Bradley_Harris@aigag.com wrote:
>I'll shoot this question to the list before the debate on availability of
>pre-heaters in the US has died down. I'm looking at installing an engine
>heater of some kind in the diesel repower I am performing. Since the engine
>is on the stand and the wiring has not been finished, this would be the
>time to do it. I don't live in a very cold climate (Tennessee, USA) but I
>never know where I may be in a few years. I know absolutely nothing about
>block heaters or anything involving them. I have a threaded tap in the
>block for one. I am looking for comments on brand, type, wiring, etc..
The only ones you need to concern yourself with are ones that are installed
inside the engine water jacket. All others are too
inefficient/fragile/dangerous to bother with.
That said, Rovers North currently has some on sale, with one that installs
in one of the knock-outs (AKA 'freeze plugs') for about $32. The only
thing wrong with this type is that it is a friction fit, and I would think
that after x number of heating cycles, the fit would loosen...with a
possible sudden, catastrophic loss of coolant.
Much better is one that installs in the threaded plug. (What was this for
on the 2.25?? The engine designers *couldn't* have been thinking 'block
heaters', could they?) On the 2.25, it is a 1" NPT port, so anything of
that dimension will fit. For overnight warming, 400 watts is plenty, even
down to -35F if you have an engine muff. For quicker warm-up, like, just
in the morning, you'll need something higher, but slow is best in this
case: the element is liable to last longer. Phillips/Budd (maker of
big-rig diesel parts) is one supplier. Part #227-4148. For a V-8, again a
larger wattage unit would be needed.
I've also installed a 50 watt battery heater and a 2 amp trickle charger.
All three appliances plug into the same pig-tail, so I have one cord
hanging out the grille. The last time I was in -25F, I was the first
(OK...*only*) vehicle to get moving the next morning.
Cheers
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