How Long

[WFM]

How long is too long to leave your tractor block heater plugged in ??? I honestly don't know. I have a freight delivery today. Not exactly sure when the truck will arrive. In the past the steel truck arrives about 10am to 1pm. It's-1* below this morning. I plan on plugging my tractor in about 8am. Unplug it about 9am and let it run a full 30 minutes to warm up. Shut it down. Then if no truck by 1 1 am start it again let run for 15 minutes to warm again.
But the question is can you damage the tractor by leaving the block heater plugged in to long iike 4 or 5 hrs.

 

[Dave_eng]

The only consideration is wasting electricity. The block heater is going to reach a balance point in engine temp where the outside air is sucking down the temp that the block heater is inputting. After 30 minutes to an hour the engine temp will stabilize. the 300 watt block heater is pumping in energy and the cold air outside is using up that energy. Once you have started your tractor and let it run, it will take hours to cool down to the point of needing the block heater again.
I have attached a file that may or may not apply to a L3800. Ask your dealer.
Dave

 

[85Hokie]

You will not damage the tractor but likely damage the heating element of the block heater if left on for long periods.

AS Dave said - there is a point of no return. Depending on cold and other factors - 30 to an hour would be about right

 

[The Evil Twin]

If the extra pennies on your electric bill don't bother you, plug it in and let it eat till the delivery arrives. It's not going to hurt anything.

 

[McMXi]

How long is too long to leave your tractor block heater plugged in ??? I honestly don't know. I have a freight delivery today. Not exactly sure when the truck will arrive. In the past the steel truck arrives about 10am to 1pm. It's-1* below this morning. I plan on plugging my tractor in about 8am. Unplug it about 9am and let it run a full 30 minutes to warm up. Shut it down. Then if no truck by 1 1 am start it again let run for 15 minutes to warm again.
But the question is can you damage the tractor by leaving the block heater plugged in to long iike 4 or 5 hrs.

I use a water heater timer (rated for high amps) to control when the block heaters turn on and for how long. I've had no issues with either MX6000s or the M6060 leaving them on for hours. How long the heater needs to be on is obviously dependent on how cold it is. I tend to have the heaters on for at least an hour before I want to use a tractor, and have no concerns leaving it on for 4 to 6 hours at a time.

I did manage to burn out the block heater element on the BX25 the first or second winter. I foolishly assumed that there was some form of thermostat control built into the block heater so used to leave it plugged in 24/7 during the winter months. The local dealer gave me a replacement (under warranty) and it was an easy R&R.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

The 'problem' with these little heaters is they are poorly designed, poorly built. Silly little 300 watt heater, yet the 3,000 watt heaters in electric how water heaters will last decades.
FWIW, if you need a block heater, you should install a battery warming blanket. Well known batteries lose 50% or more power in the cold,so even IF the engine is kinda warm, not enough electrons to spin her over.

 

[McMXi]

The 'problem' with these little heaters is they are poorly designed, poorly built. Silly little 300 watt heater, yet the 3,000 watt heaters in electric how water heaters will last decades.
FWIW, if you need a block heater, you should install a battery warming blanket. Well known batteries lose 50% or more power in the cold,so even IF the engine is kinda warm, not enough electrons to spin her over.

The 3kw heater element in your water heater has a much easier life. It is a much larger element, there's essentially no vibration to deal with unlike a tractor, and a much narrower thermal operating range.

After eight years and four Kubota tractors I don't have a problem with the factory block heater and find them to be more than adequate. I do like the idea of a jacket for the battery though, not a heated one, but something to help out those ions trying to "swim" through the acid.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

block heaters in tractor have LESS vibration to deal with as the element is very short( physics thing) and less power through them to cause 'expansion/contraction ' issues( lectrical thing).

It gets down to QUALITY. Ford must have done it right, mine still works in my '97 F150... every winter, 1/4 century so far.

 

[McMXi]

block heaters in tractor have LESS vibration to deal with as the element is very short( physics thing) and less power through them to cause 'expansion/contraction ' issues( lectrical thing).

