How long does an engine coolant heater need to be plugged in?

[John0829]

I don't have any block heaters anymore since being retired I DON'T have to get out unless I want to. However back in the day when I had a diesel pickup I had the block heater on a timer to turn on 2 hours before I was ready to leave for work, always fired up like it was warm weather.

I personally do not think the tank type heaters work as well as the block heaters, never tried a lower radiator hose style.

 

[5030]

Key words here are 'starting batteries' One thing owners seem to neglect until they won't turn the engine over. I load test mine (carbon pile load tester regularly and if they are getting weak, I replace them and clean all the connections (battery terminals, chassis ground and starter lugs positive and negative and coat everything with either di-electric grease or Fluid Film (which appears to work quite well).

I always install the largest battery (physical size and CCA) that will fit in the tray and I always buy my flooded cell batteries from a volume seller, in my case, the local Freightliner dealership because they turn over batteries quickly

Been using Delphi flooded cell batteries, in my case, Group 31 with 1000 CCA.

If I suspect they are weak, even if they start the tractors in warm weather, I replace them, they seem to last about 4 years for me. Same with the cars and truck.

 

[CalG]

Here is a cold weather starting kink for when you just got to go and it's C O L D.

Electricity required: ;-)

Plug in any engine heater installed on the tractor.
Hook up a 6amp battery charger even if the battery is charged, anything to add energy /heat to the battery.
Play a hot air gun (hair dryer) on the engine air cleaner can and any connecting hoses.
Cycle the glow plugs several times, try for a full minute of heating time.
With the hot air gun blowing right into the air inlet, crank the engine to start.
Disconnect everything ;-)

That heated air for the intake charge really helps.

IF you have time, just heat the engine block as usual........

This kink is for when you are in a hurry.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Here is a cold weather starting kink for when you just got to go and it's C O L D.

Electricity required: ;-)

Plug in any engine heater installed on the tractor.
Hook up a 6amp battery charger even if the battery is charged, anything to add energy /heat to the battery.
Play a hot air gun (hair dryer) on the engine air cleaner can and any connecting hoses.
Cycle the glow plugs several times, try for a full minute of heating time.
With the hot air gun blowing right into the air inlet, crank the engine to start.
Disconnect everything ;-)

That heated air for the intake charge really helps.

IF you have time, just heat the engine block as usual........

This kink is for when you are in a hurry.

How many hands does it take to pull this off . . . ????

 

[Bill_B]

Here is a cold weather starting kink for when you just got to go and it's C O L D.

Electricity required: ;-)

Plug in any engine heater installed on the tractor.
Hook up a 6amp battery charger even if the battery is charged, anything to add energy /heat to the battery.
Play a hot air gun (hair dryer) on the engine air cleaner can and any connecting hoses.
Cycle the glow plugs several times, try for a full minute of heating time.
With the hot air gun blowing right into the air inlet, crank the engine to start.
Disconnect everything ;-)

That heated air for the intake charge really helps.

IF you have time, just heat the engine block as usual........

This kink is for when you are in a hurry.

Yeah its "By any means nessassry when it is really cold out and you need it running. My go to is the charger on the battery and a propane portable blast heater running under the tractor pointed at the engine block. Pain in the butt to set up but works within half an hour.

 

[CalG]

How many hands does it take to pull this off . . . ????

That depends on the engine air intake configuration.

For my tractor, the heat gun just lays on the loader frame and blows right into the air inlet.

 

[Saskboy1950]

Here is my opinion from the great white north.
When I was farming I was starting my tractor every day in winter. Lots of times the temperature was 40 below 0. YES 40. I always plugged in my tractor for AT LEAST 4 hours. And used a 1500 watt circulating type heater. They have a thermostat so once the coolant is warm they cut out. Tractor started like summer. A cold engine wears fast until warmed up.
I never really noticed the difference on my power bill.
Yes my bill was a bit higher in winter BUT I also had electric heat in the house and 3 cattle water bowels.
So compared to possibly all that have posted you are in near tropical conditions by comparison.
I live in Saskatchewan Canada.

 

[Williy]

I don't use a heater of any kind and have had no problem
starting Yanmar in cold weather. My Dodge diesel I don't
plug it in but it has a heater in it but never have used it.
When we lived in Wisconsin temps -30F our Rabbit diesel
always started and it was outside

willy

 

[Bill_B]

Here is my opinion from the great white north.
When I was farming I was starting my tractor every day in winter. Lots of times the temperature was 40 below 0. YES 40. I always plugged in my tractor for AT LEAST 4 hours. And used a 1500 watt circulating type heater. They have a thermostat so once the coolant is warm they cut out. Tractor started like summer. A cold engine wears fast until warmed up.
I never really noticed the difference on my power bill.
Yes my bill was a bit higher in winter BUT I also had electric heat in the house and 3 cattle water bowels.
So compared to possibly all that have posted you are in near tropical conditions by comparison.
I live in Saskatchewan Canada.

Where does one buy one of these? How does it plumb in? To the cab hester piping? Only gets down to -20 here. -40 (not counting wind chill) is pretty rare.

 

[Bill_B]

This discussion made me think of this video. Some things are messed up in the translation to English but it is still a really cool video of life in Siberia in the winter.