Block heaters, anyone using these?
 

I am looking at installing a block heater on my 300SD.

I found this on the net:

Anyone using either system? Happy with it?

Thanks.

Never tried a pan heater but the hose heaters work. Get one at your local parts store for 1/4 the price.

Jim

Answer
 

Yes.
I have a hose heater, like that in the lower hose of my 1985 300SD.
Works for me to -40F...

Cost was $32.00 at a generic part store...

The glue on pan heater addition = it would start at -80F.

and
 

at -80 F I ain't goin outside:eek:

For those trips to the south pole right?

It doesn't get that cold here. One morning when it was -5c, about 22F I think. I saw a guy with a hair dryer blowing hot air into his air cleaner. It started! I asked him about it & he said that he had done it a bit in Europe when he lived there & not to use a paint stripping gun as the air cleaner would catch on fire! He said that the air was still warm when it got into the cylinder and so the engine fired. Any comments or is it just silly?

Hose heater it is...

Thank you for all the replies.

I installed the hose heater and like it. I wondered before about using a hair dryer. I believe Cummins use a device that heats the intake air.

I've experimented with magnetic pan heaters. Not much good for the engine. Might be useful on the fuel tank to keep it warm.

The SDs' don't come with a factory block heater?

It was an option. Most were installed by the dealer.

That might be a bit tough to install all these years later in a driveway, on your back. The hose heater does sound like a better idea.

Unlikely it would start at -80F....since the fuel would be a solid!

What if you had one on the fuel tank too, like the Russian GaZ trucks used in Siberia?

The real issue seems to be: if you install it, will it work? And the answer appears to be yes, i.e. the product is reliable enough.

I would favor the hose heater both for generic availability and ease of installation. Plus less likely to be affected by high snow drifts scraping the bottom of the oil pan under some trying circumstances.

Yea right.... I don't like going outside when it is below 40F.

I can imagine what happens to the fuel at that temperature? You would have to use a lot of additives (kerosene) or something.:eek: