It seems to me, the stock MB Block Heater is 400 watts.

Honda makes a 1000W and a 2000W invertor generator that would work better than using
your Alternator and an Invertor.

Charlie


sent from my pos computer

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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

I use one to start my 86 Ford 6.9 Diesel, works good.
I use a HF cheap 1500 Watt heat gun, on sale now for $8.99.

If my lazy mechanic would get off his...... wait...that`s me.


Charlie

sent from my pos computer

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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

I avoid roaming in places where an auxiliary coolant heater would be needed very often, but I always thought something like a ZODI LPG tankless water heater could be adapted for a fraction of the cost of a Webasto or Espar type heater.

Zip Instant Hot Shower | Zodi.com

The heater itself looks to be about 12" tall and 5-6" square of round so it seems like there could be a place under the hood for something that size. Use a 90 degree elbow fitting and hose to remote the fuel from directly below to somewhere else.

Plumb it in series with coolant circuit, use the auxiliary coolant pump(possibly incorporate a speed controller of some sort), a switch to disable the monovalve to default OPEN, maybe even figure some way to move air across the cabin heater if you wanted to go ''Cadillac"!

Probably would want to figure some way to operate without having to open the hood every time, but if you only relied on it when it was really to cold to start otherwise and you didn't have some other way to get a frozen mass of steel and aluminum warmed enough to get it going, something like this might work.

I have a Chinese 3.1 GPM LPG On Demand water heater I use at my shop that has worked great for a couple years now. bought it of eBay for just less than $200. A twenty pound tank of LPG will allow probably a scorching hot 30 min shower daily for at least a month sometimes two months.

A hot air gun directed into the air intake would work wonders al long as no starting fluid was used prior to the engine running.

However... A hot air gun would pull 1500 watts... WAAAAY more amps than most inverters can put out...

And even at 350 watts... No cigarette lighter plugged inverter is going to support a block heater... Now, if you clamp the inverter to the car battery, and the car is running to keep up with the discharge amps... It would work.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Burning diesel soaked rag on the end of a stick?

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1993 MB 300D 245K died.

Dangerous at so many levels.... not the least of which is, if you have it close enough to the intake to warm the air, sucking that into the intake.... yikes...
At least you did not recommend burning gasoline...

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/10414-help-i-need-check-stretch.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

Do a search for " Flame Plug " These are common on older Euro farm tractors and some made their way onto US machines.

These have a heating element and fuel supply fitting.

Perhaps the fact that they are 'older' and not 'newer' indicates they found better ways to do that...

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

What no one is recommending, taking a torch to heat up the engine block?

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Or to build a camp fire under it? lol

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2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

SHHHHH Don't tell anyone my secret

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Saw a vid of the flame plug, THAT IS GREAT, IWANTSIT!

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1993 MB 300D 245K died.

900 Peak/700 Running Watts, 2 HP (63cc) 2 Cycle Gas Generator EPA/CARB

I have one of these, decent backup to the real generator. For $100 who doesn't need something that will turn gasoline into noise and a little bit of power? Runs my block heater just fine. Sips fuel when I don't need the real generator for the well pump, good for powering a few lights and a laptop and keeping the cellphones charged, though it's not exactly quiet. Wouldn't be in a huge hurry to plug any sensitive electronics into it. Not sure how it'd start below zero, mine starts in the teens just fine though.

I also have a Delco 22SI retrofitted to my OM617. 80A at idle, 150A peak, continuous duty. This thing would handle a block heater just fine. Upgrading the existing alternator on the second vehicle might be a good option too.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

Heated intakes are still used though I don't know for sure if they use fuel or not. Older tractors are easy to search for where new stuff may be more difficult. Batteries and starters are much better than in years gone by making starting less of an issue.

Some modern industrial diesels put glow plugs directly in the combustion chamber. I've got a direct injected oil cooled Deutz 4 cly in a Miller 500 A tow behind welder that could have had them.