What type of engine heater is best?

[rchristo]

Have an old Kubota L345 and use it for plowing snow. I'm worried that the cold temperatures are wreaking havoc on the internals, so have thought of adding some kind of engine block heater. I've seen the dip stick type, magnetic type, coolant line type and am even thinking of hooking up a work light below the engine.

Thoughts?

 

[MIKE R]

I would go with the coolant line type. They do the best job. The magnetic ones are next to useless.

 

[PHPaul]

I've owned my '88 JD 750 (Yanmar) since it was new, and just last week put a block heater on it.

Needed the tractor in single digit temps yesterday, so I plugged it in when I went down to do chores. A couple of hours later, I went down and it cranked right up after one pre-heat cycle. Normally it would have taken 4 or 5 preheats and prolonged cranking which is hard on everything, especially the battery.

In my case, it was a 15 minute job to install the block heater. It screwed in in place of a threaded plug just above the fuel filter.

If I couldn't find a suitable block heater, Choice B would be an "in the hose" unit. I wouldn't even bother with the magnetic units, I've never heard anything good about them.

Finally, no direct experience, but I've heard that the dipstick heaters are about on a par with the magnetic units for effectiveness, and they tend to burn or "coke" the oil.

 

[RickB]

Frostplug style immersion coolant heater. Puts the element exactly where the heat is needed. Not an option for every application, but when it is, it's the best.