Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Block heater to warm diesel

[Turbys_1700]

Here in NC every once in a while we get cold weather. My traded F350 came with a block heater that I would utilize if cold weather was in the forecast. It worked well for the few times I used it in the mornings when we were well below freezing. Starting was not an issue. The truck was under a metal car shed but still exposed to the wind. If I used my tractor extensively in the winter I would not hesitate to utilize one in it.

 

[Copperhead]

For those that deal with regular occurrences of in the basement cold temps, using a fuel fired coolant heater is the cat's meow. Webasto and Espar make fuel fired coolant heaters that one can set on timer to start up and get coolant warmed up before needing to start engine and have the engine up to 140F in an hour on large commercial diesels, and even faster on smaller engines. These heaters are not terribly expensive and work great. Very low battery drain. They have them in both gasoline and diesel versions. They can even be plumbed to have DEF all thawed out and diesel fuel warmed up to overcome gelling and icing along with the engine to have everything ready to go when you start up.

 

[sparc]

Although my own preheating-junk-sitting-out-in-the-cold-so-it-will-start-and-run knowledge is still increasing, I'm thinking I should make a video about what I am using—if for no other reason than to share some lessons I've learned.

Even so, if anybody knows of a 120V inline adjustable thermostat that doesn't need to be programmed every time it is plugged in, let me know. A simple dial for high and low temps with a remote temp sensor would be the best way to go. I have a digital one made for warming plants, but it forgets everything every time it is unplugged.

FWIW, I like the wolverines brand of plug in mats.

Maybe you could use a line voltage stat designed for electric baseboard heat.
Look at the Honeywell T498A1778 or similar units. Should be less than $40
and rated for about 20A @ 120V.

There are also some plug in temperature switches that come on at 32 deg.
I think they are meant to be used for keeping stock water tanks from freezing.
They might have enough capacity to handle a block heater. I believe I saw them
at Tractor Supply, and can probably be found elsewhere.

 

[coldsteelva]

Although my own preheating-junk-sitting-out-in-the-cold-so-it-will-start-and-run knowledge is still increasing, I'm thinking I should make a video about what I am using—if for no other reason than to share some lessons I've learned.

Even so, if anybody knows of a 120V inline adjustable thermostat that doesn't need to be programmed every time it is plugged in, let me know. A simple dial for high and low temps with a remote temp sensor would be the best way to go. I have a digital one made for warming plants, but it forgets everything every time it is unplugged.

FWIW, I like the wolverines brand of plug in mats.

Look up ThermoCubes. They have mutiple versions available, but they have integrated thermostats to turn them on at x and off at y. There are versions available for both low temp and high temp activations. We use one for our chicken water warmer.

 

[dieselcrawler]

My dad gave me a plug in thermostat for my dog water heaters. Says 'Thermocube' on it, rated for 1500 watts. No idea where he got it, but he said it kicks on at 34°f, and is totally mechanical. It looks like a 1 to 3 grounded plug adaptor. Super simple.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Thank you for the suggestions. An ambient air thermostat that doesn't have a remote sensor would allow my plug-in heaters to run wide open rather than temperature controlling them. What I'm looking for is a thermostat that has a remote (corded) temp sensor so that I could put that sensor under the heat mat and which would kick the power off at 130 degrees and back on at 100 degrees so that I don't bake the hydraulic oil.

 

[jabelding]

Here is the one you want, but a tad expensive!
McMaster-Carr