At what outside temperature do you activate the block heater?
Thanks in advanced.
Whenever I need a sweater Big Agnes needs the block heater. :)
see ya
ken
If free electricity, an hour before leaving if temps are below 50 degrees.
If you are paying for electricity, an hour before leaving if temps are below 40 degrees.
Absolutely if below 32 degrees-- and HEAD SOUTH.
The block heater on our 91GV is very slow and I turn mine on the night before I plan to get underway. I don't use it at all above freezing. Have a great day ---- Fritz
Brings up a tangential question: How warm should the motor be before pulling out onto the highway? I've generally always waited until I saw at least 100 degrees on the VMSpc before STARTING to take it up to a highway speed, but I don't know if I am being overly cautious or not. When I have any sort of climb to make, I try to have it at normal operating temperature before then.
Brad,
Both Cummins and Caterpillar say you can (and should) begin driving slowly (like in CG, city streets, etc) as soon as you have built air pressure and completed your walk around.
But if at a freeway entrance, you are doing exactly what they recommend-- use high idle to allow the engine to warm up longer. Advice varies as to how warm the coolant should be before using high throttle positions. Not sure 100 degrees F coolant temperature is high enough. Basically, you need it warm enough that you have good air flow through the turbo bearings before using the turbo. That is why driving at low speeds to speed warm up is recommended-- you aren't really "getting into" the turbo.
Brett
Below 40 or so, and I'm traveling, all the time. Below 0 even if it's parked.
Don't use Either in spite of having the cold start system, your engine will start using 50% alcohol/either if you don't have the block/warmer.
Remember: Treat your fuel if you're nutz enough to be stuck in the Northern climes. A small cat heater or habachi under the pan (crazy as it sounds) is an option. (i love the Dakota's in the Winter time.. not.) pc
Uh, not to change the subject, but where is the ether supply located? I have the ether switch on the dash but I have not looked into it. Is there a best practice procedure for its use?
OH
A CAUTION.
Never, never use ether with a modern diesel engine. If your engine has an INTAKE MANIFOLD HEATER, as most do, you can create and explosion by spraying ether onto red hot wires. So, before you do this, check with your engine manufacturer with your engine serial number to find out if you have an intake manifold heater.
Best practice is don't use it
Glad I asked. Why would Foretravel put this on if it has the potential for explosion? Seems like a MAJOR liability for them.
OH
Typically close to the intake/air filter (if you have one).
Mine's inside the engine compartment (driver corner) next to the intake vent/pipe. I use the Aqua Hot and let it warm up. pc
Not all engines have intake manifold heaters-- but most engine manufacturers transitions over to them. Best advice is to verify for your engine serial number
Cummins 800 343-7357
Caterpillar: 877-777-3126
I've seen the block heater switch on the bed pedestal and the plug curled up inside but not plugged in on our U320.
Question:
1. is this block heater functional w/ a U320 or do they force you to use the Agua-Hot for engine pre-heat?
2. if it is functional, which means of pre-heat more advisiable?
thx B&J
Yes, the block heater is functional on a U320. Mine was also unplugged when I bought our 10 yr old coach. From comments on this site, I suspect that many were unplugged or maybe never plugged in. Perhaps because people tend to forget they turned them on and they use a lot of electricity over the course of a few days.
If I have the electricity, I tend to use the block heater but use the AquaHot sometimes just because it does a really good job of heating the coolant in the engine.
Typical fore thought. Several ways to do almost anything.
Block heater, aqua hot, ether...
It will start
Bob
My old 1990 had its heater unplugged when I bought it. I was told by the PO that they did that so that it wouldn't accidentally get switched on with that low switch.
I unplugged my ether at the bottle so it would not get used accidently, and use the aqua hot and if real cold also the block heater
Skiing in ored's long ago dry camped required ether to start at zero to minus 32.
Great adventure. No battery power. Tanks froze. Propane had water vapor freeze the regulator. Gen cranked slowly.
60 seconds crank time to get a grey smoke barely start after the ether.
Not recommended. Not enough propane to leave the gen run. 58 gallons won't do 4 days...
Had to get the snowplow to jump me several times.
Ether button did not work over 50 degrees on the oreds.
You guys are too nice to your equipement....
Bob
I want ours to last at least as long as I do, so try to be careful with it, but still do use it.
If I expect the outside temperature to be below 32F when I want to start the engine in the morning, I turn on the block heater at bed time. It makes starting much easier.
I find that block heater outlet under the bed very useful for my trickle charger connected to the starting batteries. Never had it cold enough to need to use the block heater, either on the Foretravel U295 ( no ether on this model ) nor on my 1988 Mercedes 300D. We like warm weather.
The plan was made to ski Colorado. Telluride and breckenridge and Taos, nm.
Crossed our fingers. The Lyons 36' ored trade came in that I took. 18 months old and they bought a unihome.
Extra batteries, 15" TV in the overhead. Nice coach. 14k miles.
I had it sold after the trip to the woods. Told them I was going to test and fix anything wrong and they could pick it up on jan third at the Anaheim travel and Rv show.
The Lyons never broke it in. Barely revved 2800 when we left. Four k miles later ran wide open for hours it pulled 2950 and almost 90mph.
Dec 1988 had the coldest mountain weather in many years. Fuel jelled out.
Dash heat was not sufficient to defrost the windshield at -25 in the middle of the night when we decided to move over to breckenridge from Taos and we ran the gen and wife used a hair dryer to defrost the windshield.
Skiing in Taos at -12 got your attention when you went into a shadow....
Had to put five weight in the gen to get it to start.
Still remember the -32 morning when not a single green light was on in the coach.
No amps in lead acid batteries at -32. Only volts.
