block heater

ridetoslide · Jan 1, 2016

I'm wondering if any of you cold climate LS owners have added any engine block heaters or the like to help starting in cold weather. I have a K5047 and have considered putting something additional on my tractor to help the cold starts. Would love to hear if any of you have done some mods. Thanks

George2615 · Jan 1, 2016

I'm just a little S.E. of Lake Ontario in the snow belt. Fortunately I keep the tractor in a garage that never gets below 45*F. I haven't needed a block heater. What I have done is switched to Rotella T6 5W40 synthetic oil and add Power Service (White bottle) to the fuel. I was considering installing an inline lower hose heater but there is no room for that. If mine was kept outdoors or in an unheated barn I would install a block heater connected to a heavy duty appliance timer that would turn on and preheat the engine for a couple hours ahead of time.

dcole · Jan 2, 2016

George2615 said:
I'm just a little S.E. of Lake Ontario in the snow belt. Fortunately I keep the tractor in a garage that never gets below 45*F. I haven't needed a block heater. What I have done is switched to Rotella T6 5W40 synthetic oil and add Power Service (White bottle) to the fuel. I was considering installing an inline lower hose heater but there is no room for that. If mine was kept outdoors or in an unheated barn I would install a block heater connected to a heavy duty appliance timer that would turn on and preheat the engine for a couple hours ahead of time.

That's what I have on My Boomer. Block heater with a timer (like you would use for turning on a spotlight) that heats it up for 2 hours just before I'd plow in the morning. If I not going to plow until later in the day, I just plug it in about 1 hr before I want to plow. I also cut my diesel fuel with 25% - 33% kerosene. My old Cub Cadet had the fuel filter on the back of the tractor not near any heat source so it would free up. The Cub Cadet manual suggested the kerosene.

buickanddeere · Jan 2, 2016

Makes the engine start like summer time. Less stress on the starter, battery and alternator. Less cylinder bore and ring wear. Less dilution of lube oil with fuel. Lower stack emissions. Reduction of fuel burned .

The Deerslayer · Jan 2, 2016

My old tractor never had a block heater, but my new L3901 came with one so I plan to use it. I have heard some people leave them plugged in all the time during the cold weather months, but that seems a bit excessive to me. I will only use the tractor during the winter for snow removal so I figured plugging it in the night before a storm would be fine. I keep it in a barn, but it still gets fairly cold there as several stalls are open. Interested in learning more in this thread as to what others do.

PILOON · Jan 2, 2016

For sure a timer or a method of switching power as required is the way to go.
Most block heaters are in the 400 watt range so 24/7 power would be a bit pricey when only 1-2 hrs will suffice.

Having built my own house I provided an external outlet that had a switch located in the coat closet, while that worked fine the tractor was not always parked handy to that outlet.
The ultimate solution was a handy remote wireless switch that operates like a remote car starter.
Such devices sell in the $25.00 range and have proven to be faultless to date.

Looking4new · Jan 2, 2016

PILOON said:
The ultimate solution was a handy remote wireless switch that operates like a remote car starter.
Such devices sell in the $25.00 range and have proven to be faultless to date.

Because I have both the Jeep and the tractor block heaters on the same circuit i use two of the remote switches. Like PILOON said, they work flawlessly. I use one battery/yr in each and I don't have to be dressed to go outside to 'plug them in'.

Kc8ehd · Mar 11, 2018

Has anyone considered using a after market engine heater that's mounts in cab heater hose

450 · Mar 16, 2018

What type of remote switches are you guys talking about? I am very curious seeing how I live in Fairbanks Alaska. I have used the circulating pumps that hook into the heater hoses on several different types of vehicles and really like them. I think they do better than a block heater myself. When I get my tractor that will be what I try to install if there is room for one.