Hello all,

I am a pretty new member and i need a bit of info. I have a 1980 240D and I was looking to plug in a block heater cord. Well this is an Arkansas car now in PA. Just how hard is it to install a block heater. I just thought all 123s come with a block heater. Blows my feeble mind. Any input on this situation. I can be emailed at bluesteinm@gmail.com

Thanks
Michael

You can install a block heater IF you can get the dummy plug out.

Thats going to take some sweet tools.

I'm going to bring this thread over to diesel discussion.


Thayer

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77' 300D, "Cartman" SOLD @ 150K (didn't know what I had)
83' 300SD, "The Superdon" 325k+ @ 28mpg
95 E320 wagon, "Millennium Falcon" 231k+ @ 24 Mpg
95 E300D, "Sherley" 308k @ 33.69 Mpg, currently anticipating a head
99 Suzuki Intruder "Trudy" @ 45 mpg

My car is a California model and thus it also came with no block heater....install a heater like this.....FYI they can be had cheaper..

Mercedes Block heater install

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To get the Plug out is going to take some work. here is a good thread of some of the effort it will take.

THE Definitive Block Heater Coolant Plug Removal Thread



Block heater?????


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

My signature car has no block heater and I don't give it a second thought. It starts easily in any weather I'll encounter in S. Central PA. With the proper oil and an engine in good shape, you really don't need it.

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'83 300D, 126K miles.

thats true, but having instant heat in the winter is sssssoooooo yummy. also its easier on your starting system.

You're right though, my tired old 617 has never not started just because it was cold as long as the battery and starter were in reasonable shape.

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77' 300D, "Cartman" SOLD @ 150K (didn't know what I had)
83' 300SD, "The Superdon" 325k+ @ 28mpg
95 E320 wagon, "Millennium Falcon" 231k+ @ 24 Mpg
95 E300D, "Sherley" 308k @ 33.69 Mpg, currently anticipating a head
99 Suzuki Intruder "Trudy" @ 45 mpg

Also, your glow plugs have to work properly! Mine is from Los Angles, but oddly has a block heater. Number five plug is out so the glow cycle is way too short. So, last winter instead of spending $50 for the reamer, just plugged her in when I got up in the morning. Ran better than afterwards in summer. Now that winter is coming, just might do the same if I can get her back on the road. Sure miss driving her!

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Current fleet:

1985 Mercedes-Benz 280TE - Waiting for heart surgery.

1985 Mercedes-Benz 300TDT - Rear ended 23 September 2016 and now looking for a new home.

1979 Mercedes-Benz 300TD - Parted out.

1964 Volkswgen Beetle - Vater's since September 1968 and undergoing a restoration.

1971 Volkswagen Sunroof Squareback with F.I. - in need of full restoration.

1971 Volkswagen Squareback automatic with F.I. - Vacationing with her caretaker until he is in better health.

Two points, your sig car has 126k miles, I have one with 110k, not everyone is as fortunate as us. I don't foresee my car being quite so enthusiastic in the depths of winter when it has double the miles.

The question isn't just whether it starts, but also engine wear. Cold starts in general are the major source of wear in most motors (that are otherwise well maintained) and anything you can do to make things easier in extreme cold weather is generally a good idea.

So I always vote for some form of heat, whether a block heater or a lower rad hose heater (less effective but still better than nothing).

Also a good idea, particularly if the battery isn't new, is a battery heating pad or blanket, to ensure you get the maximum cranking ooomph on cold mornings.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

hey all,

thanks for all the replies. I have about 200k on this one and I sure like to fire it right up. It was like 5 degrees here in PA one winter day and I had a brand new rebuilt engine. Did the work myself. And she did not want to kick over.

Have to start a fire under the engine on days like that.

This is not going to be fun. but I just might do the lower radiator hose heater job. That looks easy enough.

thanks again for all the input.
Glad to be a member of this club.

Michael

thanks for the reply.
Michael

A Block Heater is great, as it will heat the Coolant for an easier start.

A Battery Blanket is great as it will keep it warm so it will have the most cranking AMPs it can give.
In most of these type of Threads, there is no mention of heating the Oil in the pan. Warm Oil will flow quicker to get to the critical parts of the engine. Synthetic Oil is the best in cold weather, but even if it is warmed it will flow quicker.

The most wear an engine gets is when it is first started as ZACHARAIS mentioned.


Charlie

__________________
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

A fire like this?

Mongolian Block Heaters


Charlie

__________________
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

I read a book a few years ago written by an old Alaskan trucker. He wrote about several times he had to do exactly that to get his truck running.

My 300D is an original Houston car, and has no block heater. It's never failed to start due to cold weather. However, my 240D (original Iowa rustbucket) had one, and it made a big difference with the loop style glowplugs it had. The instant heat was also very nice. I work nights, so most of my early AM cold starts are at work where there's no place to plug in, so I probably won't be doing a block heater any time soon.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

One more note... the main supplier of battery blankets seems now to be Katz, whose products by all accounts have taken a dive over the last few years. My last battery blanket from them was $25 on sale from $40 (the ones big/long enough for our batteries are expensive) and it lasted less than two months. I had one previously that died before its first winter was done.

One alternative which works about as well is to get a battery maintainer aka slow charger aka trickle charger, usually 1.5 or 2 amps, which you can permanently mount to the battery cables using ring connectors. When this is operating it warms the battery enough to help things along on cold mornings.

Schumacher makes one that is about $22 on Amazon and is designed to be mounted up against the battery (built in bracket), which I used on my last SD which was a hard winter starter. I always plug Schumacher as I've had excellent luck with their products.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

You need to be carful that you get a Block Heater that has the same threads as your Engine.
Some People bought Block Heaters that Had an OD that was also too small and the Adapter Sleeves were not available.

When I was under the Car I looked and could not find a Block Heater.
Years later I found the Block Heater Cord tucked up under the front Frame.
I plugged it in and it worked.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel