Does anyone know an approximate price to have a block heater put in. It snowed last night and I have B75 in the tank and no block heater. She was a pretty hard to start this morning. I have the heater I just don't think I am going to be able to install it.

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I would find a good independent mechanic-I would think under 2 hours, probably $150-200 + antifreeze, the only problem would be getting the plug out of the hole, sometimes they can seize up-make sure you don't already have it in there(I was lucky, mine was in but had never had a cord installed!). Not a job for the mechanically inexperienced, IMHO.

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1982 300DT 190K (Diesel Purge + synthetic oil=smoothness at last!!!)
2004 Ford E-350 6.0 L PSD 227K
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW HO Cummins 4X4 48RE 42K (brute force tow vehicle)
2005 Scion xB wife's rolling pop can
1993 GMC Sierra C3500 6.2 142K

BioDiesel,

What type of engine heater are U talking about installing?

P E H

be done for 1 hr.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I was figuring 1 hr to go get the 2000 lb impact from Snap-On!

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1982 300DT 190K (Diesel Purge + synthetic oil=smoothness at last!!!)
2004 Ford E-350 6.0 L PSD 227K
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW HO Cummins 4X4 48RE 42K (brute force tow vehicle)
2005 Scion xB wife's rolling pop can
1993 GMC Sierra C3500 6.2 142K

The one that replaces the freeze plug.

I have that that type and don't neccessarily want to by the lower radiator hose type. Although I could install the hose type myself. Just weighing my options

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this past jan. we took red to an indy diesel shop. 6 hrs and 300 bucks later she was back in our hands. before we bought her old navy had taken her to the dodge dealer he used to work at and they couldn't get the feeeze plug out. most of the cost is wrestling with the plug. once out the rest is oyster dressing and gravy.

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currently
[1981 300 td tdidi 165500 dark brown/palamino-Brownie-mine-3k miles of ownership
1983 240d 162+++ Anthricite grey w/ henna red interior and hella lights-wifes car-Red

the above two cars are for sale
and can be seen on the cars for sale thread here. pix also available.


240d-144+ Manilla Yellow w/ palmino interior-greasecar kit-Blondie-the college kids car

23" gt 21 speed still on original tires-still got the nubs
21" khs tandem

Dang, I was reading through this and it is from back in 05.

here is a thrad showing some of the difficulty to remove the plug.

www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=240529

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Wow! this is an old thread of mine. I was surprise to see someone dug it out and bumped it!

Just for those interested I ended up having the block heater installed by an shop. I want to say it cost about $60, I supplied the block heater though. It's been a few years back so I'll have to look it up.

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Local customer had a block heated installed last month by MB dealer $650.00.

And this is why we call them stealerships...

Lower radiator hose heaters work and take less than an hour to install. They aren't quite as effective as the OE block heater but ease of installation and replacement trumps the block heater's slight advantage in my view.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Wow this is an old thread, 2005. This is probably one of my first posts.

$650!! I think when I had a shop do it back then, it ran me less than $150, but I had them check a couple other things while in there. I'll see if I can dig up the receipt.

Kerry is spot on. I had a real block heater in my wagon, and a lower radiator hose heater on my 240. The lower radiator hoses heater are easier to install, but don't heat the block as well.

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I don't see how the block heater is going to help with using biodiesel in cold weather, it won't heat the fuel lines or tank. You just have to blend petrodiesel or kerosene

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1995 E300 diesel

This thread tripped me up again, got to post #3 and realised it isn`t a new one.
I have a freeze plug block heater, think it is 400W. heats the engine ok when I need it. Valve cover is slightly warm.

They will not heat the oil in the pan.

I had a shop install the first one. the second one was installed by Metric Motors, price was slightly Higher.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

It helps some. A cold engine compound with thick biodiesel causes really hard starts. A warm engine with thick biodiesel will start easier than a cold engine with thick biodiesel. But if the biodiesel is too thick you're going to be out of luck no matter what until you heat the fuel system. The filter and the fuel lines are the weak link for gelling BD. The tank usually isn't the problem unless it gets really cold for a sustain time. The block heater does nothing to alliviate the thick biodiesel issue.

Charlie, it tripped me up too. I posted almost the exact same thing twice now. I guess I should dig up that reciept.

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