For those with block heaters

[whitenorth]

If you you can turn the power to the garage from the house
then plug the tractor in the garage and then 2 or 3 hours
before you want to use the tractor turn the power back on

willy

Wish it were that simple. I have freezers in the garage and the garage is heated. Wish I had room to put the tractor in the garage. Built it as big as I could afford but, when are garages ever big enough? Plus, that would mean I'd have to get up in middle of the night to turn it on as I'd need to blow out the drive way so that the wife can get to work in the morning. A timer would give me a few more hours of uninterrupted sleep.

 

[newbury]

Other factors to take in account - oil, fuel.
With the "new" synthetic oils 0W-30 is common, that flows a lot better than what I ran back in 1967.
Diesel fuel is known for gelling at low temps. Make sure you have it properly "winterized", keep a few gallons of kerosene on hand. A warm block doesn't help if your fuel does not flow.

 

[whitenorth]

Other factors to take in account - oil, fuel.
With the "new" synthetic oils 0W-30 is common, that flows a lot better than what I ran back in 1967.
Diesel fuel is known for gelling at low temps. Make sure you have it properly "winterized", keep a few gallons of kerosene on hand. A warm block doesn't help if your fuel does not flow.

Oh yeah, BIL told me all about gelling and to "winterize" it. Been reading up on that also. Already have cans that are prepped and sitting in the garage. The tank in the tractor I'm told by the dealer I bought it from has already been treated. It will also be topped off after each use so that the tank has as little air in it as possible for any length of time.

 

[chris the wrench]

I use an outside Holliday timer for my trucks and tractor. Around zero f i set for about 3 hours, 20 below f i set for 5. Colder than that, i stay home and any snow can wait.

Nothing scientific about my timing, just seat of my pants calculations.

My 2006 5.9 cummins takes about 3x as long as my 2022 6.7 to warm up if i dont plug em in.

 

[LHF2019]

I think anymore most diesel is treated for winter and gelling is rare unless you live in the extreme cold. I have never treated mine but then again I buy bulk. See 0* all the time. I only know of one gelling issue in 40 years and the cure was to go back to field an hour later and pickup where I left off.

 

[TractorTYMe]

I use this Wyze Outdoor Wifi managed outlet for my block heater, I can program it for when it turns on automatically and off for set time.

Wyze Plug Outdoor | Best Wi-Fi, Outdoor Outlet & Smart Plug

Wyze made the best Wi-Fi outdoor smart plug and electrical outlet. IP64 Weather Resistant, made for outdoors.

www.wyze.com

 

[Topzide]

WiFi timers are the way to go for block heaters. I have one that I use for my RAM, and can set it to come on at certain temp and time. If it's not that cold during that time frame, it won't come on. Really helpful when I'm the DW's tow truck! She leaves at o'dark thirty, and I have the block heater to start when it's needed to get on the road quick!

 

[newbury]

just seat of my pants calculations.

Yeah, I remember going by "seat of the pant calculations."
If I got in the truck and it was real cold the vinyl seat would be rigid, but would flex under my butt, that would require an hour or so of block heater. When it was REAL COLD it would maintain the folds like wood. That meant a long time to warm up.

 

[whitenorth]

I use this Wyze Outdoor Wifi managed outlet for my block heater, I can program it for when it turns on automatically and off for set time.

Wyze Plug Outdoor | Best Wi-Fi, Outdoor Outlet & Smart Plug

Wyze made the best Wi-Fi outdoor smart plug and electrical outlet. IP64 Weather Resistant, made for outdoors.

www.wyze.com

Thanks for the link. Like the fact that it has 2 plugs. Can it be set to on go on at certain temps like Topzide can do?

WiFi timers are the way to go for block heaters. I have one that I use for my RAM, and can set it to come on at certain temp and time. If it's not that cold during that time frame, it won't come on. Really helpful when I'm the DW's tow truck! She leaves at o'dark thirty, and I have the block heater to start when it's needed to get on the road quick!

The turning on based on temp seems like a good idea. What brand is it that you are using?

 

[Topzide]

It more of what the app can do, not the plug. I just have a 2 channel outdoor wifi plug. Means it has 2 independently operated plugs. The app has scenes that allow me to set what temp to come on at. I use 1 channel for block heater on my RAM and the other for a battery maintainer. If I know I'll need the tractor, get it plug in the same way with another setup.
I'm using the Smart Life app on Android. Hope that helps.

