He says I could, but it is not recommended on their diesels, only gas V8's and 230 gas. Will it somehow overheat something? He said something about certain cooling systems block when turned off or something and it could set the car on fire. I have heard that these work better than the block heaters. Block heater is $45 and the hose heater is $25. It splices into the hose. The hose has to be cut with part of the middle taken out and this has two male ends on it.
Thanks
Tim

talking about a 1979 300SD with 190,000 miles.

In my experiences (installation of about 6), they work fine if you can orient the heater in as near a vertical position as possible. The 'in-line' heaters have never caused any problems in the vehicles (including class 8 heavy duty trucks) I have put then in...I just found that the heater works much more efficiently when installed as near to vertically as possible.

__________________
1992 500SEL 25K
1995 E320 40K
1995 SL600 120K
2002 JX8 Sport 43K
2005 Volvo S40 95K
2006 Isuzu NPR 304K (Frankencamper)
2007 Crown Victoria 150K
2014 Smart Electric 20K

Personally I wouldn't use either the block or rad hose heater. Go with the tank type. It has a tank/pump that mounts on a fender well or where ever and splices into a heater hose. It's circulates the heated water through the entire system rather than just cooking the water in the rad hose. It's been a couple of years since I bought one but it was about $40 at Napa.

tim, i would go with the block heater - mb put 'em there for a reason - a good reason... to heat the entire engine.
fuel is a different matter that you can deal with by additives and / or kerosene.

just my .02

it was 18 deg F here this morning and my car started on 2 tries without the block heater plugged in, but it was not a happy camper for at least 20 minutes of in town driving.

good luck.

__________________
1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

Lower radiator hose heater won't heat anything but the hose on a 617. The thermostat design prevents thermosyponing with it closed, so the water won't move much.

Block heater is the way to go.

Failing that, a nice 100W light bulb next to the oil pan works wonders -- heat the oil and it will crank faster (I'd also use synthetic in the winter).

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Don't use the hose heater on an SD. When off the cars cooling system is closed and the heat will not transfer efficiently. Instead use the block heater it will heat the cylinders where you need the heat anyway.

__________________
87 300SDL 220K
85 300SD 218K
82 diesel Chevette 440K
85 subaru 4WD turbo
83 4.1L buick powered cutlass THE TOY

poor frozen bastards.

it was about 72 in houston today.

well, anyway, it sems to me that a rad hose heater wouldnt work unless the coolant was moving through the motor, so the engine would have to be already running. how is that helpful?

__________________
1991 300 D 2.5 Turbo, 220k
also in the family:
1981 240 D 185k
1991 350 SD 185k
2006 S 500
2005 SLK 350

On some engines a heater in the bottom radiator hose will circulate heated water though the block and heater core (those with the thermostat in the upper radiator hose). On all the MB engines I've seen, the thermostat design and placement of the lower radiator hose (high on the water pump, or above it, with the thermostat on the suction side, not the pressure side) will prevent much ciruclation. No percentage in heating the radiator in the winter, after all.

Probably a better "cheap" heater would be a dipstick heater -- this would heat the oil, and by convetion and rising air, the block (some). Hot oil is much less viscous that cold oil, so the engine will crank a lot faster.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Lower radiator hose heater sure got my old 200D started on many a cold Michigan morning. I don't remember where the thermostat was on that car, but I know plugging it in for 4 hours sure worked. Without it, that car wasn't going anywhere when the temp was less than 20 degrees. I tried a dipstick heater, but it was completely innefective. It was only about 40 watts or so.

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



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