Block Heater for 240D?

[Bennet.man]

Hello. For those of you that helped me through deciding if the 240D was going to be a good buy, thanks! I picked it up yesterday and had to use the loader to move snow for 2 hrs before I could even get in my driveway! Worked great. I'll be posting some pictures of it soon.
I do, however, see the need to add a block heater of some sort, as the temperatures lately have been below 0 deg F! I am looking for input on types; in-line radiator hose, freeze plug type, or the magnetic type for the oil pan etc.? Thanks for the help in advance.

 

[beenthere]

Bennet
Where are you located?
What engine do you have in the 240D?

I've a 3 cyl Yanmar diesel engine, and it is 12 yr old. Have never had a need for a block heater, and it starts in temps much below 0 deg F. But your engine may differ.
From what I hear, the freeze plug type last the longest, and heat the engine well. The magnetic type for the oil pan may be next (and handiest as easy to detach after starting). My last tractor, I used the heater tank with hoses running up to circulate warm water in the block. Worked well but not as "neat". Many years ago had the in-line heater in the radiator hose on a car. Wouldn't be interested in that type again.

 

[Bennet.man]

Thanks for the reply. I live in Nebraska and the temps are very cold right now. I was thinking of going with either the in-line radiator hose or the magnetic type. After hearing this, I might just go with the magnetic one. I have the 2 cyl engine in mine. I was having trouble getting it to start this morning, but after I hung a heat lamp over the engine for a little while, it seemed to fire right up. Just thought a block heater might help.

 

[careyo63]

Glad to hear it Read up on the Thermal start or TS if it's working should be all you need if a heat lamp worked. California just made a post should be the same as yours.I never had to even use mine and was out side today, Like they say{Curiosity kills the Cat} looks like I just need a reservior and run the power to it. Oh! a plan you kidding me still can't do much so I have one to try tomorrow to see if it does work

Carey

 

[Bennet.man]

I got to thinking about it, and I wonder if the guy that owned it before me just had regular diesel in the cup for the TS without any additive and maybe it gelled up??? I put the heat lamp in a place where it shined on the cup also, and after a little bit it fired right up. Anyone think this might be the problem? I'm going to drain the fuel and put new fuel in it just to try something...

 

[Inspector507]

I used an inline radiator hose heater on my YM1700. Worked great.

 

[normde2001]

I keep reading about cold weather starting problems. The only problems I ever had in cold weather was slow or no cranking because of frozen batteries. Keep the battery warm and fuel from jelling, problem solved.

 

[California]

I still had a full tank of B90 (near pure Biodiesel) going into winter. When the mid-morning temperatures got down in the mid 50's, it cranked a little longer before it fired off.

Now trying to get some work done with temperatures in the low to mid 40's it's a beast to get the thing started. It just blows vaporized McDonald's grease out the exhaust on each attempted start. It takes a half dozen Thermostart-crank cycles before this crud will ignite. (It runs fine as soon as the smoke clears).

I tried bumping the cranking amperage with my 2/10/50 amp charger set on '50-Start'. No improvement.

Thinking back to a post by the Inspector long ago, I stuck a hair dryer up the air intake. That works well enough to get started and go get some work done. But it's clumsy to set up.

Rethinking this a little, I decided to let the hair dryer warm the block while I ate breakfast. This works best of all. The hair dryer is set on low, maybe 85 degrees, so it can't harm anything left unattended. I checked the cylinder head temperature with a little hand-held infrared remote thermometer and it measures 75 degrees after a half hour unattended warming. Now it starts like a 75 degree day. I will use this method as a temporary block heater until I finish the biodiesel and can fill the tank with fuel that starts properly.

I think the 3 cylinder Yanmars start far easier than the twins. I have B50 in my YM186D. It starts instantly down in the 30's without needing the Thermostart at all.

View attachment 151681

 

[careyo63]

I still had a full tank of B90 (near pure Biodiesel) going into winter. When the mid-morning temperatures got down in the mid 50's, it cranked a little longer before it fired off.

Now trying to get some work done with temperatures in the low to mid 40's it's a beast to get the thing started. It just blows vaporized McDonald's grease out the exhaust on each attempted start. It takes a half dozen Thermostart-crank cycles before this crud will ignite. (It runs fine as soon as the smoke clears).

.



Rethinking this a little, I decided to let the hair dryer warm the block while I ate breakfast.

View attachment 151681

Did having to smell all of that McDonalds Smoke have somethimg to do with going to get some breakfast to eat after you got it cranked

Carey

 

[California]

This batch of biodiesel smells nasty. When it's running there is occasionally a smell like starting a BBQ that was put away dirty. Not appetizing!

Spilling some while refueling is worse. It has a rancid smell like the alley behind a restaurant - because that is the origin. I may try a different source next.

I bought pure biodiesel (B100) because I was getting diesel-fume headaches on a long backhoe project where I had to work in the exhaust cloud. In that aspect biodiesel is much better than petroleum diesel. No more headaches.