 

[elsievo]

I use my "husky" timer. I run an extension cord into the garage and plug it in when I go walk the dog in the morning. 45 minutes later we get back, I go start the tractor. Haven't had any issues for two seasons. I live in Michigan's Copper Country and as long as Lake Superior is still open we generally stay above 10F.

 

[TractorTYMe]

Thanks for the link. Like the fact that it has 2 plugs. Can it be set to on go on at certain temps like Topzide can do?




The turning on based on temp seems like a good idea. What brand is it that you are using?

Not that I have found, I can turn on each individual based upon time however. So if you know it's gonna be a cold one, set it X amount of hour before you get up and turn it off at said time you start plowing etc. I've used mine for years.

 

[Williy]

This is an outdoor timer:

Outdoor Timer Outlet Waterproof, 24 Hour Mechanical Light Timer Outdoor, 2 Grounded Outlets for Home and Garden, 15A 1/2HP, Heavy Duty, ETL Listed

https://www.amazon.com/TiFFCOFiO-Outdoor-Waterproof-Mechanical-Grounded/dp/B0D8VWTHLP/ref=sr_1_102?crid=13CN9QZ866MZL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.T4bPH4cXgOVwHcRh04NlnNEh2kJESZJ4oMZKM4xBEArKV5P9E8Zk-X_QDB7tYIkbtSDOEYJS3PeHMXSD5lGcLbgiGbPh9TEih17cR9TuuQw.7Jur11vovm20-ht15buQyXBpKE9spHI3QTzXUNNCd3k&dib_tag=se&keywords=timer+electrical&qid=1729867343&sprefix=timer+electrical+%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-102

willy

 

[ruffdog]

Performance of a "block" heater varies with the type it is too. It it a oil pan heater, lower hose heater, one that goes in a heater hose and circulates the coolant, one that is into the block's coolant passage, or a dry pocket type in the head? I had a coolant passage block heater in my NH TC33D and needed two+ hours when really cold. My Toolcat has a dry pocket heater that I feel needs a bit more time than that.

 

[ruffdog]

Lots of HD outdoor pool pump timers on the market too.

 

[D'oh]

Seattle, Minneapolis and Toledo are all a couple of hours South of Canada, all have very different weather conditions.

As for Block Heaters. 0F is a good place to start on a Diesel, Size Wattage, Temp, and Wind will affect How Long, but 1 hour will suffice, add 1/2 hour for every 5 degrees below 0 with a normal 800-1000 Watt Coolant Immersion Heater.

Windchill does not affect your Tractor, but it will affect your Tractor's Block Heater. By dissipating the heat generated by the Heater.

As far as plugging a Gasoline Vehicle in? Your choice. I don't plug either of my Trucks in even the coldest nights. Good Battery, 5W-20 5W-30 Oil, and they Start. That's at -30/-40F

 

[Farmer495]

I am in eastern Canada.

I've used timers on two different diesels, one tractor and one truck.

Had a mechanical timer set to run one hour before feeding time on loader tractor. Tractor has a recirculating heater. Never failed to start. I've also plugged same tractor in 30 minutes and it was enough.

I used to have a digital timer block heater cord was integrated temp sensor when I had my 7.3 diesel truck. I only had it set to run one hour as well, it also had the feature to not turn off if it was "warm enough" outside.

 

[zoedog2012]

When I was in grade school I spent the weekend with a classmate on their ranch. We got early in the cold morning to feed livestock and when we got to the hay barn the team was hooked to the wagon and next to it was a new IH tractor. I asked why they didn't use the tractor and was told that the horses always start.

 

[Paystar]

For me I have an outside outlet that is by itself on a breaker. I leave tractor plugged in, then 2 to 3 hours before use I just click breaker on in house.

 

[whitenorth]

For me I have an outside outlet that is by itself on a breaker. I leave tractor plugged in, then 2 to 3 hours before use I just click breaker on in house.

Wish it were that easy. Garage is a separate building. Plus that would mean I'd have to get up 2 to 3 hours before I needed to start in the morning.

I ended up buying a weather proof timer. I plan on running the extension cord from the outside outlet to the timer under the hood of the tractor. It and the extension cord will get removed before starting.