How would I test my block heater? 1984 OM617
 

I have a feeling it isn't working. How would I test it? Are there replacements available for it?

Plug in and listen, you should hear it after a few minutes. You can also test resistance across the power cord with a normal volt/ohm tester. Or use a device like a kill-a-watt to measure power usage.

When I plug it in, I don't hear anything. Mulitmeters are easy when testing voltage. Testing ohms is a grand mystery. What should the correct ohms be for the block heater? Any advice on testing it with a cheap Cen-tech that I picked up at Harbor Freight?

perhaps this is terrible advice but.. touch it? When i bought my 72 I was curious if the block heater worked. So I plugged it in and briefly touched it and noticed it was hot! maybe wear a glove, or touch the hose / area near it but not he heater itself?

For resistance just (unplugged) put the probes across each terminal. I dont know the desired resistance, but any meter should work.

Easier yet, plug it in and put your hand on top of the motor after a few hours. Should be pretty obvious if the valve cover is warm. No hand burning here. Just did this a couple weeks ago after new cord install. Surprised how the whole motor was warm to the touch.

Buy an infrared thermometer and check when it is plugged in. Hey, any reason to buy a new tool, right?;)

Check the current draw.........

Well, for some reason, I have 175 watts stuck in my head. Resistance (ohms) = Volts squared divided by watts. So we know the volts, 115, and the watts, 175. Equals 75ish ohms. Any meter will do, we're not talking micro circuitry here.
Also try checking resistance at the element in case its your cord that's bad. Obviously, check the outlet, too.

Plug it in for an hour and feel it. Not complicated and no meter required.

If you have a multimeter, put it on ohms. I'm thinking anything less than a hundred. If its hundreds, clean the contacts and try again, if the contacts are clean and it's an open circuit (thousands of ohms/end of the scale) then it's bad.

FYI, the wall plug end of the cord on my SDL was bad...that is why it was 'broken'. Fresh cord fixed my issues.

I suppose it could burn out, but suspect the cord before heating element.

Or like last poster said, plug in for a while.

Hell, I can hear mine when first plugged in. Put ear down there and listen close

Make sure you touch the leads of the meter together first, they should go to zero or nearly zero resistance. Test the test tool first.

I never did get a cord that worked for my block heater. I have a magnet mount heater but have never used it. 5w-40 oil and good glow plugs and battery and I've never had any trouble starting, even with temps in the teens and with a glow plug out.

Where are you located, OP? You may not need a block heater.

If the cord turns up bad someone here gave me the P/N for the new cord @ NAPA, they'll prolly re post it now .

NAPA part # KAT 28216

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/KAT28216

Its closer to 290 watts or so. The heater on my OM601 averaged 293 watts or so when operating.

Block Heater Cord Part # & Source
 

THANK YOU kind Sir ! .

I used this P/N to search out the cheapest source on the Internet and bought two .

That cord will work for post 84... pre84 uses a square terminal... sometimes.
Pull your old cord first.

Good thing I have two 84's I guess, I've not yet tried it .