For those with block heaters

[whitenorth]

Hours doesn't equal distance. And certainly not climate.
I've lived in Northern, Vt. and had 40 below. I've lived in the Seattle area and never saw below 0 degrees F. And I'm sure there are some areas that are "a few hours south of the CA border" that it goes well below 40 below.
In Vermont sometimes (rarely) we'd turn on the block heaters all night. In Seattle never had to use a block heater.
So either tell us the lowest temps you expect or experiment.
The tarp is a good idea.

Do see -25F a few times during the winter that can last a couple of days. Although I've been told it has been longer at times in the past (only 3rd winter here and first time I will be here all winter). Otherwise, it can range between 0F and 30F most of the time.

 

[bcjmmac]

East coast/north of Maine
30 minutes is generally long enough in our area
Over night lows of -20C (-4F) not uncommon

 

[whitenorth]

East coast/north of Maine
30 minutes is generally long enough in our area
Over night lows of -20C (-4F) not uncommon

30 minutes? Everything I've read so far is 3 hours seems to be the common response. I've also read responses of people leaving it run all night. Based on the heater with my wife's car that is not necessary but, that is gas engine and this is my first diesel. Yours is the shortest timeframe I've read so far. Looks like I'll have to experiment based on outside temp.

I'm just trying to get an idea on how to get it to reliably start without doing damage due to it being to cold. Maybe I'm being to cautious but, like I said, this is the first diesel engine I've personally dealt with and trying to learn everything I can. My BIL has helped me a lot also but, I don't want to keep bugging him with questions all the time.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Yep, three hours seems to be well documented to be about as long as it takes to make a Ram with a Cummins as warm as it'll get. Of course, engines and block heaters are different between different vehicles.

As far as doing damage goes, it's probably not a big deal with modern motor oils. So far I've never plugged my Ram in, but then it has never been below -10 when taking off with it. And that's with the grid heater disconnected, by the way.

 

[bmaverick]

Do see -25F a few times during the winter that can last a couple of days. Although I've been told it has been longer at times in the past (only 3rd winter here and first time I will be here all winter). Otherwise, it can range between 0F and 30F most of the time.

If you are south of CA, that puts you in Mexico. I don't recall temps dropping that low in the south.

 

[number two]

30 minutes may be a little brief,but an hour or a little more makes a big difference in starting.
Don't forget block heaters have a design life.
Also,don't forget to unplug the block heater before starting-the heating element is fragile when in use.
Good Luck!

 

[Williy]

If you you can turn the power to the garage from the house
then plug the tractor in the garage and then 2 or 3 hours
before you want to use the tractor turn the power back on

willy

 

[not2old]

Before I built my shop where my sled stays loaded on the truck, I used the tractor to load my sled every weekend. I remember needing an hour to reliably start the tractor and if it got three hours, it would start without using the glow plugs. Temperatures would vary between 35F and a few degrees below zero. I don't know what would happen if it got colder as I would stay inside and find some other kind of fun.

 

[LHF2019]

If a good block heater. Half hour should be sufficient. Running much larger equipment and half hour will take the chill off. An hour is better. The old JD 404 engines I prefer couple hours.

No experience with timers.

 

[JimRB]

I use Rotella T6 synthetic oil in my JD and my Dodge Cummins. I run Delvac synthetic oil in my VW diesel car. I think it flows better in cold starts that traditional oil. I have plugged the heater in for the Dodge a few times. The way that Cummins engine sits with no aerodynamic covers like the VW has, I think the heater spends a lot of watts heating the cold air. The only time I attempt to plug in the Dodge is on the rare cold and windy morning.

I live about 850 miles south of Canada. We get a week below 32F every winter. Maybe two weeks of cold every other decade or so. Last year was chilly. The days or nights of 10F are quite few. ;-)