Block heater follow up

[fredhargis]

I was reading another post about whether the poster should have a block heater. I didn't want to hijack that thread, so am starting this one. Would it be better to have a hydraulic fluid heater as opposed to a block heater. My thinking (which is often flawed) is that you can warm the engine up by running it a few minutes, but you still have cold hydraulic fluid....so if you had your fluid warm, and then run the engine a little you would get off with less wear/tear/strain on the total machine(???). Most of you guys have more experience with this type stuff than I'll ever have...so what's your opinion?

 

[WilliamBos]

Hot fluid won't help start a cold engine. If you want a hydraulic heater, add one.

 

[radioman]

block heater warms engine to makes it easier to start in cold weather. hydraulic heater will not make it easier to start. if you have hydrostat tranny, just letting it run a bit warms up the hydro fluid anyways.

IMO I'd go with engine block heater for those really cold weather starting otherwise the tractor already designed to operate in cold weather as the fluid is multigrade for various temps like 10-30 or 5-40.

 

[bp fick]

Well they sell those. They are like a heating pad. They work great, but I am not going to bother.

I use the best hydro fluid I can get and I find if I actually creep around, exercising the FEL and 3 pt, forward/reverse a little while warming up, it helps get the fluid mowing around. At -30, a small Kubota pretty much tells you that fluid is too cold!!!! I am patient with it.

 

[fredhargis]

Thanks for the opinions...I realize the fluid heater won't make the tractor start easier, but I had not considered that as a problem. Seemed to me (erroneously, apparently) it was more to reduce engine wear/tear type of thing. I was wondering more about the get out and get working aspect, I guess.

 

[grsthegreat]

Im going to add the wolverine transmission heating pad to mine to help preheat the hydrostat drive unit, cause it makes an awful sound till warmed up. I also have a 25 gallon rear 3 point hydraulic tank for my front mount snowblower, and im adding a heater to that tank also. I need this machinge for serious winter plowing, and dont want to risk it not working. The combined heaters when used 1 hour before morning will only cost about 3-4 cents per hour to operate *and im only setting them to work for 1 hour* with a timer. Cheap insurance if you ask me. Would cost alot more to idle the tractors for warm up

 

[oldnslo]

A word of caution on heating reservoirs. If the reservoir gets hot and the pump is still cold the thermal shock of hot oil on the cold pump can cause them to seize. I have seen this happen twice in test facilities. What i can not tell you is what amount of temperature difference is required to cause this to happen.

NOTE: This is only a concern when the pump is remote mounted from the reservoir and would not be an issue on most CUT, HST trannies.

Roy

 

[grsthegreat]

A word of caution on heating reservoirs. If the reservoir gets hot and the pump is still cold the thermal shock of hot oil on the cold pump can cause them to seize. I have seen this happen twice in test facilities. What i can not tell you is what amount of temperature difference is required to cause this to happen.

NOTE: This is only a concern when the pump is remote mounted from the reservoir and would not be an issue on most CUT, HST trannies.

Roy

mine has a separate pump (pto mounted 3000 psi system for snow blower) but the manufacturer requires a heat unit if stored out in temps that can get below freezing. mind you, its only heated for 1 hour prior to use

 

[oldnslo]

mine has a separate pump (pto mounted 3000 psi system for snow blower) but the manufacturer requires a heat unit if stored out in temps that can get below freezing. mind you, its only heated for 1 hour prior to use

I doubt you will ever have any trouble unless you get the oil significantly hotter than ambient temperature of the pump. By significantly I am guessing 100-150 degrees F or more. Heating your oil so it will flow will not hurt a thing and in fact it should help just like you want.

My concern was some one going over board and heating a small reservoir to the point you could heat your breakfast and then wondering why the pump seized.

Roy

 

[crazyal]

First off a block heater is cheap, if you think you might need it then get one. Having a way to warm the hydro fluid is not a bad idea at all even if it's an electric heater under the tractor.

 

[Haywire]

I had a block heater installed in my BX. It was hard starting on those occasional 10-15 deg evenings bringing firewood up. Just got it this spring, so I haven't used it yet.

Ian