When to plug in an engine block heater

They make a heater that can be epoxied to the bottom (outside) of the oil pan as well.
Amazon.com: Zerostart 3400034 Silicone Pad Heater Engine Oil, Transmission Fluid, Reservoir and Hydraulic Fluid Heater, 5" (13 cm) x 7" (18 cm) | CSA Approved | 120 Volts | 500 Watts : Automotive

 

The heater element on my 12.7 is located near the oil cooler housing. Since the oil cooler is surrounded by coolant, it does heat the oil somewhat. How much? I don’t know. But it’s enough to make it crank much easier. The big plug on the side of my oil pan looks to be the perfect size for a 1500w element. I wonder if that’s what it’s for?

 

Get a heavy duty timer and set it to go on 3-4 hours before you hit the key, below 30* is preferred

below 0 I cut the fuel with kero on top of using power service (which I always use every other tank)

 

I’m in Texas we do it with anything below 50. Lol!

 

Gasoline comes out the pipe lines. There are 4 - 6 'brands' at each distribution location, all coming up the same pipe with just a double ended rubber plug called a pig, some water and another pig between grades and/or brands.

Plus they 'trade' back and forth.

We had Texaco getting it's regular from the Shell depot while their regular was water contaminated as the floating roof stuck and let the melting snow in. Took the a few weeks to get that fixed.

This younger generation only knows the 'modern' detroits and won't get the 'bleeder' and 'fill the oil and check the fuel' jokes.

 

Opps dup..

 

?????

 

Zerostarts are good. I know a few guys that have put those on transmissions with pto’s in wreckers so they are ready to go.

 

My own rules are simple. Above freezing temperatures, I do nothing. 0c to -20c a timer turns on the block heater about 3 hours before I get to work.
Colder than -20c I stick the magnetic oil pan heater on the pan the day before, and the block heater timer is set to come on about 5 hours before I get to work, and the oil pan heater timer comes on 2 hours before I arrive.

 

I love the fuel we get up here. Been dang near 40 below and its not even clouded.

 

Late September our local refinery switches from summer to winter diesel. Winter diesel is good to -28 C. Mid November they switch from Winter to Arctic diesel. Arctic is good to -46 C.