P.E., thanks for the answer. When I lived in AZ I didn't have this problem either

Fred

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Fred Johnson
1977 240D
1983 300SD

hey guys,
its been a while since last posting to the forum. i just have a quick question as to blockheaters, cold weather etc. i have a recently rebuilt engine in my '77 240D and it has had no problems popping into action on these 18F mornings lately. i do not have a heater installed, but have been thinking of putting one in. my question is whether or not the use of a block heater, even when there is no trouble with starting, will prolong the life of my engine. also, what do you guys think about warm-ups? let it sit and idle in the driveway for 10 mins or just take off? thanks

'Boo '77

After reading all of the recent discussion on block heaters, I decided to give mine a try last night.

It worked great. The engine started easily and it ran the first block as if it had already been warmed up. The heater was also warm right off. On really cold mornings w/o the heater, I can tell that it does not accelerate as well, as when warm.

Another reason I wanted to try it, was I am having a little difficulty with the starter engaging on cold mornings during the first start. This morning it engaged the first time using the block heater. Even though I live in Alabama and keep the car in the garage, I think I'll plug in before I go to bed on the coldest nights. I believe it will take some of the stress off of the engine. Whether these benefits would be worth the trouble of installation (it's not easy to access - even to unplug the cord!) I couldn't say???

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1976 240D
1987 560SL
2007 E320 Bluetec
1998 C280 (now son’s car)
1982 240D Manual - Sold

I was thinking that even if your car doesn't need the block heater to get started in the morning, there are benefits. As mentioned above, the engine will run better and you'll have warm air through the vents sooner. It's like a win-win situation.

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1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

Are there any ill effects from leaving the block heater plugged in for several days? As a daily public transportation user I don't get an opportunity to run my wagon as often as I like. But with the cold weather I like to leave it plugged in to ease starting when I do use it. Any opinions?

BTW - Long time reader making my first post. This site is great!

I would say no. However, you should probably keep a little closer eye on the coolant level. When mine is plugged in I hear some noise (like boiling water) and some pressure builds up overnight. So some coolant evaporation may be occurring....probably more than if it were just sitting there.

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1976 240D
1987 560SL
2007 E320 Bluetec
1998 C280 (now son’s car)
1982 240D Manual - Sold

Greetings All,

You've got to remember that you are heating a sealed pressurized system. Trust me you are not getting any evaporation taking place with your block heater plugged in unless it is able to overcome the pressure of the radiator cap on the reservoir. You'd definitely have a hot block on your hands when you turned the key to the start position. Would probably read the max temp on your gauge. For those thinking about leaving their Benz plugged in for days on end without driving the car, I'd recommend you put it on a timer and plug it in the night before driving it. You are just using electric that isn't necessary for the car to be ready when you are. I don't think you'd do any damage to the engine, but the bill will be more than you care for. I'd just give the three to four hour warm up on those single or low teen digit days, and leave it off the rest or the time.
Overall, I'd say that anything that will heat your block up to at least 40 Degrees C to aid in starting temps, and as a bonus you get heat to the feet quicker has got to be better for your engine. Those that don't use a block heater I would recommend they allow their engines a few minutes to at least liquify their oil before tromping on the accelerator. Just my thoughts.


Charles

__________________
"Tell me and I will listen, Teach me and I will learn, Show me and I will accomplish, Involve me and I will succeed."
'84 300SD 256,000 Gold on Brown (Mileage Award)
'86 300E 246,000 Blue on Tan

I have to say that the block heater is a bit inconvenient and it is easy to forget to plug it in. I am in a cold but not extremely cold climate (morning temps are in the teens on the Fahrenheit scale). I chose to take the route of synthetic oil and make sure the battery is well charged. So far so good.

