Issues with leaving hydraulic and engine block heaters plugged in during the winter?

[eKretz]

The condensation thing from leaving the block heater on continuously sounds like a load of bollocks to me. Condensation generally occurs when something is cold and then gets brought into a warm space - think like when you take a can of beer out of the fridge and it immediately gets condensation all over it. If you have a warm can of beer (like the tractor with the block heater on and warmed up) and put it in the fridge, ever seen it get covered in condensation? No? Me neither.

Now it *could* present a problem if you constantly and repeatedly turn the block heater off and on. If you start with an ice cold engine, then the block heater warms it up, you're bound to get some amount of condensation there. Generally that's not an issue as long as you're running the engine after it gets warmed up with the block heater as most people do, because once it's running and comes up to temperature it will evaporate most of that moisture with the heat.

But if you just run the block heater over and over on a timer from ice cold to warm, but don't ever start the engine and get it up to full operating temperature, I could definitely see it gathering some water in the oil over time.

 

[Topzide]

If you can get a wifi signal to where you have you tractor parked, a wifi plug will give you a timer for on or off and remote turn on from your phone. The feature that I use for my 3500 CTD is, set up an automation scene that turns on between a certain time when below a set temperature! That way, if I need to go rescue the DW, the truck is ready to hook up trailer and go without waiting to warm before getting up the road! I've been her "tow truck" for years. Then have a later time period for weekends. Can always turn on from the phone if needed before even getting dressed! Have found that the truck needs about 60 - 90 minutes pending temps. The little 3 cylinder Iskei only needs 45 minutes. Set it up when plowable snow is forecast. JM2C.