Oil & Fuel Engine block heaters. How long to heat a compact tractor engine [ 3 cylender diesel}
- Thread starter ron45
- Start date
- Views: 14342
Snobdds
Super Member
People do leave them plugged in all night and there's probably not much harm. However in reality it only needs about 1-2 hours to be effective. When I need it I put it on a timer to come on around 5 in the morning. Then warm up is quick.
CalG
Super Member
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2011
- Messages
- 9,211
- Location
- vermont
- Tractor
- Hurlimann 435, Fordson E27n, Bolens HT-23, Kubota B7200, Kubota B2601
It might just depend on the out door temperature and how hard the wind is blowing.
If you absolutely need your tractor, put it in a heated shed.
It's NOT rocket science.
If you absolutely need your tractor, put it in a heated shed.
It's NOT rocket science.
oosik
Epic Contributor
I never used a block heater. Always used a lower radiator hose tank heater. Leaving it on all night would usually bring the coolant temps up to around 125-140 deg F - depending upon outside temps and wind. I had the tank heater on a timer - ran for two hours and always started just great. I finally built a heated garage - that was, by far, the best. Heated garage will turn a vinyl covered seat back to something other than a frozen brick.
George2615
Super Member
I used to use an inline lower hose heater. I had the heater plugged into a HD appliance timer that was set to turn on 2 hours before I got home from work. If I needed to plow when I got home it started up easily. No need for the heater to be plugged in all night when a couple hours is all that is needed.
RNeumann
Elite Member
I read and responded to your previous post and appreciate your curiosity.
A few things to consider for your off the grid situation as I'm assuming electricity is at a premium.
If you go the coolant route remember their is more coolant and you are also heating the mass of the engine block. So if that's what you want you should find a product that is thermostatically controlled- that way it is only on long enough to heat your coolant to the temperature needed/wanted. 1 hour, over night etc all depends on what temp you want your coolant and block and what the outside temp is.
You also need to consider your goal with this. What you are doing in your cars would be a good guide- is it an issue with those?
The typical concern with cold starting an engine is lubrication. Put a quart of oil outside on a cold night and try to pour it out in the morning. While synthetic is better it is still a noticeable change.
The other concern is fuel. Beyond gelling we can discuss what happens in the engine. Most engines have either glow plugs or a grid heater to aid with starting- so that's not typically an issue.
So if electrical power is not an issue throw heaters at it- block heaters, oil heaters etc. But if power is an issue figure out the watts x time you are willing to commit to this and decide the best "bang for the buck/watt"
A few things to consider for your off the grid situation as I'm assuming electricity is at a premium.
If you go the coolant route remember their is more coolant and you are also heating the mass of the engine block. So if that's what you want you should find a product that is thermostatically controlled- that way it is only on long enough to heat your coolant to the temperature needed/wanted. 1 hour, over night etc all depends on what temp you want your coolant and block and what the outside temp is.
You also need to consider your goal with this. What you are doing in your cars would be a good guide- is it an issue with those?
The typical concern with cold starting an engine is lubrication. Put a quart of oil outside on a cold night and try to pour it out in the morning. While synthetic is better it is still a noticeable change.
The other concern is fuel. Beyond gelling we can discuss what happens in the engine. Most engines have either glow plugs or a grid heater to aid with starting- so that's not typically an issue.
So if electrical power is not an issue throw heaters at it- block heaters, oil heaters etc. But if power is an issue figure out the watts x time you are willing to commit to this and decide the best "bang for the buck/watt"
Last edited:
Looking4new
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2012
- Messages
- 10,365
- Location
- Northern Ontario, Canada
- Tractor
- 2012 Kioti CK27HST w/cab
You can run the block heater all night, but remember that they require electricity to run and that schit is expensive.
I run synthetic 5W30 oil in the CK27 and turn on the freeze plug block heater 2-4 hours before I need to start, depending on outside temps. Outside temps must be below freezing before I even think about block heating. Tractor sits in a unheated portable shelter.
Last edited:
powerscol
Veteran Member
Same here I run synthetic oil in my CT 235 and at 0 degrees it only takes and hour or so for my block heater to make things easy, Otherwise I manually cycle the glow plugs for 3 cycles and everything is fine, but hydraulics are slow then.
/ Engine block heaters. How long to heat a compact tractor engine [ 3 cylender diesel}
#11
Thanks RNuman, While we are naturally frugal with energy, we began with 4 deep cycle batts and 4 Arco 35 watt pannels. Since that system in 83 we've grown it to 3kw w one more kw yet to be mounted. I liked the sense of heating the block rather than just the oil, but a functional thermostat or timer seems like the way to go to make that doable with out spending needless watts. Thank you for taking the time to help.
Ron
Ron
/ Engine block heaters. How long to heat a compact tractor engine [ 3 cylender diesel}
#12
/ Engine block heaters. How long to heat a compact tractor engine [ 3 cylender diesel}
#13
Thanks Patches, Sorry to post such a vague question. There are so many variables to consider. Also by block heater I was thinking coolant heating block. I guess they have stuff that works from the outside of the block. Also, on the surface it seems easier to go with the btm hose system but there may be pitfalls I don't know about yet.
Ron
Ron
