Happy Block Heater Day!

[Blue2Orange]

What engine oil did they run?

It could be they didn't care about starting conditions because the rental customers wouldn't.

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When the well driller wanted to start his rig after it was parked the weekend I asked if he wanted to plug it in first, which he greatly appreciated since there was other setup time involved. Ran some extension cord to his rig and because it was older it helped quite a bit.

I plug my daily driver (gas, not diesel) into a timer and it starts far easier, especially below 10°F; at -5°F it's certainly worth it.

Sounds like my neighbor. He hasn't changed the oil or filter in his tractor. I think this is his 3rd winter. He only had 60 hrs or run time at the beginning of winter. I asked him why not? He use to own a rental company. Same maintenance on his rental fleet. I guess maximizing margins when you sell a lightly in terms of hours used machine.

 

[fmgsr]

So I just had delivery of my LX2620. I voted Glad I got one. Although it is not installed as of yet. Got an aftermarket one. Day it went below 10* it was a tough start. So I went inside and ordered one. Never used one. I understand to plug it in at least an hour before using the tractor. But what about leaving it plugged in? will it cook the oil or not? I would guess it has some sought of thermo on it

 

[Spam Bot]

A block heater will heat the coolant for as long as it is energized. The coolant will circulate by convection currents. The heating element is likely 600 watts, so it rarely burns out.

 

[Hugo Habicht]

But what about leaving it plugged in? will it cook the oil or not? I would guess it has some sought of thermo on it

There is probably both types of block heaters on the market, the ones you can leave plugged in indefinitely and ones that may sustain damage.

Check the manual of the block heater, it should tell you.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

The heater is kind of like a coffee pot heater:

• It costs between $10-20 a month to run if left on all the time.
• The element lasts "a long time" though not forever, so the less it's run the longer it lasts.
• It only needs to run an hour or two to do the job.

Unlike a coffee pot they don't (as far as I've seen) have a thermistor (which is often what burns out in a coffee pot) so don't turn themselves off.

Mine was around $100 and it's kind of inconvenient to install so I don't want it burning out, especially since it'll be when it's really cold out.

 

[McMXi]

So I just had delivery of my LX2620. I voted Glad I got one. Although it is not installed as of yet. Got an aftermarket one. Day it went below 10* it was a tough start. So I went inside and ordered one. Never used one. I understand to plug it in at least an hour before using the tractor. But what about leaving it plugged in? will it cook the oil or not? I would guess it has some sought of thermo on it

I owned a BX25 for five years, and like all tractors sold at the local Kubota dealership it came with a block heater. I kept it plugged in all winter for the first winter but it failed the second winter, so after the dealer gave me a replacement at no charge (which I installed), I added a 50A water heater timer/controller to the barn (now in the garage) and have never had a problem since.

I had rather foolishly assumed that the block heater in the BX had some form of intelligence that would prevent it from committing hara-kiri. It was a cheap lesson in the merits, or lack thereof, of making assumptions. Assumption is code for lazy and there's no way to sugarcoat that.

 

[snoeproe]

My BX23s came with a block heater. Everything in my area comes with one these days. I use it if I need to use tractor at very cold temps. Mine isn't stored in a heated garage. 15w40 engine oil doesn’t like to move at -30f temps. Engine is much happier starting when I use it. The block heater does nothing to help warm the hydraulic oil/tank however.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Does anyone use battery blanket and/or battery pad? (Which is recommended between the two and why?)

If so how are you using, plug in few hours in advance of machine use? Or like a battery tender when’re leave plugged in when machine not in use?