Block heaters

[WoundUpMarine]

i know its getting to be the wrong time of season, as i heard its in the 60's at home, but im going to be having all my coolers cleaned and tested in the next week or so, and figured while the coolant is drained im going to put in a block heater. Ive been looking at the Kat's lower radiator hose heater to use, but dont have any experience with them. I dont have any starting problems in cold weather, just figured it would be better to have the engine already warm, and hope it will keep the engine compartment a little warmer than ambient temp during the winter. what are you guys using for heaters, any comments on the one im looking at, heres a link.

Amazon.com: Kat's 14800 600 Watt 2" Lower Radiator Hose Heater: Automotive

 

[BobG04]

Had one for years. More than enough. Kept the whole bilge warm. Motor sat around 100 degrees when it was 30 outside.

 

[BillD]

Had one for years. More than enough. Kept the whole bilge warm. Motor sat around 100 degrees when it was 30 outside.

I have 250W block heaters on my Cummins 370s, leave them on 24/7 during the boating season !

 

[CEShawn]

I've been looking at those Wolverine Pad heaters that go on the oil sump, seem easy and friends like them...

 

[BillD]

I've been looking at those Wolverine Pad heaters that go on the oil sump, seem easy and friends like them...

Nothing but good reviews/reports on the Wolverines over on "boatdiesel forum"

 

[CEShawn]

Tony Athens right? Great guy, nice guy... talked to him about buying a Cummins recently... Friend just bought one from him...

 

[WoundUpMarine]

i was looking at the wolverine pad heaters, but it would be a pain in the ass to get to the bottom of my sump, clean off any oil/rust/nastiness and then glue a pad on there. i figured if i gotta drain my coolant anway this would be easier.

 

[BillD]

Tony Athens right? Great guy, nice guy... talked to him about buying a Cummins recently... Friend just bought one from him...

Yes!
I have 250W block heaters he supplied in my Cummins 370s.
I would have installed Wolverines if not block heater option.

 

[Helen L]

I have 2 magnetic heaters I leave on the bottom of the pan all winter long. They definitely do their job, are easily removable, cheap, and actually seem to heat the whole engine room a little more. Bought them from Northern Hydraulics

 

[BillD]

I have 2 magnetic heaters I leave on the bottom of the pan all winter long. They definitely do their job, are easily removable, cheap, and actually seem to heat the whole engine room a little more. Bought them from Northern Hydraulics

In my mind it is always better to heat from the "bottom up".
Heat rises.
Then again, a 250W "slow roast" insert heater anywhere into the block in contact with anti-freeze is very convenient.

Whatever the install takes, engines thank us owners for the "extra heat" to keep them dry and help when firing them up!

An "oldie" just popped into my mind.

Remember the old Sunoco commercials?????

"Sunoco makes your car start like it's summer time"

same thing with heat with diesels !!!

 

[Helen L]

Bill,

Right on. Exact reason a couple of the larger draggers in my harbor leave the aux engines on for days at a time often...to keep the moisture levels in check in the engine rooms. To them, it's worth the fuel burn if the boats are going to sit all winter wet.

My 671 is still a bear to start on the colder days however, even with 2 heaters on the pan. Just the way these older Detroits are. Friend put a fresh completely rebuilt 871 in his clam boat last year and has the same trouble. Such rough engines but I love them...run forever.

 

[WoundUpMarine]

i have a magnetic heater on it at the moment, i just think getting the cylinders as hot as possible will help with the starts, maybe the coolant heater and a magnetic heater for the sump, or i guess i could just move to the Caribbean and not really worry about cold winters.

 

[steveinak]

Bill,

Right on. Exact reason a couple of the larger draggers in my harbor leave the aux engines on for days at a time often...to keep the moisture levels in check in the engine rooms. To them, it's worth the fuel burn if the boats are going to sit all winter wet.

My 671 is still a bear to start on the colder days however, even with 2 heaters on the pan. Just the way these older Detroits are. Friend put a fresh completely rebuilt 871 in his clam boat last year and has the same trouble. Such rough engines but I love them...run forever.

I had a J&T 6-71 in my lobster boat years ago, in the winter i could get it to start easily by just misting the air intake with a squirt of starting fluid, i'd hold the can 3 feet away from the breather and just touch the button on the can.

 

[CEShawn]

Of course everyone has opinions and do not want to hurt others... I was taught that starting fluid can be damaging to diesel engines. Something about the lack of lubrication at start up. I was taught to use WD-40, mainly because its not as strong starting fluid, may have a little lubrication which is debatable but mainly because its propellant in the can is PROPANE. I know several times it has kept me out of a jam and works really well. As an engineer I also keep a can in all of my lifeboats on the ship just in case. I just wonder day in and day out if it does damage. Granted I have a can for a "get out of jail" situation... Any of this sound familiar to others?

I remember one time I started my MACK E9 when it really shouldn't have started. I think we ended up having it firing on 5 of cylinders, but they were out of whack. The fuel injection pump, the keyway that rotates the cam to deliver fuel failed. Ended up with an aweful slick behind the boat...

 

[WoundUpMarine]

we have a boat with triple 12-71s and we will use a little ether to get them going once it gets cold out and the block heaters fail. a lot of why it is so bad is that it wipes off the lubrication on the cylinder liners, also the extreme detonations it causes, no more controlled combustion, just a BANG and off we go! cant say its good for diesels by any means but sometimes you just need to get those things spinning!

 

[Helen L]

I had a J&T 6-71 in my lobster boat years ago, in the winter i could get it to start easily by just misting the air intake with a squirt of starting fluid, i'd hold the can 3 feet away from the breather and just touch the button on the can.

I have a can of ether for those times it just doesn't want to go. I just hate using ether though. Rather sit there for 10 mins slowly warming it up then using ether.

 

[CEShawn]

I am hoping people chime in about the WD-40. I know it was taught to me from some pretty good people and professionals. I should maybe drop a note on boatdiesel but we know how that goes, lol...

I havent seen it in a bit, but there is something about prelube pumps. I know we have them on all our larger engines over lets say 2000HP. I do know some people have put them on smaller engines down to lets say 300HP. I bet an oil pan heater and/or pump with a heater would really help that time, really warm up the block... I think some people put prelube pumps on newer Volvo's, as they had to see oil pressure before they would start, aka an easy prelube pump...

 

[Helen L]

I am hoping that with a new fully enclosed and insulated house it'll be toastier in the winter and she'll crank easier. Intake comes up through the floor and sucks from inside the house.

 

[Bad Influence]

morning all...just brought this older thread back up and goy to thinking. As I'm laid up for winter and not running engine, Was womdering abput engine ROOM warmer/heaters. The kind they advertize for keeping room "warmer" during winter season. Any comments/suggestion/ recomedfations? Thanks Tommy

 

[Bad Influence]

morning all...just brought this older thread back up and goy to thinking. As I'm laid up for winter and not running engine, Was wondering about engine ROOM warmer/heaters. The kind they advertize for keeping room "warmer" during winter season. Any comments/suggestion/ recomedfations? Thanks, Tommy