Magnetic Engine Block Heater

[rxdpad11]

Has anyone used a magnetic engine block heater on a tractor and if so how well did it work? I own a 2006 Kioti CK30 tractor and would like to use a block heater but don't know enough about them to know which type to get. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Pipestone Kid]

I was given one , but I don't know what kind of alloy they used, the heater wouldn't stick. Be sure to check with a magnet before you buy one. I installed a frost plug heater--works great.

 

[PILOON]

My frost plug unit burnt out at the worst time so I slapped on the garage sale ($5.00) magnetic unit
After 24 hrs the tractor still would not start compared to usual 1 hr with block heater.
Both were rated at 400 w.

A block heater is in the water jacket thus heating the coolant evenly.
The magnet type is outside heating the surrounding air.

Leave it to you to decide.

 

[JerryK]

The magnet stick on the oil pan heaters work so-so, and they mainly heat the oil some. The freeze plug type [ used to sell units that you installed in the lower radiator hose, too ] heat the coolant some, and in doing so warms the cast iron motor block/ect. They work the best, but in some areas, you might want to go with both if you are having starting problems. Neither will get the motor toasty warm, but do help a little. Talking diesel truck experience here..but should be same for tractors. If you can park it inside, it sure helps alot... About ten years ago they were selling diesel fueled 12v heaters that did a lot better job heating the coolant. Had a little 12v pump motor to circulate the coolant some. Neat little units..

 

[JerryK]

Webasto TSL 17... $$$$

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WEBASTO-THE...d=100005&prg=1088&rk=4&rkt=4&sd=160900243864&

 

[Buckgnarly]

Has anyone used a magnetic engine block heater on a tractor and if so how well did it work? I own a 2006 Kioti CK30 tractor and would like to use a block heater but don't know enough about them to know which type to get. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Is that West Topsham VT? If so, you have to be near me, here's my install of a block heater. Don't waste your time with any stick on or hose heaters, block heaters work much more efficiently.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-owning-operating/260970-kioti-bock-heater-ds3510.html

 

[holeycow]

The "best" block heater is one which warms the oil (like the two in my air-cooled Deutz, which warms the entire drivetrain front to back when plugged in overnight). The magnetic ones barely do that, so as a second option the coolant warming probe works pretty well. It has recently been about 30-40 below here. I have a block heater in my DK90. It warms the engine only, so I had a magnetic one laying around for years which I stuck on the transmission. It works just a little bit, and it did eliminate the hydraulic whine on startup.

This "plugging in for an hour" stuff is a little ridiculous in cold weather. Just plug it in overnight. If the machine is exposed to the elements, even a coolant heater will barely warm the engine.

 

[oldballs]

Being a newbie at the time, I bought a magnetic heater thingy for a BX Kubota from the dealer. Heck I didn't even think about the watt rating. I found that the 200 watt did essentially nothing. Could just as well gone out and pee on the engine....$36 dollars down the drain.:thumbdown:

 

[newbury]

I have one I've used a couple of times. But I only needed a small boost in oil temp and on different vehicles. Since then I've gone to Rotella T6 and the oil is not like molasses.

 

[rxdpad11]

Is that West Topsham VT? If so, you have to be near me, here's my install of a block heater. Don't waste your time with any stick on or hose heaters, block heaters work much more efficiently.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-owning-operating/260970-kioti-bock-heater-ds3510.html

Yes, I am in West Topsham, VT. I'm beginning to get the idea that a magnetic block heater is not the way to go.

 

[buickanddeere]

A magnetic 200W or 300W heater is an assist heater, not a whole engine heater. Placed on the oil pan of an already warm engine . That engine is usually warm enough to start the next morning if parked in a shed and sheltered. Or the magnet heater is used to thin the oil while the coolant heater actually warms the engine.

 

[Egon]

Is that West Topsham VT? If so, you have to be near me, here's my install of a block heater. Don't waste your time with any stick on or hose heaters, block heaters work much more efficiently.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-owning-operating/260970-kioti-bock-heater-ds3510.html

Inline hose heaters work very well, thank you.

 

[CJONE]

The best 2 heaters you can use are frost plug and lower hose if installed correctly. A oil pan heater works just not as good as a coolant heater. We used stick on heaters [heat pads] for the oil pans in conjunction with coolant heaters on stubborn engines. Do not waste your time with oil dipstick heaters. I have used a external tank type and they work good but you need quite a bit of room for them and being exposed they seem to fail quickly. AS far as a magnet type, good luck on a aluminum oil pan. CJ

 

[Buckgnarly]

Inline hose heaters work very well, thank you.

They may work well, but not efficient, nor better than a block heater. You heat the coolant in the lower hose, the heat/warm coolant goes up to the radiator, and then the radiator also works efficiently at releasing all that heat! It's better than nothing, but not better than a block heater. If there is an application for a block heater, it's the best way to go.
Block heater heats the coolant, cast block, oil on cylinder walls, etc.

 

[JerryK]

You just have to use an aluminum magnet.... Most of the freeze plug and lower radiator heaters are made by the same company. They do come in different wattages.. Still best to park it inside out of the weather.... They used to build fires underneath the tank motors during WWII......

 

[Egon]

They may work well, but not efficient, nor better than a block heater. You heat the coolant in the lower hose, the heat/warm coolant goes up to the radiator, and then the radiator also works efficiently at releasing all that heat! It's better than nothing, but not better than a block heater. If there is an application for a block heater, it's the best way to go.
Block heater heats the coolant, cast block, oil on cylinder walls, etc.

You mean an inline hose heater only heats the radiator?

 

[Buckgnarly]

You mean an inline hose heater only heats the radiator?

No, but the nature of it allows more of the heat to escape from the radiator. Even if it circulates the coolant it's not going to open the thermostat, so no coolant can get pushed into the block efficiently. You will lose more heat from the rad than the block type heaters.
The block heater is going to heat from the inside out, not outside in like a hose heater.

 

[CJONE]

You just have to use an aluminum magnet.... Most of the freeze plug and lower radiator heaters are made by the same company. They do come in different wattages.. Still best to park it inside out of the weather.... They used to build fires underneath the tank motors during WWII......

I KNEW I forgot something when I was there!! We had a 350 big cam cummins that got the 500,000 btu propane torch a few times to get the pig started. About the same as the tanks! CJ

 

[Egon]

No, but the nature of it allows more of the heat to escape from the radiator. Even if it circulates the coolant it's not going to open the thermostat, so no coolant can get pushed into the block efficiently. You will lose more heat from the rad than the block type heaters.
The block heater is going to heat from the inside out, not outside in like a hose heater.

So how does the heated coolant get into the Rad. If the thermostat is closed?

My truck has a bypass around the thermostat!

 

[medic1050]

On my JD 4410 I use both the block heater to start the engine and a 400W magnetic heater on the hydraulic reservoir to heat it some to thin the hydraulic fluid so I can pull the tractor out of the barn a little easier to allow for an open air (No CO Poisoning) warm up. The block heater and glow plugs with Rotella Synthetic oil fires up the engine first try every time. The heat on the Hydraulics reduces the amount of pump whine when trying to move the beast when she is cold. Hydraulic fluid warms to decent temperatures (Return line on power beyond couplers are warm) in about 8 min.