Are block heaters needed?

[patrick_g]

jimmy, The block heater will make the tractor start like it was a warm spring day except for one thing...your battery is not capable of putting out anywhere near its warm weather performance when it is really cold. If you add a battery heater, commercial or DIY like heater tape or ..., then you will have the next best thing to a heated garage to park your tractor and will enjoy easy starting and quick warm up.

Pat

 

[bx23barry]

Can't think of a reason for a block heater, maybe I need to move for more unpleasant experiances

 

[ridgerunnerinwv]

Is a block heater needed? No. Does it make starting in winter easier? Yes.

I do not have a block heater and I do not need one,but what other options would one have if it was -30 and the tractor sat in an unheated enviroment ? Would the glow plugs be enough to do the job ??

 

[jimmy1]

Good point Pat. I think I will just add a battery heater also and I will be completely winterized.

jimmy

 

[roxynoodle]

I have a question: is a block heater better than an oil pan heater?

 

[jbrumberg]

roxynoodle:

I read somewhere long ago that oil pan heaters could "burn" the oil sludge on the bottom of the pan. Another problem is that some of those oil pan heaters attach to the oil pan via magnets. My old Ford had an aluminum oil pan creating attachment alternatives that were unacceptable to me at the time. Jay

 

[Egon]

Go north my friend and look under and over the vehicles. Count the oilpan heaters and count the block heaters/inline heaters and make a decision.

Large road tractors don't count as they have some pretty sophisticated stuff to keep em warm come cold time.

 

[jbrumberg]

ridgerunnerinwv:

Glow plugs drained my battery on my old Ford 1100 before I could start my tractor when temperatures were in single digits Jay

 

[390GT]

I have a block heater, I run the extension cord thru the steering wheel once so as not to drive off with it plugged in. Only once (before block heater) did tractor not want to start. I put a halogen work light under the oil pan and a tarp over the tractor. That worked well. With block heater I have not had any trouble execpt for mice. Now I plug in the heater about two hours before using it. No more winter long heated housing for the little critters. Greg

 

[patrick_g]

Taking the battery out and taking it inside where it is warm until you need the tractor (not just for an hour prior to wanting to start the tractor) will go a long way toward starting it in -30 weather. The energy needed to start the tractor is way higher because of thicker oil and colder fuel and air for the compresion to heat up to the ignition point. A cold battery will deliver way less cranking power. This is the cheapest approach and will help a lot.

Engine heaters make the engine easier to crank and easier to start (over a hundred degrees warmer .) Warming the battery with a thermostatic controlled heater tape (or battery heater or hot pad) will allow you to get much more cranking power out of the battery in cold weather.
Either heating the engine or the battery helps but doing both is about as good as it gets short of a heated garage.

Pat

 

[MikePA]

I do not have a block heater and I do not need one,but what other options would one have if it was -30 and the tractor sat in an unheated enviroment ? Would the glow plugs be enough to do the job ??

The glow plugs would be enough, assuming your battery has enough juice to run them long enough. I have a block heater and I plug it in the night before snow is called for. I also have a battery charger with a Start engine setting.

 

[ridgerunnerinwv]

The glow plugs would be enough, assuming your battery has enough juice to run them long enough. I have a block heater and I plug it in the night before snow is called for. I also have a battery charger with a Start engine setting.

I never heard of a battery charger like that. I will have to check into that...interesting....

 

[Doc_Bob]

I also have a battery charger with a Start engine setting.

Who makes such a thing?
Bob

 

[herringchoker]

I knew a wise gentleman (who has since passed away) who was a licensed mechanic and manager of a large fleet of cars, trucks and construction equipment. He always said that a cold winter start could take 5,000 miles off the life of an engine due to poor lubrication. I don't know if that is true, especially with today's improved motor oils. However, some sort of engine pre-heat can't hurt. Some of my engines need it to start, others don't, but all are equipped with block heaters or in-line heaters and they are plugged in prior to winter starts. I think it is good insurance.

 

[ovrszd]

I knew a wise gentleman (who has since passed away) who was a licensed mechanic and manager of a large fleet of cars, trucks and construction equipment. He always said that a cold winter start could take 5,000 miles off the life of an engine due to poor lubrication. I don't know if that is true, especially with today's improved motor oils. However, some sort of engine pre-heat can't hurt. Some of my engines need it to start, others don't, but all are equipped with block heaters or in-line heaters and they are plugged in prior to winter starts. I think it is good insurance.

I don't know about the 5,000 mile thing either, but I know it's hard on a diesel when it's doing the blue smoke, missing, shaking, vibrating thing trying to get itself smoothed out. If you don't think it is, stare at the oil gauge the next time you start your diesel in sub freezing temps without a heater and count the seconds from the time you turn the key, until the gauge reads pressure. It's not pretty. If you value your engine and frequently start in sub freezing temps, use a block heater. That's pure common sense.

 

[MikePA]

Who makes such a thing?
Bob

Shumacher is one brand with a model that has a Start Engine setting. Link

 

[Thomas]

Morning Mike.
Neet little unit compare to my old Sears charger w/40amp max starter...thanks for the info...125 must really spin the engine,or does it have safety device built in...only uses the amps it needs to start.

 

[Egon]

I can remember a time when there was no electricity.

Various means were used if the vehicle was not stored in a heatable area.

Hot ashes under the oil pan
Blowtorch on the oil pan
Drain the oil and take inside so it's warm when you put it back in
Take battery into the house
Team of horses to pull vehicle as batteries were not as good then as now and once run down could not be recharged

Or, as many did, use the chores team and sleigh for the chores and for going to town. This also worked much better when the roads were drifted in and not cleared.

Some of the horse drawn vehicles even had enclosed body's with stoves and a windshield to keep the occupants warm. Others used foot warmers. Many kept straw in the wagon box to snuggle down into for warmth. When really cold you had to do some walking to warm up.

 

[Chuck_Lind]

Just had an engine block heater installed on my NH TN65. I'll be using the tractor this winter for snow removal; any device that will increase engine life while making it much easier to start is worth it to me.

I've been told the engine will start up just like it was summer...well, close to summer.

 

[fishpick]

Question (really 2) - how much juice does a block heater consume - is it equivalent to, say, a 100W light bulb?
Second question - can you leave it on "too long" - meaning will it get too hot or cause damage if you leave it on all the time?