Engine heaters...Help!

[Iplayfarmer]

So how much of a tank heater would I need for an 18hp 2 cylinder engine?

It looks like the tank heaters go anywhere from 800 to 2000 watt, and the hose heaters are around 400 watt.

Is it more a matter of my engine size or more a matter of how cold I expect it to get?

 

[JerryG]

For that small of engine, the 800w would be plenty. Most tank heater manufactures will have a chart showing the size of heater to cubic inch of engine size.

 

[BigDogues]

Mike, where did you get that heater for your CK30? I like how compact it is. I'd like to add one of those to my CK25. I just wish I would have done it while the weather was still warm. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Thanks,
Phil

 

[George2615]

I'm in upstate NY in the snow belt area just east of Lake Ontario. It gets cold and snowy here. I had a no start situation last year along with fuel gelling. I installed a lower radiator hose heater (600W) and added a magnetic (200W) heater stuck to the fuel tank base. Both made by KAT's. Picked them up at auto parts store both for under $45. Installed both in under an hour. No more start up problems. I just plug in when I park the tractor.
George

 

[755inNY]

George,

Have you tried adding a fuel conditioner to cure the gelling? They are pretty cheap and work very well. Might save on the electricity cost that the magnetic heater draws.

Jeff

 

[cp1969]

Keep it inside if at all possible. My truck has a thermometer in it and it was 7 degrees warmer inside my insulated, but unheated, building this morning than outside. 34 F inside; 27 outside. Don't know if this is residual heat from the truck from the previous night, but whatever the reason, it was warmer than outside. Have seen this many times.

You can also warm it up with a kerosene heater or the like, if you have one. Set it close and drape a tarp over as much of the tractor as you want warmed. This also warms up the fuel which is a good thing.

Block heater is by far the best way to go, but until one gets installed you can get by with other poor-man's means.

 

[JoeL4330]

Not on your list, but worth considering if it's really cold: battery warmer, and/or trickle charger, which does double duty. Anti-gel for fuel is critical and a trouble light under the hood may spell the difference ...and, depending on circumstances, there is the "idle-all-night" solution.

 

[billfires]

Just installed a block heater yesterday on my NH 1920. The cost was under $25.00 and the most difficult part was removing the freeze plug. Took about an hour, most of the time was spent trying to get the freeze plug out from inside the block, after it went in instead of coming out. Bill C

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I've got a garage, but right now it's pretty full of "projects" that are all half done. This might be the right excuse to clean half of it out and put the tractor there. My wife will never let me live it down that I won't clean the garage for the car, but I'll clean it out for the tractor

I had wondered about the kerosene heater idea in a pinch. I didn't really have the courage to do it until I read it in this thread. I may try that while I am waiting for the time to get and install some kind of block heater.

I do have anti-gel in my fuel. I don't think that's my problem since I can eventually get her started. It just takes a while.

 

[George2615]

Yes, I use Power Service products in both my truck and tractor to prevent gelling. You never know the quality of the fuel you get whee I live. I've bought fuel in a local station (supposedly a winter blend) and had it gel up. Of course the temps never went above 20 deg. for a few days. Thats when I started using the PS additive. My heaters are plugged into timers and are only in use a few hours a day in cold weather.
George