Engine Block Heater question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ktesler · #1 12-22-2008, 11:23 AM

I have a 1985 MB 300SD. The car is from Florida originally and it never had an engine block heater installed. This morning it was 8 degrees outside and my car was not happy. It finally started, but if I am going to continue to drive it in the cold weather I want to get an engine block heater. Is there a universal block heater that does not involve removing the allen bolt and inserting the block heater or do you recommend that I get an MB block heater installed in the car. How difficult would it be to install it on the car?

Jadavis · #2 12-22-2008, 11:40 AM

There are a TON of threads about this out there already. Go check out www.dieselgiant.com for a lower heater hose type heater.

-Jim

kerry · #3 12-22-2008, 11:57 AM

Search on my name and lower radiator hose heater for a link to an inexpensive ebay seller. Half hour job to install.

showme · #4 12-22-2008, 02:52 PM

I just bought a zerostart lower radiator hose that looks an awful lot like the one on dieselgiant site for about $35. I had to get on the Phillips and Temro website, the company that makes zerostart, and ask them where their suppliers were in my area. They wrote me back in an hour and directed me to a place 10 minutes from my house. Had to pay 9 bucks to have it UPS'd to their shop since they were out of stock, but it's a lot cheaper than $90. (Sorry, dieselgiant) On the other hand, I could have bought a Katz at the local Tractor Supply Co. store for $22. But I think, (my opinion here) zerostart makes better quality stuff, so I ordered theirs. Less than fifty bucks with the shipping. If they'd had them in stock, it would have been less than forty. Get the 1 1/2" model. The P&T site told me my 81 300D needed a model 3200003. www.phillipsandtemro.com

bassmun · #5 12-22-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ktesler

I have a 1985 MB 300SD. The car is from Florida originally and it never had an engine block heater installed. This morning it was 8 degrees outside and my car was not happy. It finally started, but if I am going to continue to drive it in the cold weather I want to get an engine block heater. Is there a universal block heater that does not involve removing the allen bolt and inserting the block heater or do you recommend that I get an MB block heater installed in the car. How difficult would it be to install it on the car?

Man, I feel your pain. I am just north of Frederick, MD. This is my first winter with a diesel and it took FOREVER to start the thing. Tomorrow is supposed to be just as bad. I am planning on having a block heater installed as well. Good luck.

bassmun · #6 12-22-2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by showme

I just bought a zerostart lower radiator hose that looks an awful lot like the one on dieselgiant site for about $35. I had to get on the Phillips and Temro website, the company that makes zerostart, and ask them where their suppliers were in my area. They wrote me back in an hour and directed me to a place 10 minutes from my house. Had to pay 9 bucks to have it UPS'd to their shop since they were out of stock, but it's a lot cheaper than $90. (Sorry, dieselgiant) On the other hand, I could have bought a Katz at the local Tractor Supply Co. store for $22. But I think, (my opinion here) zerostart makes better quality stuff, so I ordered theirs. Less than fifty bucks with the shipping. If they'd had them in stock, it would have been less than forty. Get the 1 1/2" model. The P&T site told me my 81 300D needed a model 3200003. www.phillipsandtemro.com

Does that one work pretty good? I was looking at that but wasn't sure how well it would do.

300SL24 · #7 12-22-2008, 03:54 PM

I suppose I'm one of the lucky ones. It was freezing in Michigan yesterday (and this morning)...temps around 0 degrees F (and with the windchill factor, as cold as -20 degrees F). I left my car outside during dinner. About 3 hours or so passed. And my 1995 E300D started right away.

The previous owner of the E300D was a snowbird who took the car to Florida during the winter months. So he never had the connection done for the existing block heater. I took the car to the dealership this morning. They plugged in the electrical connector free of charge. Didn't expect them to do this for me without charging, but I'll take it.

longshore1 · #8 12-22-2008, 08:59 PM

On my 95 E300 D the block heater has been burned out for over a year. It was 15 deg this morning and it started right up, the only time it stalled out when it was 10 below in VT and the fuel gelled. I just bought a pad heater for the oil pan but have not installed it. synthetic oil, and polar power works wonders.

PaulH · #9 12-22-2008, 11:02 PM

Many MB diesels came with block heater installed. All you had to do is get the electric cord installed - which was free if you got it installed in the first 12 months of ownership.

rg_stephens · #10 12-25-2008, 08:34 AM

I don't mean to change the topic, but I just moved to Waynesboro Pennsylvania from Las Vegas NV, so this will be my first REALLY cold winter. How cold does it need to be before I need to leave the heater plugged in......add fuel additive.....add kerosene... or borrow a gas car? Even with a block heater, the fuel in the tank could still solidify, correct?

Robert
'83 240D 270k Miles

strelnik · #11 12-25-2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rg_stephens

I don't mean to change the topic, but I just moved to Waynesboro Pennsylvania from Las Vegas NV, so this will be my first REALLY cold winter. How cold does it need to be before I need to leave the heater plugged in......add fuel additive.....add kerosene... or borrow a gas car? Even with a block heater, the fuel in the tank could still solidify, correct?

Robert

'83 240D 270k Miles

I have a car identical to yours with just a few more miles on it. I plug the block heater into the system when the temp gets below 20 degrees.
Up to that, it starts ok without any issues. Bear in mind that when I drive it, it's for a minimum of one hour or at least 50 miles, so the battery stays charged. KEEP THE VALVES PROPERLY ADJUSTED!!

I have never yet added anything other than standard winter diesel fuel. No problems. If your car is not a veggiemobile, you should be ok, if you want add some "diesel treat" or one of the other brands.

Suggestion: make sure your block heater cord works. The fastest place to get the genuine PhillipsTemro cord is parts geek. www.*********.com. Sorry guys, but I never got the calls back when I left the messsages and I needed one. 18 bucks to my door in 2 days in Detroit. And I deal a lot with Roy personally, but when you need it now, FL sometimes takes too long. Because I travel, everything has to be timed and calculated.

Read the previous thread on the physics of starting in winter, it's very very true!

S