inline heater

[normde2001]

These things resemble plain old 120v water heater elements, which last for years as long as they are not "dry fired". I guess it must just be a matter of quality, with everyone saying they don't last if left plugged in.

 

[JerryG]

I don't know about the in hose heaters. I have what is called a tank type heater and the one on my generator has been on for three years.

 

[Egon]

You can leave them plugged in forever. They have a built in thermostat and only get so hot. In fact, if you have the patience you could stand by and hear them cyle on and off.

Egon

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I was reading a manual about the option available on Yanmars for heaters that go in the block. The manual indicates 400 watts and in very cold tempuratures may take 5-8 hours to make the engine startable. Assuming that it uses 400 watts continuously (which it probably doesn't) it would use 9.6 kWatts per day or at 10 cents per kWhour almost $1 per day.

 

[PeteV]

The only issue I have with putting any type of engine heater on a timer is that you are creating condensation cycles. You would be amazed by the amount of water you can collect in your engine (oil and cylinders) by raising the temperature and letting it cool back down again without starting your engine and boiling some of that water off. If you do like cfoxmd says, where it is a one time deal(you turn it on and it will turn itself off) it won't be a problem, but i would never rig it up so it would go through multiple cycles without ever starting the tractor.
ps, have a yanmar blockheater and tranny heater, plug them in a couple of hours before use(or the night before), works like a charm.Tranny heater seems to help the hydr. pump, doesn't whine at all, unlike doing a cold start, where it whines for 5 minutes before things get in the normal .
thanks pete

 

[gbirky]

For those interested, the Yanmar part number for the engine block heater that threads into the side of the engine block is:

Part# 2358980
Description: Engine Block Heater for 135, 155, 165, 169, 180, 186, 187, 195, 220, 240, 226, 276

 

[F15DOWNER]

Gbirky
Do you know if this part number will fit an F15D?
I'm told that the closest model is a YM-169???
This is my first winter and I'm still a little green on cold weather starting, but I have noticed that it is very cold blooded and it hasn't even got near 0 yet.
Tom

 

[Anonymous Poster]

One of my manuals says not to crank the engine longer than 10 seconds. No reason why. So obviously something bad can happen. So warming the engine would be good.

 

[Egon]

" not to crank the engine longer than 10 seconds. "

Probably so the starter windings do not overheat.

Egon

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Could be, but maybe fuel going out of the cylinders becomes a risk.

Airplanes use propane powere heaters that attach to the engine compartment and blow hot air, a few use dipstick heaters.