mag heater: oil breakdown?

[big bubba]

Members: Am considering a magnetic engine heater (tr. supply co) for those extreme cold days for tractor startup. It is advertised to operate at 300-400 degrees F If I apply it to the bottom of the oil sump pan, will there be an issue of oil breakdown if plugged in for a few hrs before startup? What's the engine oil operating temperature on a diesel rig anyway? thanks in advance bb

 

[dmccarty]

I used to use the engine block heater that came installed on the two diesel trucks I have owned for 4-8 hours before starting. Four hours should be enough time though. My heater was/is around 1500 watts so a four hour warm up costs 60 cents. Do that 30 days a month and that is getting expensive.

So I stopped.

I put in a 5w40 oil in the truck and tractor and don't heat the oil anymore. The truck starts much easier. So does the tractor. Going to try a 0w40 oil since it was not much more than the 5w40 oil.

I never bothered heating the tractor oil. Usually it has warmed up enough outside by the time I start to work that its not too cold unlike the truck which gets started before dawn.

Later,
Dan

 

[big bubba]

Thanks Dan, just now changed to Rotella 5/40 synthetic after 150 hrs break in on the new tractor....you might be right, a heater may be overkill. Just want to do all I can when it's 20 degrees on a tight new rig thanks bb