Block Heaters
 

Hi All,
I purchased a 1983 300D a few months ago and love it. I believe it has always been in the Northeast yet it doesn't appear to have a block heater. I pulled the air cleaner off and also crawled underneath but all I saw was a hex key plug. It also looks like a real pain to get to!
So the question is..Has anyone had any experience with a "dipstick heater" or something similar? I am not sure if I want to pull the freeze plug out...unless I have to.
Thanks! Charles Markham
Housatonic, Ma
1983 300D
1983 240D
1987 190E

Since I'm in the same situation as Xander, I'll tag my question on to his....

What about the in line fuel heaters?

Same Boat but Not a Great Solution
 

Greetings Guys,

I've got a 300TD wagon without the block heater as well, maybe perhaps because it was originally from California. I did purchase a block heater for it and also attempted to remove the plug for it's installation. Trust me that freeze plug is in there and there is very little leverage without removing the manifold to make a difference to remove it. From several that have posted on this topic it will come out, but the manifold will have to be removed so a cheater bar can be used to increase your leverage. The whole idea during the Winter is to keep the engine warm as well as the oil and the block heater does a nice job of doing that. I don't think heating the fuel will do the trick when you're trying to drag the crankshaft through molasses on a cold engine. Others have tried using hose heaters but once again the water won't circulate through the engine. The best bet in my opinion is to remove the manifold, like I'm gonna do and install the proper block heater if your Winter is gonna be cold like mine.

Charles

Due to where you live, you probably dont need a block heater, although the one that screws into the block is very nice. It's a 600 watt unit. Dip stick heaters are a pain in the neck. Here in the arctic we use the block heaters, plus oil pan heaters, and sometime battery heaters. Now the type of oil pan heater I recommend is a flat pad type that is adhered to bottom of the oil pan with silicone sealant. They work excellent!!! Here in Alaska we know what works well. We also use them on the auto transmission pans. For the typical six quart system a 100 watt pad heater will do the job fine for both the engine and trans. No car up here leaves the dealership without both pan heaters and a block heater. Dont be tempted to put more than a 100 watts on. It is not neccessary unless you live in a windy area. They will not harm the oil in the pan in any way. A system here with a 600 watt block heater and 100 watt oil pan heater will start a can at 50 below quite well if the wind isn't blowing. The wind creates a whole different ball game. Up here these heaters are available at any auto parts store. If you have trouble finding them, let me know and I'll get you some more info on who makes them. They work well even on oil leaking engines. You will find the oil pan warm to the touch, but not so hot as to burn you . A little long winded of an answer, but I hope it helps you. Ron

Here is a site with reasonable prices
 

Here is a site with reasonable prices on the stick-on oil pan heaters.

oil pan heaters

Good web site showing the pan heaters and installation. It is amazing how this method will help your cold weather starting, and better yet, cut down on engine wear, cold start smoke, etc. Wont hardly notice it on the electric bill either.

I was gonna ask How do YOU know
 

...then I saw your address! BRRRRRRRRRR!!!

Thanks!:D

I just put a heater into my 78 300D. It can be done from the bottom with a lot of effort. Weld a 19MM bolt to a 3/4 inch nut (1 3/8 socket) Make sure you get really good penetration into the bolt. Insert the 19MM hex head into the plug and put a 3/4 drive ratchet with short extension on it. Run the rathchet handle between floor pan and steering linkages and give her hell. We had to put a 4 foot cheater bar to get it loose. The key is to be patient. I was scared to death to try to take the manifolds loose for fear of broken bolts. I have the "tool" we made if anyone needs it! Good luck.

I know......I'm dumb
 

RE: Block Heaters.........My car is stored at home in an insulated garage. I would anticipate no issues starting the car in the winter. My father ran this 300D for 10 years in northern NJ without the first issue starting. I pray I have the same experience.

My question is.....what about work. I don't have an extension cord long enough to reach my office and the car spends more time at work than it does at home.

I know......dumb.

JCd

JCD-Not sure why you're saying "dumb" but that's how I felt when my '77 300D wouldn't start when the ambient temp was below 22 deg F. Mine wasn't in the family long. The PO changed oil only every 8000 miles, so my compression was questionable.
I think that the glowplugs may be upgradeable but I'm not 100% sure.
My SD has started in 12 deg F weather, without a block heater. I do use Redline DFC additive in just about every tankful. On the coldest days, it might be a good idea to go out and start your car and drive it somewhere for lunch, or let it idle for while to let it warm up.
Last winter I found Agway 10W30 Super Diesel oil rated CH-4, and had no problems starting. Only found it so far at Agway places, but NNJ might have some; if not there is one just south of the Nazareth Racetrack in PA, if you ever come here for a race :)
Anyway, enjoy dieseling in the northeast, and hope fuel prices don't jump too much this year ...

Not to worry JCD
 

Greetings All,

Although my diesel is an '80 model it shouldn't matter a whole lot as long as you have fairly decent compression on your engine. She started up last year down to about 10 F without a block heater (wished I had one installed anyway) Once I got it started and warmed up and running there was no problem the rest of the day. Because of my job I end up running to the bank around 11 am and it doesn't in a lot of cases get started again until 10 pm that night when I leave. I think there must be enough residual heat in the engine block to keep the engine from fully cooling down in that time period. I did not experience any problems starting the beast later that evening. The mornings seemed to be a cross your fings and hope type of thing but am hoping to get the block heater installed before the snow flies.


Charles

I forgot, a good habit for fall: adjust valves. Makes cold starting much easier. Spring: change brake fluid. Another good idea is to read the portion of your owners' manual that covers cold starting, blending fuels, and lubricant ranges for various temperatures. The 77 may be different, but my 84 benefits from multiple glow cycles, and if I recall, floor it while cranking, and crank until it fires, up to 20 seconds. I could be remembering wrong, but that's how I got mine to start on an 8 deg day with 15W40 dino molasses and forgetting to plug it in the night before. Sure I could have jumped into my wife's gasoline Subaru, but I'm trying to only drive that on snowy days....

Block heaters are a pain in the butt to put in. My dad and I did it on the Jetta, it took us a full week to do. I'm sure it wouldn't take AS long on a MB cnsidering theres a little more space to work in but it'll still be hard.

Thank goodness my 300D starts the first time everytime, I just let the glow plugs run for at least 10 seconds longer then the glow plug light is on. In the winter I'll be plugging in the block heater (Car came from the only MB dealer in Wyoming :) ) in the mornings just to help it along.

;) ;) well Charles i have had 7 240's, 1 300sd, and just purchased a 95 300e diesel with 132k. every one of them hated anything below 20f at 10f i used to cross my fingers and pray. they all stayed out at night. i used all types of oils and magic potions and quess what they still caught cold. with the block heater summer like starts and a warm heater. this doesn't even cover engine wear from cold starts. and do you know where i live?? about 30 miles down river from you in deerfield. good luck

Hehe, I like the analogy "catching cold"... I'm (hopefully) getting over a nasty cold myself ... wondering if my car might get sick ... anyway, my SD broke its accelerator pedal last winter, as well as the self-cancelling mechanism for the turn signals. Also, my shoulder cracked the top part of the door panel during cornering before the interior warmed up.

Wondering now if any of this could have been avoided if I had used the block heater a lot more than I've been. Thinking about getting the plug ready for duty right now...I have a brand new 40' extension cord all ready to go. Shorter than the 100' cord I used last year, so I should get a tad bit more voltage to the coils :)