Engine Block Heater Question

Anonymous-0 · Jan 14, 2012

Have a tank type engine block heater on an IH 856 tractor. The heater is hot on the top, but the return line is cold. Could the heater be heating and not circulating? Could the heater be plummed incorrectly? Can someone tell me where the heater should be plummed to and from? Any other tips or suggestions would be appreciated.

donjr · Jan 14, 2012

It's a natural circulation heater. Cold water comes in from the bottom of the engine into the heater, gets heated inside and the hot water flows out of the top into the block to heat the cylinders. Check the hose going into the engine. It should be warmer, as the area where it enters the engine block, if it's working. After some time, the area just below the head should be warm to touch.

donjr · Jan 14, 2012

By the way, it should be plumbed from a lower point on the block to a higher point, with the heater inlet closer to the bottom and lines as short and as vertical as practical.

buickanddeere · Jan 14, 2012

donjr is 100% correct.
Only other possibility is inadvertently connecting the top hose above the thermostat instead of below the thermostat.
Good to hear of somebody using a coolant heater. Instead of open flame torches and tarps,ether or pull starting.

Bill Brox · Jan 14, 2012

You do not have a block heater. You have an hoseheater. Totally different thing.

A hose heater must be:
1. plumbed correctly
2. have so much water in the system that the water can circulate.

A block heater will heat the water that is around it in the block, and don't need more water than it needs to cover the heater in theory. In practise it need so much water that the water is not getting too hot or boiling. Depending on the wattage of the heater.
A blockheater is mounted in one of the coreplugs in the block.

A block heater is recommended compared to a hoseheater.

Bill

LJD · Jan 14, 2012

Heat rises. A vertically mounted tank heater - when working correctly, is SUPPOSED to be hot on top (outlet) and cold at the bottom (inlet) - UNTIL all the coolant is warm. It works on the thermo-siphon principal.

Blackhole49 · Jan 15, 2012

Not good with pictures so I"ll try to describe. I installed a heater on the 3/4" hoses of my Kubota that went to the cab heater. It was in a belly of the line and went up hill in both directions. For some reason it would only a short section of the lines and the cab heater. I plumed in a valve setup that by passed the cab heater and was up hill from the bottom of the engine to the top. Works great.

Oldmax · Jan 15, 2012

This is a Block heater. Is a 600 watt from NAPA cost about $27 and about 15 min install time. just plug in about 2 hours before starting. Got tired of having trouble starting tractor in cold weather that and a New 1000 CCA Battery solved problem.

Engine Block Heater Question

Anonymous-0

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donjr

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donjr

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buickanddeere

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Bill Brox

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LJD

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Blackhole49

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Oldmax

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