Block heater

[Petrol and Powder]

Is there a factory type block heater available for the eMax25 series?

If not, is there an alternative aftermarket unit that anyone would recommend?

I have a lot of experience with diesels and have never had a cold weather starting problem. However, my old Kubota was not easy to start in sub 20 degree weather (no block heater). The Kubota would start but it really didn't want to some times. I'd like to avoid that issue with my Mahindra.

 

[CCWKen]

I remember those days. When I lived in Ohio, I used to put a mechanic's drop-light under the hood if temps were going to be in the teens or below. Now days it may be tough to find incandescent bulbs though. The CFL and LED lights don't put out enough heat.

 

[Petrol and Powder]

I remember those days. When I lived in Ohio, I used to put a mechanic's drop-light under the hood if temps were going to be in the teens or below. Now days it may be tough to find incandescent bulbs though. The CFL and LED lights don't put out enough heat.

One of the side benefits of those old "inefficient" bulbs
When I was a kid we would bury an empty 1 gallon paint can in the ground with the top level with the ground. The can would have 40 watt bulb in it and a metal pan of water over it. The water (for chickens) would never freeze. Cost a few pennies a month for power and maybe two bulbs per winter. You only had to run it on the coldest nights.

I'm pretty skilled at running diesels in winter. Thin the fuel with a little kerosene when it's super cold, cycle the glow plugs a little longer, use a battery tender, etc. A block heater sure does eliminate some of the hassle.

 

[dickfoster]

One of the side benefits of those old "inefficient" bulbs
When I was a kid we would bury an empty 1 gallon paint can in the ground with the top level with the ground. The can would have 40 watt bulb in it and a metal pan of water over it. The water (for chickens) would never freeze. Cost a few pennies a month for power and maybe two bulbs per winter. You only had to run it on the coldest nights.

I'm pretty skilled at running diesels in winter. Thin the fuel with a little kerosene when it's super cold, cycle the glow plugs a little longer, use a battery tender, etc. A block heater sure does eliminate some of the hassle.

We ran light bulbs in the bottom of the closet in the Philippines to keep our shoes and clothes from turning green. It wasn't cold but it sure was humid. Knowing that trick, I ran one in a paper tape recorder puncher to keep the paper tape from swelling up from the humidity and jamming. One 20 below morning to keep a battery from freezing I pointed a floodlight at it till someone could get there to give me a jump. When I looked later on I found that I'd melted the battery caps. I didn't need the jump after all, it cranked right up. I had the battery with the melted caps in that car for years.

It looks like there is a fitting to make hooking up a block heater real handy and easy to do on my 1538. It's not in the block but in the cooling lines. Don't know about the EMax as I don't think it has a Mahindra engine.

 

[Petrol and Powder]

Yep. I prefer a block heater that is installed in a freeze plug hole (casting hole) but it seems most of them are made to go in the lower radiator hose.

 

[BlackOps]

after issues when i really needed it on max25 - i had the dealer put on a magnetic block heater when they serviced it and repaired a wheel seal leak.--- so hopefully when i see things coming re: weather i can plug in a day or two in advance and it will start. i even have used and still use anti-gel - but it did not help without the block heater.

 

[MarkF48]

I've been using one of these on the oil pan of my 2216 up in New England.... Amazon.com: Kat's 1153 Handi-Heat 2 Watt Magnetic Heater: Automotive
It seems to help and it's not too hard to attach and remove. Have given thought to one that mounts in the radiator hose to get a bit more heat into the engine.

 

[PILOON]

My tractor never failed to start with the block heater even in real cold Quebec days.
For reasons unknown the block heater failed and I attached the magnetic heater that I had found in a yard sale.
1-2 hrs of block heater never failed to start even in coldest days.

The magnetic heater could not start even after 24 hrs of heating!
Both were rated at 400 watts!

I had to resort to using propane torch to heat the sump and a battery charger to keep amperage up there due to high current draws from glow plugs and starter from repeated heat/start cycles.
Also I feared toasting my starter but escaped that trap.

Those magnetic heaters heat mainly the air and not the sump/oil!

 

[Ford850]

A true block heater definitely has an advantage over the magnetic or radiator hose styles. If I use mine for an hour, the tractor starts and runs like it's summer even in the coldest temps. Less stress, and fewer odd noises waiting for the tractor to warm up.

 

[Petrol and Powder]

A true block heater definitely has an advantage over the magnetic or radiator hose styles. If I use mine for an hour, the tractor starts and runs like it's summer even in the coldest temps. Less stress, and fewer odd noises waiting for the tractor to warm up.

Yep, that's what I'm shooting for. My old Cummins diesel with a block heater in the freeze plug hole (casting core plug) never failed to start even in single digits. The same held true for a Mercedes 300D with a block heater.
You don't need a block heater all the time in a Virginia winter but they sure are nice when you do need one.