crankcase heater

[lp14255]

i have a jd 350 and was wondering if i should but a crankcase heater or some sort of oil pan heater on the dozer. i dont use it very much when its cold out but should it have a heater on even when its not in use.

[Ray III]

The only reason I would keep it warm all the time is if it was going to be started every day. It costs money to keep an engine heated.

The best heaters are the kind where you pop out a freeze plug in the block and install an electric element in the water jacket. You can get those in different sizes for how much heat you need.

How cold does it get in Tennessee?

[digitup2]

I have several small magnetic heaters I keep just for jobs like that .I didn't think you boys down south in TN had problems like that .I just got in from checking several of my machines .It's to get to -25 c tonight I am not sure what that is in Fahrenheit? but two of my backhoes have older battery's so they have small trickle chargers built right in and at 1.5 amp they start when that key is turned .A good battery is the best friend you can have at three in the morning .Digitup.

[KenP]

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[lp14255]

If you do a Forum search on "350 heater", you'll find a number of postings about putting a block heater on your crawler. It was a Deere option and isn't particularly hard to do. Biggest trick is finding the room to mount everything. I ended up putting my tank heater up front behind the grille and ran 5/8 inch heater hose to the fittings.
I wouldn't run it all the time; as mentioned, they draw a fair amount of power.
Usually, you use a heater to aid starting in cold weather. Is that your goal?

yes i wanted to help aid the starting in cold weather , it doesnt get real cold to often . i thought maybe the block should have some sort of heat on it when its not it use. i just wont use the dozer when its cold out. thanks for the info

[JD440ICD2006]

"A good battery is the best friend you can have at three in the morning .Digitup."

I would never argue with those that are wiser than me, but a good warm bed is my best friend at three in the morning.
If I am dreaming about my 440ICD, that is a big problem.

[mini kahuna]

block heaters are nice to have,we use them on most machines we have.
we don't leave them plugged in all the time,plug them in if it's below 20 degrees or so and we know the machine will be getting used.
couple hrs before using.....takes the chill off.
my cousin's up north in vermont have block heaters on everything they own,but they see -20 all winter.

[roadbuilder]

Here is a cheap temp/perm solution I learned from my great grandpa:

My MC is parked in an old garage with no doors, so it isn’t out in the weather. If yours is out in the open, you might need more weather proofing to do this.

I use a trouble-light when it's getting really cold. Our winters are fairly mild, with only a few days to a week at a time below 30 degrees,(which is shirtsleeve weather to most of these guys). Just helps take the chill off and doesn't take alot of electricity. When it gets to the low twenties, I drape a tarp over the engine and fasten it to the tracks and put the trouble light under the MC. Possibly an old waterbed heater in a clean bellypan might work also, to get you by until you get your block heater if you decide to get one.

Remember to keep your antifreeze protection level adequate. Especially if you had to add a little water just to get by till the end of summer.

I don’t use the blockheaters on my work pickups much when the batteries and glowplugs are in good shape. Mostly just to allow the windshield thawout to go faster. My 2008 F350 starts so good I have to remind myself to use the glowplugs. So now I’ve jinxed myself, I’d better plug it in tonight.
Good luck, Dale

[Ray III]

I just realized what a brain fart I had, these engines had cylinder sleeves so there may not even be any core plugs in the side of the block to put a heater in since they were unnecessary in production.

In that case an external heater is used that plumbs in with hoses.

[Lavoy]

I put a 1000 watt tank heater on my 350, would have used an 850, but couldn't come up with one on short notice. Plugged in inside a non-heated shed, the temp gauge will get to 150 or so overnight, starts like it is the middle of July. I only plug it in if I am going to use it, but I will leave it plugged in for at least a few hours. At 8 cents an hour, a 6 hour warm up is 50 cents. The way I look at it, I added at least that much in life to the engine by not firing it up when it is bone cold.
Lavoy

[KenP]

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[Digger SR]

What about using like a DuraBlend oil. Half synthetic and regular oil. Synthetic doesn't stiffin up like regular oil in the cold, thus easier to turn over if no electical is available. Not that i'm promoting any particular brands, but i use that Max Life DuraBlend in my truck and it seems to start better in the winter up here. Just my 2cents worth.

[Lavoy]

That is a benefit as well, I run Mobil 1 in pretty much everything. But, at 20 below, stuff is still stiff and cold. Having the engine preheated makes it spin easier, is easier on starter and such. The other thing it does, is it is hard to build combustion heat in a diesel engine with a block and head that are cold.
Lavoy