I thought about bringing this old thread back to everyone's attention since cold weather is on it's way and I was interested in knowing how long a block heater should be plugged in. I'm sure many other new forum diesel owners like myself will find it informative.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

I have a 100 watt plug and it is controlled by a timer that turns on at 12 am and off at 9am. I'm long gone before 9am during the week but why go through the hassle of resetting the timer for the weekend?

If it looks like a really cold nite, I direct plug, and let it go all nite. At 100 watts I know I going to get an easy turn over and I’m not going to hurt anything, (and the electric bill is hardly affected).

The wattage of your unit is the controlling factor. Somebody said he had a 400 watt unit. Wow! That could really cook things! As well as present a capacity problem when "guest" plugging. Unless you live in up-state North Dakota, (or the likes), a small, slow croc pot is better than a large, fast cooker for what you want to accomplish. I’m in central NJ. Yearly temps here go from 100 to nada. If you can live here you can live anywhere. That goes for cars too. (Except for the road salt).

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Toblin

'79 300D, "Liesel von Diesel", 235K

I kid proofed the house....but they still get in

What about an eberspacher-type water heater fuelled by diesel fuel, sometimes these are used on smaller buses and coaches.
It could be plumbed into the heater circuit, and on a cold engine, with thermostat closed, heated water will flow through both vehicle interior heater and engine block, but not radiator. Probably take around half hour to heat an engine to 40 deg or so, according to the size of heater used.
Hitch it up to a timer, and you have something similar to what M-B originally fitted to certain export models--or so Im told!

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http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...0TDnoplate.jpg

Alastair AKA H.C.II South Wales, U.K. based member

W123, 1985 300TD Wagon, 256K,
-Most recent M.B. purchase, Cost-a-plenty, Gulps BioDiesel extravagantly, and I love it like an old dog.

W114, 1975 280E Custard Yellow,
-Great above decks needs chassis welding--Really will do it this year....

no one has said anything about having a warmer engine thus
less wear when starting. It is my opinion that a warmer engine
creates an environment for a happier engine. No matter how cold
I have never had to turn the engine over more than two times,
even below zero,and even if it isn't plugged in, however the wear and strain on such a cold engine must be exceptional.

Toblin,

I don't agree with you "crock pot" slow, low wattage heater theory for the reasons below:

1. If I have a 100W heater and I need to heat the engine in a hurry, it will take too long.

2 A 100W heater may waste more energy because it will need to be on for a long time and all that time heat will be lost from the engine by convection and radiation.

I had a 1000W tank type heater on my 220D and it would get the engine warm to the touch in about 30 minutes. A 100W heater would never get it that warm.

P E H

Greetings,

The issue of how long to leave your block heater plugged in, or on has been discussed and most will agree that they either use a timer set for about four hours if the wind isn't blowing all night and your car isn't under shelter, otherwise leave it on all night. The real issue not only is your block needed at a warm state in cold weather but if I were you, I'd be checking out the status of the glow plugs now instead of waiting until it's 20 F outside to figure out that some are either weak, or on there way out. This is cheap insurance to aid in a good start on a cold morning. If you are getting a bump or two after starting on a cool morning then I'd say there are probably at least two glow plugs heading South as we speak. Change them while the weather is still bearable.


Charles

__________________
"Tell me and I will listen, Teach me and I will learn, Show me and I will accomplish, Involve me and I will succeed."
'84 300SD 256,000 Gold on Brown (Mileage Award)
'86 300E 246,000 Blue on Tan

To P.E.Haiges,

As to your point of; “I had a 1000W tank type heater on my 220D and it would get the engine warm to the touch in about 30 minutes. A 100W heater would never get it that warm”.

My point is that it is better (in both the short and long run) in cold climes to keep a warm engine warm, than is to quickly heat a cold engine to the point of warm, (or beyond). And it is accomplished more safely, economically when using a lower wattage. Just my opinion.

PS To any electricians out here? Ques.: How many amps does a 1000 watts pull?

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Toblin

'79 300D, "Liesel von Diesel", 235K

I kid proofed the house....but they still get in