Oil & Fuel Diesel oil heaters

[coldsteelva]

With no answer as to inside or outside storage, I have had good luck heating my old Mitsu by 'tenting' the engine area with a tarp and running a heat source. If you can concentrate and capture any heat that your produce (I think tank-top propane heater might be best) then the entire block, battery and oil will warm enough for a good start.

 

[sixdogs]

When I lived in a very cold climate, everyone used a block heater that heated the coolant. We left it plugged in overnight and it worked like a champ. Oil heaters or magnetic heaters on the block were a distant second and didn't really work at all.

And yes, synthetic oil is a huge plus, as CalG noted.

Let me add to my above post that when we used a coolant heater and left it plugged in overnight, the trans fluid had also warmed up a lot by morning and we were able to start working far quicker.

 

[grm61]

Use a good quality 5/40 synthetic.

I use Rottella 5/40 T6 synthetic...excellent cold weather flowability.
The motor does not struggle to pump it...makes all the difference in the world.
I run it year round.

Pour some 15/40 dyno at 0, then pour some high quality 5/40 synthetic at 0..you got honey vs pancake syrup.

My tractor fires right up with no drama at very cold temps with no heat aids...except the glow plugs.
I use clean fuel...green, winter blend, where they sell a lot of it, and add Howes lubricator to the fuel...cheap and effective.. never had a problem with gelling.

 

[IXLR8]

These aren't cheap, but would be the best way to go since you are off the grid. It is a diesel fueled heater that connects into the cooling system to preheat the radiator fluid. It can be setup with a timer to come on automatically and it has a built in pump to circulate the heated water thru the system.
Amazon.com: Audi A8 D3 Diesel Webasto Auxiliary Pre Heater Unit: Automotive
I use one to preheat my Golf TDI and I love it.

 

[3930dave]

As described already, a large amount of area heat (salamander + tent) certainly will work.

I'll also vote for 5W40 synthetic (we can get 0W40 up here). @ -9F as a worst case low, with good fuel and working glow plugs, most diesels should fire up <- assuming the battery tests at rated capacity <- many auto parts stores will load test for free. If you are a stalwart 15W40 person, synthetic versions can be had, with a corresponding lower Pour Point than conventional 15W40.

For localized heating, coolant immersion (frost plug) heaters work the best, vs. oil sump heaters. Most aren't more than 1kw, so if your array won't balk at that, 2 hours on your coldest day should do it. Back when electricity was cheap, it was common to run block heaters all night - here today, unless you are a trust-fund baby, people use timers or switched outlets.

Huge amounts of heat can compensate for deferred maintenance that needs doing (glow plug failed, oil change past due, fuel filter needing service....). Dead of winter here, many heavy equipment guys show up early, fire up a generator to run a block heater while they make a coffee/breakfast run - even an hour makes a difference, assuming no other equipment deficiencies.

The Webasto solution recently listed is an excellent choice, with price being the main issue. MB diesels often have that type of pre-heater here.

Battery/starter cable maintenance matters on any engine, but esp. on diesels. Make sure all connections are clean, and ideally coated with a suitable grease to limit/prevent corrosion.

Rgds, D.