diesel block heater

[Don87]

I just paid $29 for a replacement cord for my lower rad hose heater at the auto supply store. Found out later that the whole heater was $35....
On real cold nights a blanket over the hood makes a BIG difference on any marginal heater. I've got a block,rad hose and battery heater so it just takes an hour to warm things up even at minus 30.

Did you test each one independently, or did you install all 3 at the same time?

 

[varmint]

My older Kubota B8200 seems to be cold blooded, so I went for the official block heater. Other than getting the original plug out ( special size, awkward access) the job was a snap. About the best $34 I have ever spent. Really makes starting easy after being plugged in for 20 minutes. I left it on for an hour once, and the whole engine was toasty warm. The heater was made in Canada, which tells me something.

 

[shaley]

Just for the record I put a Kat's 11434 40mm 400 watt in my TC55 this week and it only lasted two nights. Won't heat and it tests open at the heater pins with an ohm meter. It looked like a quality product, cast brass with a stainless cap screw for the internal spreader. Seller is sending an exchange. I'm going to email Kat's next week.

 

[rScotty]

I've got a block,rad hose and battery heater so it just takes an hour to warm things up even at minus 30.

I also use block heaters. They are trouble-free even decades after the initial install. I've seen two types, one with an integral cord and the other has a replaceable cord.

What radiator hose heater and battery heater do you use? I've used a Red Devil rad hose heater, but never have seen a battery heater.
rScotty

 

[Jerry/MT]

Just for the record I put a Kat's 11434 40mm 400 watt in my TC55 this week and it only lasted two nights. Won't heat and it tests open at the heater pins with an ohm meter. It looked like a quality product, cast brass with a stainless cap screw for the internal spreader. Seller is sending an exchange. I'm going to email Kat's next week.

You didn't start the engine while the heater was plugged in did you? Most manufacturer's warn you not to have it plugged in with the engine running. The coolant separates off the downstream side of the element and doesn't transfer heat, cauisng the element to overheat and burn out.

 

[Car Doc]

You didn't start the engine while the heater was plugged in did you? Most manufacturer's warn you not to have it plugged in with the engine running. The coolant separates off the downstream side of the element and doesn't transfer heat, cauisng the element to overheat and burn out.

I have never read that anywhere? Lets look at it rationally...its submerged so where would the air come from that separates the element just my observation?

 

[jimmer2880]

I have never read that anywhere? Lets look at it rationally...its submerged so where would the air come from that separates the element just my observation?

X2 for me

 

[Mace Canute]

Cavitation.

 

[Jerry/MT]

I have never read that anywhere? Lets look at it rationally...its submerged so where would the air come from that separates the element just my observation?

It's not air. It's flow separation of the coolant and if the velocity in the water jacket is high enough the flow can cavitate. Nonetheless, separated flow transfers much less heat than attached flow so the element gets hotter on the downstream side when this occurs.

 

[PILOON]

I have never read that anywhere? Lets look at it rationally...its submerged so where would the air come from that separates the element just my observation?

Other than age (like 12 yrs old), that could explain why mine burnt out.

Mind U I always start with the heater plugged in and had done so for years, and still do.

The fastest replacement I could find was a mere 200 watt and that would not cut it.
The magnetic type also proved to be next to useless.
I managed to start combining both the 200 plus the magnetic but changed over to the 400 as soon as I could find one.

If I could I'd consider even 600 watts as I suspect that 600 for 30 mins is probably more efficient than the 400 for 1 hour.

I have mine switched via a remote wireless switching device and have wired a telltale indicator bulb to confirm power is there.