Block heater question

[m7040]

Left the block heater on overnight to test it out and the block is now warm to the touch. It really is not required because it starts very easily and hardly cranks before firing off. It will be however be better for the engine to get the warmed oil on cold startups and increase circulation initially.

 

[Rockyridge]

The tractor is in an OLD barn so, while it may be out of the direct wind, it is not an enclosed shed. We are on top a ridge so a lot of air moves through that old barn. It’s 3PM and it’s still -7.

I used an ohmmeter to verify there is resistance through the cord and heater and I checked that the plug has power so that all looks like it should be OK.

I’ll call the dealer tomorrow to see what the wattage of the heater is that they install.

I’ll try leaving it plugged in for 4+ hours and see how that works, or like was suggested, overnight if plugging it in for four hours doesn’t do it.

Since this tractor is used only occasionally when we have snow, if this needs 4 or more hours lead time, it makes it more difficult to use.

Thanks for all of the great advice. As you can see, I’m new to this group but am really impressed with advice available here.

 

[dirtworksequip]

Rockyridge, my JD3520 has been plugged in for 5 days. I've been plowing every morning and evening. Temps have been in the single digits. I tried leaving it plugged in for 3 hours once and it just was not enough time to heat up the block. With the temps you have I would leave it plugged in overnight and you should have no problems. You also have to factor in the windchill.

 

[638]

Tractors don't know wind chill. That only applys to living skin.

ron

 

[ccsial]

Tractors don't know wind chill. That only applys to living skin.

ron

I'm not sure that wind can cause a tractor to get any colder than the actual temperature but it sure can carry heat away if you using a block heater.

Put two pokers in a fire and get them red hot. Let one cool by itself and hit the other with an air hose. You'll see a big difference. The wind carries the heat away faster.

 

[bialecki]

I'm not sure that wind can cause a tractor to get any colder than the actual temperature but it sure can carry heat away if you using a block heater.

Put two pokers in a fire and get them red hot. Let one cool by itself and hit the other with an air hose. You'll see a big difference. The wind carries the heat away faster.

Absolutely, this is the same reason why a car's radiator has a fan on it. From an engineering perspective it has to do with the heat exchange between the warm object and the cooler surroundings, the more mass flow of air (due to wind) the more heat exchange there will be. With that said wind chill is only a human phenomenon due to the rate of moisture evaporation from the skin that creates a feeling that it is colder than what the actual temperature really is.

 

[varmint]

I had plugged in my B-8200's block heater the other day (20+ degrees) in anticipation of doing some work, which didn't happen, and forgot about the heater until that evening, so it was "on" for maybe 8 hours... when I checked the engine, the valve cover and block side were just a bit warm to the touch-certainly not hot. When I do start it up, after just and hour or two of heat, I can tell a difference- everything is happier to be warm! I haven't had to test it in really cold conditions, but the tractor is cold blooded compared to some I've seen, so I figure I could absolutely need it some time.

 

[fishpick]

Tractors don't know wind chill. That only applys to living skin.

ron

My tractor is alive! I resent this post!

 

[proudestmonkey]

Rocky,

Welcome to the forum. Good to see another Minnesotan igloo around (I live in Cottage Grove).

This morning when I started my tractor the thermometer read -11. I let the radiator heater (that's what my dealer said was the most cost effective way to add a heater was going to be--$75 installed) run for about 1.5 hours. Not long enough, for sure. I have 90 hours on my BX 2230, have started it probably 100-200 times. Today was the first day I've ever had to turn it over more than once. In fact, after letting the glow plugs glow for about 90 seconds, it turned over, and smoke exited the exhaust, and I could smell diesel fuel burning, but didn't get going. Two more times, and it started out like a train, sputtering, then sputtering less, then I gave it some throttle, and whush, away it went, turned it to a medium idle, let it run for about 10 minutes, adn then started to move some attachments around (FEL and Rear Blade). Used it to clear the little bits of snow we've been getting here and there, and churn gravel up into the snow before the snow gets icy with warmer weather. Worked like a charm.

I also wonder if my heater was getting any kind of juice. I have a radio out in the shed to check the power, probably should have done that before giving the starter a go. Probably should have let it heat up longer too, given the pretty bitter cold of last night. I think the low was probably like -15 or colder in the middle of the night, not sure though.

 

[ByronBob]

Rocky,

Welcome to the forum. Good to see another Minnesotan igloo around (I live in Cottage Grove).

This morning when I started my tractor the thermometer read -11. I let the radiator heater (that's what my dealer said was the most cost effective way to add a heater was going to be--$75 installed) run for about 1.5 hours. Not long enough, for sure. I have 90 hours on my BX 2230, have started it probably 100-200 times. Today was the first day I've ever had to turn it over more than once. In fact, after letting the glow plugs glow for about 90 seconds, it turned over, and smoke exited the exhaust, and I could smell diesel fuel burning, but didn't get going. Two more times, and it started out like a train, sputtering, then sputtering less, then I gave it some throttle, and whush, away it went, turned it to a medium idle, let it run for about 10 minutes, adn then started to move some attachments around (FEL and Rear Blade). Used it to clear the little bits of snow we've been getting here and there, and churn gravel up into the snow before the snow gets icy with warmer weather. Worked like a charm.

I also wonder if my heater was getting any kind of juice. I have a radio out in the shed to check the power, probably should have done that before giving the starter a go. Probably should have let it heat up longer too, given the pretty bitter cold of last night. I think the low was probably like -15 or colder in the middle of the night, not sure though.

I had an emergency the other day myself and didn't have the tractor plugged in. I almost didn't get it started in zero degree weather.

This topic really has no real answer because everyone thinks differently on whats necessary. But in my case I've seen the difference at low temperatures in getting the engine to turn over. To me it's a no brainer to have one.

But even plugged in the temp only gets to around 100 degrees in the block. Things boil at 212 degrees so it couldn't / shouldn't get too hot anyway. I think it's working fine after an hour of being plugged in. After that it's just leveled out.