block heater

[Feal318000]

hi guys, my m1078 has started with a touch of the button all summer. Two weeks ago (around 25 degrees) it started.....but with a good 3-4 seconds of holding the button. Typical diesel engine, i guess. So today i installed a 1000w block heater. Simple job, it took longer to drain the coolant than install the heater. Do any of you guys have past experience with these? Cold starting made easier? I understand the tranny isn't warm with this mod, but am hoping the engine starts a bit easier. I will find out in the morning, what i am up against, (starting the beast) but was just seeing if any of you guys have opinions on these. Sorry for the dark picture....

 

[sjohn116]

Which way did you orient the heating element (what degree/time is the element pointed towards)? I have the same element that I need to install. How many gallons of coolant did you drain before popping out the freeze plug, and did you just use a punch and hammer to do the job?

 

[Feal318000]

element is at 12 oclock, cant go any other way, really. i bought 3 new 5 gallon buckets (clean), and probably drained about 11-12 gallons from the petcock on the bottom of the radiator. And when i popped the freeze plug out, maybe 2-3 oz. were lost. a regular screwdriver, pliers, and a small hammer worked perfectly to pop out the freeze plug. Lubed up the o ring, and cranked down the allen head bolt on the heater to 25 lbs. poured the coolant back into the overflow tank, and wallah. i just went out to touch the block, (hasn't run in over 3 hours at 30 degrees outside) and, either side of the block is VERY hot. I dont think there will be a starting issue tm morning. But,..... to create that heat id imagine it is sucking up a fair amount of electricity. Overall- a very simple project.

 

[sjohn116]

Very good write up. 1000w heater is about the same as an oil filled home heater set to medium... You are burning maybe $1.00 warming the block overnight,
Depending on your KWh costs.

Before/after installing the block heater, were/are you not using the ether injection for cold starts? Just curious.

 

[Jakelc15]

I've used a pond heater controller before. Should save some electric. https://www.farmandfleet.com/produc...-cube-thermostatically-controlled-outlet.html

 

[Floridianson]

I like an magnet oil pan warmer too.

 

[Feal318000]

I, personally have no interest in the use of ether

 

[BuiltMFG]

Feal318000 Part#/Link for the 1000w heater part you used...

 

[Feal318000]

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Powerful-Engi...%3Ad016bf591580a2a1a1e3c0faffe3e059%7Ciid%3A2


and it had enough cord to run it along the inner frame rail to a hole in the grill. Truck fired up this morning at 24 degrees with no hesitation, and just a half second touch of the button

 

[sjohn116]

Not associated with seller...

Currently available thru online book store for under $50. Where I got mine.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002...ID=51iOj85YijL&ref=plSrch#nav-search-keywords

 

[snowtrac nome]

We use those heaters exclusively out here in western Alaska. They work well they transfer enough heat to the oil pan that at -20 there is no need to have a pan heater. The trans will warm up faster as the coolant in the trans cooler is already warm. There is a patch heater one could add to the trans oil pan to help cold starts, we just changed to synthetic oil in transmissions and in the last 8 years have had no problems with our md 3020's.

 

[coachgeo]

Not sure which of the two discussed is the one Snowtrac is referring too that "they use exclusively" but the Zerostart 350-0030 from the bookstore is only 750watt while the other mentioned previously is said to be 1000 watt