Surprised how much block heater helps starting diesel

[number two]

Somewhere in the Katz engine heater literature I read that the block heater element is somewhat fragile when hot,and the vibrations from a running engine could damage the element.
I've often wondered how long to wait to start the engine after unpluging the heater.
Normally I fire it right up-no damage so far.

 

[LouNY]

The block heaters and lower radiator hose heaters on my vehicles are plugged into smart switches,
I can set turn on and off timers to automatically run the heaters or remotely turn them on or off using my phone.
The engines start easier and smoother and I get heat in the cab sooner so it's a win all the way around as far as I'm concerned.
The only issue I have had with the heaters is that it can confuse the intake manifold heater controller that tries to automatically set the time for heating.
One very cold morning the tractor fired right up and abruptly snuffed it's self out when the cold air got into the engine as the intake manifold heater had not
run long enough. Was a nice morning as the first start took enough out of the battery that it didn't feel up to a second go round,
booster box just barely had enough. I was sure glad to get back inside and warm up while that engine did.

 

[CobyRupert]

The block heaters and lower radiator hose heaters on my vehicles are plugged into smart switches,
I can set turn on and off timers to automatically run the heaters or remotely turn them on or off using my phone...

Cool.
Now if they just need to invent one smart enough to unplug itself before you drive off.
...I’ll just have to stick with looping the cord around the tractor steps so I trip before I forget it.

 

[CobyRupert]

Cold transmission fluid is one downside to an HST over a gear.

One can always turn the pto on as you let engine warm up, or turning steering to its limits and let oil flow through relief.

 

[LouNY]

Cool.
Now if they just need to invent one smart enough to unplug itself before you drive off.
...I’ll just have to stick with looping the cord around the tractor steps so I trip before I forget it.

My pickup is the only one so far that has had that issue and it will unplug its self,
at least it has the couple of times I haven't unplugged it, fortunately the way I park that I backup straight a hundred feet when I head out.

 

[CalG]

I run a lower hose heater on the Hurlimann. 1/2 an hour is more than enough to get the engine running on a zero degree day. Colder than that, I need the heater, not the tractor;

The B7200 starts well with the glow heaters, but.. I put the 2amp battery charger on for a couple hours prior to use. that "dynamo" system always leaves the battery at about 85 % charge. A maintainer is used every week or two even in summer.

 

[Cat385B]

The block heaters and lower radiator hose heaters on my vehicles are plugged into smart switches,
I can set turn on and off timers to automatically run the heaters or remotely turn them on or off using my phone.

I am so behind the times. I did not know there were wifi able timers. Now if I could just get a signal out to the shed.....

 

[LouNY]

I didn't know about them till my wife got me one a few years ago.
If the shed has power fed to it from the house panel a power line net work is likely to be effective;
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/everything-you-need-to-know-about-powerline-networking/

 

[deserteagle71]

My old John Deere 2020 diesel (~ a 1960 model) will not start if the temperature is below 50 degrees if the block heater is not plugged for at least a half hour or so. My 2016 Kubota M7060 has never been plugged in. Even at temperatures around 0 degrees Fahrenheit, as long as I wait for the preheat light in the dash to go out, the engine fires right up.

 

[KennyG]

I run a lower hose heater on the Hurlimann. 1/2 an hour is more than enough to get the engine running on a zero degree day. Colder than that, I need the heater, not the tractor;

The B7200 starts well with the glow heaters, but.. I put the 2amp battery charger on for a couple hours prior to use. that "dynamo" system always leaves the battery at about 85 % charge. A maintainer is used every week or two even in summer.

A lot of the value of the low power charger is that it keeps the battery a little warmer. An increase in the temperature adds a lot of cranking power. I never have starting issues because I park everything inside buildings I keep above freezing. However, when I get sloppy and crank my John Deere without letting the glow plugs work, it starts but doesn't sound good at 40 deg F.

Back in the old days, some people, instead of adding block heaters to cars, would just bring the battery inside at night and put it back in when they wanted to start it in the morning.