Block Heater Advice Needed

   / Block Heater Advice Needed #1  

Dataway

Gold Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2005
Messages
376
Location
Greenfield TN
Tractor
Ford 1715, BX2200
I've never really used a block heater before (even though I've lived in upstate NY for 30 years). But, this year the BX2200 will have to stay outside for the winter...so I'll be needing it. It already has one installed. My questions are..... should I leave it plugged in all the time when the tractor is not in use? Or should I plug it in only before I think I'll need the tractor? How long before?

95% of the tractors use in the winter is for snow throwing...so it could sit for weeks between uses. Temps on my mountain can easily go below zero in Jan and Feb.

Should I use a fuel additive? Of all the additives I've tried...the best I've found for use in my larger NH tractor was simply about a quart of Kerosene in 2 gallons of fuel.
JohnnyB
 
   / Block Heater Advice Needed #2  
In the cold months, with my B3030, I plugged the block heater in about 2 hours before I would do work with it. I actually used a heavy duty appliance timer set 2 hours before I would need the tractor. Two hours was plenty of time to prewarm the coolant.

There are many different diesel fuel additives to prevent gelling. I use Power Service but there are lots of others that would work to.
 
   / Block Heater Advice Needed #3  
Do some testing with different times and see what sees to work best for you.:D
 
   / Block Heater Advice Needed
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Do some testing with different times and see what sees to work best for you.:D


Hopefully the first test will be successful if there is 18" of new snow and the wife has to leave for work in 15 min :)

JohnnyB
 
   / Block Heater Advice Needed #5  
Sometimes the tractor has to sit outside but even at -20C (~4 belowF) if I plug it in for an hour it starts right up. At two hours the engine is quite warm to the touch. I expect your BX has the same block heater as mine and a similar size block assembly so an hour should be plenty to start up.
Timers are good, if there is snow in the forecast you could set it to come on an hour before you would need it and, if the forecast is wrong:rolleyes: then it will shut itself back off without you having to go outside:cool:.
 
   / Block Heater Advice Needed #6  
I generally preheat my powerstroke 3-4 hours before leaving in the AM. Makes a big difference. My tractors, past and present, I have found that 2 hours is sufficient. Big fan of block heaters. I also use Power Service winter formula in the cold months for truck and tractors.
 
   / Block Heater Advice Needed #7  
You probably won't NEED it, but it will make it start easier to heat the engine. All you need is 30-60 min to make a big difference. Any more and you are just spinning the meter for a small gain. I don't have a block heater on my L3410 and it starts fine with just the glow plugs down as low as -30f. It takes a LONG while to warm the engine up at those temps too.

I ALWAYS use additive in the fuel. Howes Diesel Treat. Much better IMHO than the white bottle stuff from Powerservice. I've been stuck on the side of the road using the PS BS, but never with the Howes.
 
   / Block Heater Advice Needed #8  
The timer is a good idea, especially if you want to be able to use the tractor as soon as you get up in the morning.

I used to have a diesel pickup that sat outside in the VT winter. I put an outlet with its own kill switch in an inside closet and then ran a long HD extension cord from that outlet through a hole in the floor (well caulked and resealed), through the crawlspace, and out to the truck. I'd plug in the heater to the end of the extension cord as soon as I got home, before going inside. The kill switch stayed off until I knew I was an hour or two before needing to go somewhere. If I needed it to be ready first thing in the morning, I'd turn the kill switch on, but put the extension cord on the timer. When I was ready to leave, I'd turn the kill switch off, go outside, unplug, crank up and go.

Remember, depending upon whether you are buying on-road or off-road diesel, and also upon what part of the country you live in, some diesel is already winterized when you buy it. (No. 1 fuel oil vs. what's usually labeled No. 2 diesel) That's worth asking about (and find out what temp. it's winterized to) before you add even more stuff to the fuel.
 
   / Block Heater Advice Needed #9  
My fuel delivery company tells me their "winter blend" is really their regular off-road diesel diluted with 15% kerosene at the depot. Never had any problems with that ratio. They caution about a drop in horsepower, but I haven't noticed any performance problems. My real winter time problem is water condensation in the hydraulic reserve tank that settles in low hanging hydraulic lines. These lines freeze and the FEL won't lift. I think the water gets in through the breather during hot humid days and cool dry nights.
 
   / Block Heater Advice Needed #10  
If you want to use a timer I think you need to make sure it can handle the wattage. I have a lower hose heater on my b7100 and at 45 minutes it starts like a warm summers day. I'd love to have some type of remote to turn it on though... having to get all dressed up just to go plug it in and come back into the house sucks :)
 

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