel fuel, year round, and keep a smart battery tender on the battery all winter.

Been out here in the sticks now - going on 37 years. NEVER had a moments problem with the quality of the diesel fuel. I fill the tractor fuel tank EVERY TIME I use the tractor and my fuel is stored in five gallon WWll Jerry cans.

I firmly believe that there is a wide variance in diesel fuel quality from region to region. Some folks have never ending problems with water and algae in their diesel.

This summer after nine years - I put a new fuel filter on the Kubota. I checked the old one and to the best of my abilities - I could find nothing retained in the old filter.

So I put it in a clean one gallon paint can with about a quart of gas and shook it for over five minuets. The gas came out as clean as it went in. I think I wasted $19 on a new fuel filter for the Kubota.

 

[sehughes]

It was 15F all day here yesterday, and -9F overnight. When I bought the tractor this summer, the dealer (and other brands dealers I was looking at) said that the heaters weren't necessary here. But when I went to get the tractor out this morning, I checked the fuel tank, and it's definitely quite cloudy. I figured better safe than sorry, so I did not try starting it this morning. I'll be getting some additive for sure, because the fuel I still have is from the end of September (half a tank in the tractor, and another 8-10 gallons left in the drum). Just being cautious and doing some reading today before I proceed. Should I get a block heater and/or fuel heater installed?

We run about 60 diesel generators in remote locations that see -30f during the winter. In the past we were constantly dealing with cold start issues. Since we have added block heaters, double treating the diesel fuel and changing the fuel filter every fall we have had 0 issues in 3 years.

Any water in the fuel will collect in fuel filters so by swapping them out you eliminate that issues.

As stated before, just because your engine starts, does not mean its easy on it. Treating the fuel, adding fuel treatment and changing the fuel filter are small dollars and say time and headaches in the future.

I am in the process of adding $70 fuel filter heaters and connecting them to the power for the block heater. This is just another step to make cold starts easier on the engine

 

[Egon]

The fuel is already cloudy which will clog up the fuel filter if the filter doesn't use a heater. When it gets cold enough not even diesel 1 will run without heating the fuel.

If anybody is interested in learning about solving winter diesel problems, check out this informative 3 page PDF. https://www.todaystrucking.com/wp-c..._images/SolvingWinterDieselProblems91-1R2.pdf

Number 1 diesel can vary greatly in component composition. It all depends what is being produced for your area at any given time. It’s just like the variances seen in gasoline over the seasons.

 

[LouNY]

I have a DK35SE , I do not have either and have never felt I needed one. It gets down to -40f in the winter where I live. Kioti starts as good as my Chevy 2500hd gasser.
My garage is a steel pole barn with a thermometer it will read -35f inside and -40f out. The proper engine oil and fuel treatment. I have 2 - 150 gallon tanks in the garage which are filled in the summer. I run power service and diesel 911 year round. Never had a problem starts first time, every time.View attachment 580287

Starting and running at -40 with only Power Service, wow, but do you actually add the 911 routinely?
In my opinion you have been very fortunate.
My tractor is still mostly summer fuel, with the projected cold snap we had over Thanksgiving, I did
add 5 gallons of K-1 kerosene and an extra dose of Power Serve, the same routine we did on the farm.
Every thing that needed to started and ran.

I have a block heater in my pickup and my tractor.
I have contemplated on wrap on heaters for the hydraulic filter and fuel filter on the tractor.
Both engines are on synthetic oil Rotella T6 5W-40 and the tractor has semi-synthetic hydraulic/transmission
fluid in it.
The block heaters are just to be nicer to the engines and batteries and starters, they have started unplugged
when needed, but why if it can be avoided.

One timed jelled and stopped in the cold will alter your thoughts on fuels.