It gets down to QUALITY. Ford must have done it right, mine still works in my '97 F150... every winter, 1/4 century so far.

Rubbish!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

you're welcome to come here anytime and see my truck, will plug in the wattmeter to confirm it sill operational. I've got 5 decades of 'remote controlled energy management' so 1,000s of hours doing design and POCs.

 

[McMXi]

you're welcome to come here anytime and see my truck, will plug in the wattmeter to confirm it sill operational. I've got 5 decades of 'remote controlled energy management' so 1,000s of hours doing design and POCs.

No thanks! I'll continue to find my own way and continue to refine my BS meter!

 

[number two]

Easy gentlemen!
Most Kubota block heaters are 400 watts.
There is a service limit to them.
Extended usage will shorten their service life.
Most importantly,the heater element can be damaged by engine vibrations if still hot with the engine running.
Unplug and wait a bit.
Good Luck!

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Easy gentlemen!
Most Kubota block heaters are 400 watts.
There is a service limit to them.
Extended usage will shorten their service life.
Most importantly,the heater element can be damaged by engine vibrations if still hot with the engine running.
Unplug and wait a bit.
Good Luck!

3-400 watts is a lot of heat to force through that little area. First, the element wire has to run hot to drive that much heat through the small area. Then that heat has to travel through a small area to the water. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some local boiling taking place.

One way to greatly extend the life would be to run the heater through a simple lamp dimmer, appropriately rated of course. Reducing the voltage to 90 volts or so would extend the life, but you'd need to start if earlier.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

One time I forgot that I had plugged mine in and left it on for about 6-7 hours.

No damage was done, at least none that I can see/feel/smell.

I think that if you did plugged it in for 8 hours a day, every day, or 24/7/365, then yes the service life would be shortened.

However I don't think that doing it "once in a while" will hurt anything.

Edit: My 'typical' usage time is about 1-2 hours.

Just my opinion, I don't claim to have any "insider knowledge" though.

 

[BAP]

When I used to farm, we plugged in the tractors and loaders we used to feed and clean the barns at night when it got below 15 degrees or so. They would be plugged in anywhere from 9-12 hours depending upon the machine. We did this for day after day for anywhere from 3-5 months. Never hurt anything, rarely had to replace a block heater. Maybe replaced one every 3-4 years. Don’t be scared to use your heater.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Really it gets down to QUALITY of the parts. I suspect all these heaters are Made in China, or at least the guts are, mass produced, without SPC or 6Sigma, 'priced to sell'.

Could they be made 'bullet proof' ? Sure but then it'd cost more. maybe 2 -3 times and nobody would buy them.

I've tossed out several '1500 watt heaters' over the years, all Made in China yet the ONE heater that still works.... a 'milkhouse heater' out of late 40s. No fan, 2 prong bakelight plug, knitted cotton wire, still WORKS.

BTE , if you see any NOS distributor points at flea markets, etc. BUY them !!! Worth their weight in gold cause the new ones are KRAp !!

 

[whitetiger]

block heaters in tractor have LESS vibration to deal with as the element is very short( physics thing) and less power through them to cause 'expansion/contraction ' issues( lectrical thing).

It gets down to QUALITY. Ford must have done it right, mine still works in my '97 F150... every winter, 1/4 century so far.

Surely you are not suggesting Ford manufactured the block heater.
They certainly did not and Kubota does not manufacture theirs either.
There is also a very high probability the same company manufactured them both.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Well of course they didn't, outsourced to some 3rd World country or China. Same al everyone else, virtually NOTHING is actually 100% made locally.
Could be as small shop in India, Vietnam, who knows where AND then it's probably 'assembled' there so parts were made elsewhere.

I'm just amazed mine actually works cause the 2014+ ones open up ! Friend's Ford has had 2 or 3 so far.

Heck I've got laptops from 1982 and they still work ( Made in Japan ) !! Brother has the windup Bear from 1949, still works, ONLY comes out Christmas time..now it's the great grand kids that are in awww.