Everything dead. And cold in the coach.
No furnaces.
Wife just reminded me about dressing under the sheets.
Got the resorts snow plow guys to jump start me.
Cat barely turned over. Definite ether start time. Took several pushes separated by 60 seconds and over 60 seconds crank time to start. Shook a lot. Cold smoke cloud.
No Internet. No TV or radio in the mountains. Christmas holiday.
Four day weekend and 58 hour gen run time.
We made it. Finally froze the holding tanks and drove from telluride to Costa Mesa straight through.
Trip over.
Bob
Bob ---- I just dont care to torture myself like that!! Maybe a bunch of years ago!! +20deg. in our GV is my bottom limit and only if the bow is pointed south and moving!! Have a great time ---- Fritz
All block heaters are not created equal. When they put the AC compressor on the Detroit 6V-92TA, they moved the block heater up to a terrible location that is not even close to being on the block. All it does is heat the large water pipes going across the rear (coach) top of the engine with heat slowly finding it's way to the block. Detroits did have a heater mounting point down low on the block on earlier engines but not cast into our block. I used a remote location and a small pump to heat the coolant. Replacement elements have the same part number as CATs and are available in 500, 750 and 1000 watts for about $30 if you look around on ebay, otherwise it's easy to spend at least twice the amount. 1000 watts works fine without tripping a breaker.
Even on the coldest morning, as soon as I get air pressure, I starting driving at slow speeds until the temp is up. If I had to climb a grade, I would wait several minutes at 1000 rpm or so before I started the climb.
We did have one turbo Detroit on a fire truck (V8 wouldn't fit in a Crown so used a turbo straight 6-71T). Within a couple of seconds of starting, it had oil pressure and out the door pedal to the metal. No engine or turbo trouble all the years it was in service but temps were minimum in the high thirties.
Pierce
If your not plugged in, you block heater isn't going to turn on unless the generator is running. If you block heater isn't working and you want to go and it is under x degrees, there is no way your engine will start unless you some how heat it up or use starting fluid in the intake.
I say "heat it up", because that is exactly what my father in law did the day he left NYS for good. Blizzard of 1977 and his International cab over with a Cummins Formula 290 would not start and it was no where near a electrical outlet. He got a child's aluminum flying saucer (think round sled) and filled it with charcoal and light the charcoal, which he slid under the engine. It was like minus 20 degrees, or lower, and really blowing. He went home to get warmed up and went back to the tractor about a 45 minutes to a hour later. That burning charcoal got the engine warm enough that it would start. He left NYS that day for Florida and never came back til after he died.
Diesels are funny things. I had one that would start, without assistance, in the low twenties, and another that needed the block heater when it just looked cold. Company I worked for always had starting fluid spray cans available for when someone forgot to plug in their block heater. My understanding is that the starting fluid of today is no where near as volatile as yesterdays ether. Do I use starting fluid - not if I can help it!!!
And when it comes to starting a diesel, I think the old gasoline powered Webasto hot box was the way to go. Fire that heater up and it heated the anti-freeze and got is circulating thru your diesel's block, and she would start up in no time. Also good for popping jiffy popcorn with the exhaust.
I just turn on the block heater at 50 or so just makes things easier on batteries and starters. Mine is one of those engines that just doesn't like cold weather, been like that since I have owned it. Grid heater works, new positive and negative cables to the starter, rebuilt starter. One of these days I am going to change the battery rack and put 2 group 31 AGM's 1150 CCA's in place of the optima's, or put a reduction type starter on it.
Reminds me of Arturo who I knew years ago. It was cold and his truck wouldn't start. It was full of merchandise which he needed to deliver to his vendors that day. What to do? Well, the solution Arturo seized upon was to build a small fire under the oil pan. Unfortunately, the dry grass in that area provided a little more fuel than Arturo anticipated and... I think you can guess how it turned out.
jor
Very interesting thread...
If you where facing temps in the teens and no source of electricity except for the generator. But you have Aqua-hot.... what would be the correct procedure for warming up an M11 enough to start. Then what kind of temps should I reach before pulling out and jumping straight on the freeway.
I would have the Aqua Hot going with the switch for the engine heat ON for maybe an hour or more before starting, then allow the engine to reach 100f, then ease out into the world, not jump on the throttle until temp showed in the 150+ range. That is ME, but I have better luck with engines than some.
In the end you have to make your own choice. Are you in that big hurry or do you want to take care of your engine.
My ISM starts fine without Aqua Hot nor block heater at 30f, and I do not move it until temp shows the 100+, at slow non pushing it speed. Another nice part of the VMSpc, see temps.
Our Detroit is pretty cold blooded under 40 degrees. It smokes like crazy for several minutes until all six cylinders kick in, a little embarrassing. Under 32 degrees I have to use the block heater over night before starting in the cold morning. sing the block heater for an hour or two is useless with the placement of the block heater on the Detroit. With that said, Old Reliable has started in temps as low as 7 degrees when we got surprised in Amarillo two years ago. It was a bit of a struggle but after cranking for about 15 seconds and three tries it took off. I now carry a halogen shop light to heat the oil pan in a pinch. So far the genie has never failed us at any temp.
Our 1993, U225 with a Cummins 5.9 also started in temps down to 4 degrees but I had the block heater on over night and I did use the ether. It did not have a pre-heater on the engine. The ether made it start right up with two series 31 lead acid batteries.
When I am in cold weather under 30 degrees, I use the aqua hot engine heat and it starts right up. I turn it on the night before we are to leave
I laugh, the Aqua Hot system is right up there with the cheese slicer for how sweet it is.
We love our aqua hot all the time
Thanks...just what I needed to know.