East30
Silver Member
Never close to that. I would like to experience it. Once.
Surprised how much block heater helps starting diesel
- Thread starter hube2
- Start date
- Views: 25199
Never close to that. I would like to experience it. Once.
SylvainG
Platinum Member
I've connected my block heater to a wifi smart switch (TOPGREENER Smart Mini Wi-Fi Plug with Energy Monitoring). It specs says it can go down to 0C but the chip inside will take -20C by the manufacturer's specs. That way, I can start the block heater without even stepping outside, and even from home before even leaving for the cottage. It does require to connect to a cloud in China, but with a bit of computer knowledge, you can 'flash' a new firmware on it (Tasmota) which disconnects it from that cloud and have full control locally.
goeduck
Super Member
Holy Cow! :shocked:
metalbender
Veteran Member
Mine is on a Woods remote on-off fob in the house. Turn it on a few hrs before I need the tractor. When it's this cold, just leave it on.
SylvainG
Platinum Member
With a bit of 'brain grease' (instead of elbow grease), you can have it to turn on at different time based on how cold it is outside. Heck, if you have a Google Home, Amazon Echo or Apple Homekit, you could say, "Alexa (or whatever device you have), have the tractor ready by 9am" and the routines would turn on the block heater at a time that your tractor coolant is warm by 9am.
So during the day, play with the tractor and in the evening, play with home automation
So during the day, play with the tractor and in the evening, play with home automation
MHarryE
Elite Member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2009
- Messages
- 2,970
- Location
- Northeastern Minnesota
- Tractor
- Kubota M7-171, M5-111, SVL75-2, RTV900XT & GR2120; CaseIH 1680 combine
Block heater works fine. It’s just been so cold - like nowhere else in continental USA. Our area holds the record for coldest temperature ever recorded in the 48. 30 below not uncommon, 40 below now getting rare, was common when I was growing up. 50 below meant schools out when I was that age, maybe 2 or 3 days a year. 60 below is the official low in our area but thats in a town, not a real cold spot. Two years ago we farmers gathered at a conference south of me about 100 miles. One topic of discussion was finding the thermometers in most of our trucks bottomed out at 40 below. Only one person was able to give the true temp - 54 below.
So that’s the temperatures we have been dealing with. We haven’t seen zero for 10 days now Jeff’s block heater is working just fine. In fact it heats the block so well the glow plugs drop off too quickly because the top end gets too hot. The bottom end, however, is down near the pour point of the oil from the oil data sheet. So with heat on the oil pan he got the boost needed to run.
So that’s the temperatures we have been dealing with. We haven’t seen zero for 10 days now Jeff’s block heater is working just fine. In fact it heats the block so well the glow plugs drop off too quickly because the top end gets too hot. The bottom end, however, is down near the pour point of the oil from the oil data sheet. So with heat on the oil pan he got the boost needed to run.
goeduck
Super Member
Is this a trick question?
Upside down would be better than inside out :laughing:
I have mine plugged into an outlet that is controlled by a switch inside the house. The snow plow tractor is parked outside under a porch overhang. There is also an indicator light in the house plugged into that outlet, so I know when the heater is on.
When the temp is zero, I leave it on a couple hours. 30 minutes is enough when it is 32 degrees. The tractor (JD 4120) starts just as smooth as it does in the summer after these times. I would not dream of starting that without the block heater in the winter. That is way too hard on the diesel engine.
Often, I plow snow when i get home from work. I have a 1/2 hour drive, so I just call my wife and have her throw the switch prior to departure. That way the tractor is warmed up by the time I get home. That has came in handy a time or two when I needed it and a chain to yank my 2wd vehicle out of the town truck plow drift I tried to get thru getting into our driveway.
When the temp is zero, I leave it on a couple hours. 30 minutes is enough when it is 32 degrees. The tractor (JD 4120) starts just as smooth as it does in the summer after these times. I would not dream of starting that without the block heater in the winter. That is way too hard on the diesel engine.
Often, I plow snow when i get home from work. I have a 1/2 hour drive, so I just call my wife and have her throw the switch prior to departure. That way the tractor is warmed up by the time I get home. That has came in handy a time or two when I needed it and a chain to yank my 2wd vehicle out of the town truck plow drift I tried to get thru getting into our driveway.
fidowanttobe
Platinum Member
Does anyone have experience with these? I used one for the 90w in the tranny but now use a magnetic. Was afraid it would scorch the oil. Had no evidence of that, just paranoia I guess.
