At what temp do you use your block heater (of any kind)

[escavader]

I notice in the BX manual it said Optional Block Heater for temps below 5F.

I live in A VERY cold area,its nothing to have the tractor sit in below zero[f] for a week in my barn.Turn on the glow plugs for 15 seconds it will fire right up.Never had a block heater,cant see i need one.I use synthetic oil also.Im building a cab,and installing a blower, and converting my tractor to my primary snow removeal machine-selling my plow truck.Is there a reason i should get a block heater,and not use the glow plugs?
ALAN

 

[cp1969]

Synthetic oil is not a substitute for a block heater. One of the main reasons to use a block heater is to warm the combustion chamber surfaces so they don't suck all the heat of compression out before the engine can fire. This is especially important for older engines whose compression is down or for turbo engines whose base compression ratio is in the high teens instead of mid twenties like most non-turbo'd diesels.

 

[simonmeridew]

I'm with Escadaver, I have a block heater but never have used it in the 3 years I've owned the tractor(new). This morning, I started my L4400 up ( 10 F degrees above) and out in the weather for 3 days of thiscold weather, and it fired right up with about 5 sec of the glow plugs I know all that business about the oil being warm with a heater etc and I believe it, but honestly I don't know if it amounts to anything.
simonmeridew

 

[jbrumberg]

All I know is that I have summer mix ULSD with a double shot of Power Service (White Bottle). This morning it was in the low teens. I plugged in the engine block heater for about an hour. When I started the tractor it was in the warm range and it started right up with very little HST whine. Jay

 

[Patches]

Seems to me to be a no-brainer in the cold NorthEast. The engine starts more readily,the oil is warm and circulating at the first revolution,it's easier on the battery/starter and all for $0.15 an hour. I'm cheap, but I'm not about to forgo preheating the engine for a couple pennies

 

[smfcpacfp]

Somewhere in the Kubota literature it says to use it, if you have one, when the temperature is below 5 degrees (F). I plan to use mine belwo 20 degrees for an hour before I use it. Anymore time than that would be a waste, except if it is unusually cold.

 

[AndyinIowa]

I leave our tractor running 24/7 regardless of temperature so its ready. I also have a second BX that sits beside the first BX. Its left running as well. In case one tractor stops, the other is still ready to go...

I keep both tractors in a heated building at 112ｰ, and have the exhaust from each tractor ported through custom heat exchangers to heat the other tractor's crankcase and hydraulic oil reservoir.

I've also considered adding a special hot oil exchanger to keep the oil at 165ｰ.

The glow plugs are ALWAYS on.

Anything I'm missing?

IowaAndy


PS - I only use white Power Service for fuel. I don't even waste time with diesel, which might gel up and leave me stranded. In the summer I use grey, but only in a 50/50 blend with the white.

 

[VT365]

Huh? Do What?

 

[mswlogo]

I leave our tractor running 24/7 regardless of temperature so its ready. I also have a second BX that sits beside the first BX. Its left running as well. In case one tractor stops, the other is still ready to go...

I keep both tractors in a heated building at 112ｰ, and have the exhaust from each tractor ported through custom heat exchangers to heat the other tractor's crankcase and hydraulic oil reservoir.

I've also considered adding a special hot oil exchanger to keep the oil at 165ｰ.

The glow plugs are ALWAYS on.

Anything I'm missing?

IowaAndy


PS - I only use white Power Service for fuel. I don't even waste time with diesel, which might gel up and leave me stranded. In the summer I use grey, but only in a 50/50 blend with the white.

I assume you jack it up so there is no weight on the tires too

 

[rpoage]

I leave our tractor running 24/7 regardless of temperature so its ready. I also have a second BX that sits beside the first BX. Its left running as well. In case one tractor stops, the other is still ready to go...

I keep both tractors in a heated building at 112ｰ, and have the exhaust from each tractor ported through custom heat exchangers to heat the other tractor's crankcase and hydraulic oil reservoir.

I've also considered adding a special hot oil exchanger to keep the oil at 165ｰ.

The glow plugs are ALWAYS on.

Anything I'm missing?

IowaAndy


PS - I only use white Power Service for fuel. I don't even waste time with diesel, which might gel up and leave me stranded. In the summer I use grey, but only in a 50/50 blend with the white.

Not getting any Christmas cards from Al Gore are we?