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

[ByronBob]

Under freezing and the lower it goes the longer I have it plugged in.

I've had 100 degree antifreeze in an hour at 10 above zero. So normally I don't go any longer than an hour.

 

[Rockyridge]

I agree with DesertRose, it痴 not so much if will start without a heater but HOW it starts without a heater. My L3400 never failed to start last year but when it did I had a lot of 典hat banging and clanging hammering diesel noise that really doesn稚 sound good for the equipment. I知 not sure if it really makes any difference but it sure sounds a lot harder on the engine without a heater. With the heater it starts much smother without so much of all 典hat banging and clanging.

Possibly someone has information on research into the effect of starting a diesel in cold weather and how significant that hard diesel 典hat banging and clanging is on equipment. If you have information or an opinion, please share.

 

[DesertRose]

It has been 10 days since my last post on this thread. I have started my tractor every one of those last 10 days. I only started it once without having the block heater plugged in for several hours before I started it. What a difference that one cold start was. The engine fired right away but it took a long time for the temperature gauge to rise above dead cold and I don't like leaving my tractor idling for long periods. The cold start exhaust smoke was actually smokey too. When I start the engine after being plugged in for several hours I don't see smokey exhaust at start up. I park it inside a 3 stall garage attached to my house and even with the garage door open I worry about CO build up while it idles. The temperature has been as low as zero F on a few mornings and the "warmest" it has been is about 15 degrees F.

The block heater allows me to idle the engine during warm-up for much shorter times than if I had not used the block heater.

I don't think a block heater is necessary, but I sure can't think of a single down side of using one. What you spend in electricity you save in fuel. And who knows how much it might be saving in engine wear by keeping the oil warmer than it would have been without the use of the block heater.

I wish I had facts to back me up when I say I think a block heater should be used for cold weather starting. But I don't have any. But it makes me feel good and I know my diesel engines start easier when a block heater has been used so I'll keep using them.

Tom

 

[ccsial]

I wish I had facts to back me up when I say I think a block heater should be used for cold weather starting. But I don't have any. But it makes me feel good and I know my diesel engines start easier when a block heater has been used so I'll keep using them.

Tom

My sentiments exactly.

 

[herringchoker]

My sentiments exactly.

And mine too

 

[Nickahawk]

I live in southern part of KS and we do get some cold weather, but nothing like you guys up north. I have a new L4400 that does not have a heater but I think I will have the dealer order one for me. I also worry about the cold start "noise and smoke". You heater guys have convinced me!

 

[Lockport]

I'd like to hear from folks that are in the cold zones whether synthetic replaces block pan etc. heaters. I'd really like to get rid of the pan and block heaters but my experience has been they are really necessary on the cold days in mid Ontario Canada. Where do you hang your hat frank_miller?

Bill

A big fan of synthetic, I'll opt in here. My wife would drive a 1999 Sunfire GT to the bustop and then take the bus to the city, leaving the Sunfire unplugged and exposed in the prairie winters, north of Winnipeg. A wind chill of -40 is not unheard of, nor even that uncommon. I think the issues to consider is the punishment the battery takes from the cold, turning a Dino oil that is thick as molasses, and if the unit fires, getting oil pumping to avoid metal on metal. The synthetic oil never left her stranded once up until we sold it in the summer of 2006 and it was the original battery until summer 2005. We did not even plug it in at home in an unheated garage. In fact I use synthetic in everything and have not plugged in a car in years.

That being said, I will note that the OEM block heater Kubota supplies works extremely well. After an hour, the top of the valve cover is warm to the touch so Dino oil would not be a concern here for those specific factors. I, however, do not hesitate, if it is not too cold, to just fire it up and let her warm in the open garage for 15 minutes. Since I know the oil is flowing right away and the strain on the starter is not excessive. She will spit some black smoke but it is gone well before 30 seconds have elapsed.

One factor that truly reinforces is to take a day that is -20 and go out to your garage where you have a quantity of Wally-World 10W-30 and Mobil1 10W-30 and pour a small quantity into the cap. The Wally-World truly resembles a hardening shellac.

I like to baby my tractor as much as the next guy and using synthetic oil is the best way I know. IMHO synthetic oil can, and does, substitute the need of a block heater under many (but not all) circumstances. There are things I do to my car that I would never do to my tractor.

 

[ccsial]

A big fan of synthetic

So am I. I use Delvac one.

 

[Reg]

I don't.

If the battery is old and cold - I replace it.
If there are still "cold starting issues" I fix them.
Block heaters are no substitute or excuse for not fixing or replacing things that need to be fixed or replaced. If it started at {whatever temp} when new, it should start at that temp 1, 5, 10 or 20 years later.

Cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, tractors;
diesel, gasoline, propane; same rule applies.