URGENT: Block heater connection OM603 Location - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Skid Row Joe · #46 12-07-2010, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquaticedge

a bigger giggle, my outside air temp screen is convinced it's 135 degrees

Being in the torrid climate of Florida, have mercy on the poor Benz.

Aquaticedge · #47 12-07-2010, 11:20 PM

Cord is installed, i'm delighted. Indy diddnt have time for me, so I took it to a local shop and they did it for free, so I'm delighted. tomorrow morning should be nice

strelnik · #48 12-20-2013, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquaticedge

orange tree... Deer ate the Lemon one. Going with an adult tree next

The deer ate all the mulberries off the bush but they still come back to poop on my [roperty in front of the bush, maybe to fertilize it for next year?

Prospector · #49 12-20-2013, 10:25 AM

In case you haven't already stumbled upon it, here is an article on cold weather and diesels - pretty sure all of this is old hat to you, but other folks may google and come across it...

Diesel & Biodiesel Vehicles in Cold Weather - Diesel Fuel in Cold Weather

I remember fuel gelling being a big issue in the 80's. Haven't heard much about it lately. I am guessing that around here the fuels are all mixed to ensure its not an issue.

As long as I've had cars (all gas until this one) I've kept a trouble light in the garage to double as a block heater. A regular 100w bulb tucked up against the rad or lower coolant hose will heat the antifreeze enough to cause it to gently circulate and keep the block warm. You don't need 70°F warmth in there, just enough to keep things warmer than ambient air is fine.

ProTip - loop the trouble light's cord over the driver's mirror to remind you not to drive off with it plugged in. Same with a block heater cord. Anyone who has arrived at the office with 20 ft of extension cord trailing behind them can relate to this.

If your block heater fails you, the trouble light is a good backup plan.

If interior heat is an issue, any space heater will help there. Set it on a timer for 5-10 minutes before you plan to head out. It will warm the car very quickly, but the extra draw may pop a breaker if you have the block heater on. If the breaker pops overnight, you will lose all the heat from the block heater, but if the breaker pops 10 minutes before you start the car, you will still have some warmth in the engine.

FWIW, I also put the block heater on a timer, usually for about an hour or two before I head out. No point heating the engine all night when I don't need to start it until 8:00 the next morning. I have no idea how long it actually takes to reach max warmth via a block heater.

ngarover · #50 12-20-2013, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bustedbenz

I'd try to find something like this

Now that the joke's out of the way... at those temperatures you very likely won't need it. Mine starts at 5-15 degrees F without being plugged in. That's the coldest it's ever been and I was able to get it going. My compression ranged from 300-360, which isn't THAT great, and it still manages it just fine.

Hahaha