Benefits of block heater even if engine start without one

[3930dave]

A wall switch with a built-in indicator light can be a help, re. remembering to switch Off an unseen load. My neighbour put one in, after often leaving a light on for weeks+ in his attic storage area.

These thermocubes can be useful, if you can find them in a temperature range of interest:

Amazon.com : Farm Innovators TC-3 Cold Weather Thermo Cube Thermostatically Controlled Outlet - On at 35-Degrees/Off at 45-Degrees : Electrical Multi Outlets : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Rgds, D.

 

[MHarryE]

Performance Unlimited 4-Wheel & Off Road Center - Hartford, Wisconsin - USA

On this link, near the bottom of the page, is a graph of cylinder wall wear vs operating temperature. As you can see the wear rate is incredible at cold temps (and they only go to 40 degrees on this chart). Quicker you can get the cylinder walls warm the more life you will get out of your engine.

 

[3930dave]

Interesting info, and thermostat design - thanks for posting that Harry.

Rgsd, D.

 

[BarnieTrk]

Danny C and LD1,
Thanks for doing the math earlier! I was wondering what the associated costs were - and you guys answered them for me! :drink: :drink:

MHarryE,
Also good info link regarding temp vs. cylinder wall wear and thermostat design! Thanks! :drink:
BarnieTrk :cool2:

 

[BarnieTrk]

...I engage the pto that runs my rear mount snow blower... The tractor's engine runs for about 5 min. with the pto engaged before I actually start using the tractor for snow blowing.

Ok, so I'm a dummy - please help me understand:

When you say you engage your PTO, do you mean put it in gear to begin turning the snow blower or just the shaft end at the back of the tractor?

So you engage the PTO why? - is it to circulate / warm the hydraulic fluid while the engine is also warming up?

BarnieTrk

 

[tcreeley]

Plugged in the engine sounds smoother when it starts - less of that startup chatter and engine can make until the oil gets around.

 

[Garandman]

Interesting info, and thermostat design - thanks for posting that Harry.

Rgsd, D.

 

[dieselcrawler]

I dont have a block heater for my 3005... yet. I will get one to put in at some point. So a high idle warm up is my only option for now.

But my 7.3 fords get pluged in any time its in the mid-30's or less. I need to set up timers, but I'll just plug in my truck in over night, and if my wife is going out thru the day I plug hers in on my way out to work. Hers starts easier than mine, dispite my new glow plugs and lower miles.

All of mine will start w/o being pluged in... but I agree with the pre-warmed start up line of thinking. And getting a little heat a little sooner is nice. Not that I ever get too warm in the 3 miles/7-8 minutes drive to work!

 

[Looking4new]

Ok, so I'm a dummy - please help me understand:

When you say you engage your PTO, do you mean put it in gear to begin turning the snow blower or just the shaft end at the back of the tractor?

So you engage the PTO why? - is it to circulate / warm the hydraulic fluid while the engine is also warming up?

BarnieTrk

Turn the blower on.

The hydraulic oil circulating will warm up ALL the oil rather than just the oil running in the pump.

I do the same thing, I just forgot it in my post.

 

[DHD]

Turn the blower on.

The hydraulic oil circulating will warm up ALL the oil rather than just the oil running in the pump.

I do the same thing, I just forgot it in my post.

I am glad to see I'm not the only one, who turns on their snow blower while their tractor is warming up.

I know, some folks would say it's not a good idea to have the snow blower running in your garage, and jees...... you're not seating in the seat either.
No I'm not sitting in the drivers seat, but my garage doors are open(plenty of ventilation) and while my tractor is warming up with the snow blower running, I'm shoveling my walk way and steps.

I like to have the hydraulic oil circulated and warmed up some before I activate my loader, or begin backing out of my garage.
Due to my tractor's location in my garage, backing out requires some careful steering and loader to be raised and lowered to avoid hitting items as I exit.
As soon as I exit the garage I'm ready to start snow blowing, I start out with engine rpm between 1500-2000, and ground speed is really slow so as not to overload the blower while engine warms a little more. After about 5 mins. I'll raise rpm to about 2200 rpm. Most of my snow blowing is at 2200 rpm. I can go to 2650 rpm which would be 540 pto, if I need to but very rarely run at full 540 pto speed.