Winter engine heating

[Lost Parent]

On my farm tractor I have an engine heater installed on my lower radiator hose that has a small 110 v heater and circulating pump built into it , this unit works down to minus 25 degrees C , my question is do you think the same can be installed on a diesel engine to keep the block warm and also the hot water recirculating water warm

 

[soldier1964]

I have a diesel that plugs in to heat the block and all. there are many diesels that have this feature. if yours does not, then there should be no problem in having it added.

 

[Lost Parent]

Or how about a pad egine heater that sticks to the oil pan , they really work up here in Canada

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

For Sure .....................

........................ it can be done but at considerable expense.

Seeing as how you're just down the road from me, I'm sure you can achieve the same effect by placing a 100W bulb under the engine. If we get down to much less that 15 deg. F. I'd be very surprised. I also presume your anti-freeze is good to -40 deg. so no need to worry about the block freezing. Sea water lines might be a problem so it's not a bad idea to flush them with anti-freeze to be extra sure.

With your reference to the hot water recirculating water, doe this refer to your hydronic heating system ? If so, doesn't the flow of this water require the block water pump to be running if you intend to use the block heater to heat the boat ?

In addition, if you are keeping your boat in the water, the cold, cold ocean is a HUGE source of heat through your hull.

What all this verbage boils down to in the Pacific Northwest (for you) and the Pacific Southwest (for me) is that winterization is pretty minimal here. I just add a dose of potable anti-freeze to the sea water lines to keep them from getting too hard and blow out the potable water lines with compressed air .

 

[Chris Patterson]

Lost, I have used these a number of times on ill starting/cold natured diesels. It involves taking out a freeze plug, (which in reality isn't a "freeze plug" at all, they are put there for casting the engine block), and reinstalling a block heater. Very simple device, that is just a small heating element, not unlike the common water heater, that keeps the water warm. It doesn't have to circulate, but it keeps the engine surprisingly warm nonetheless.
They tend to be on the hungry side of power economics, but I've had flawless results from them. Just plug it up at night. Ol' motor will fire right up..