Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

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Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

November 28, 2023, 11:18:49 am

This morning it was around 18 degrees, our 270 has two start batteries, it has a heavy duty trickle charge maintainer from the coach batteries, the batteries are two years old sealed lead acid. The coach is plugged into a 50 amp.
It failed to start, (i did not have the engine block heater on) it cranked but slower than usual and on the second attempt, it was obvious that it did not have the voltage required. lTurned on boost for a few minutes and tried again, slow turn over. Silverleaf showed 12.5 volts at this time, started the generator left boost on and watched the voltage climb back up where it should be, and the engine started immediately.
I know cold weather drops voltage, I know the 320's have three batteries (more starting power. my question is does anyone use heat pads, if so what brand do you have and do you leave them heating in all the time during cold weather.
Any suggestions?
I know there are coaches in Minnesota, Canada, Washington state, all areas colder than Ohio, do all the coaches have the same issues?

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #1 – November 28, 2023, 11:30:15 am

Burr. It was terribly cold here also at 39 degrees. So it's not something I know much about. Hotstart Thermal Management > Battery Thermal Wrap Heater | Battery Pad Heater
Hope this link is helpful. The 320 also have coolant heating threw the Aqua hot. Times we were going to be in cold weather I would switch on the engine loop in the morning and by the time breakfast was done was over 100 degrees engine temperature. If you havent changed to the gear driven starter it really does make a difference.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #2 – November 28, 2023, 11:58:45 am

My opinion, for what its worth...

Unless you are really worried about conserving electricity, if you are plugged into 50 amp shore power, why not use it to your advantage?

Turn your inverter/charger on so it keeps the coach batteries fully charged.

You have a trickle charger that should keep the engine start batteries topped off.

If you anticipate having to start on a below freezing morning, turn on your engine block heater the night before when you go to bed.

If you didn't remember to use the block heater, at least use your boost switch to help on the first starting try of the morning...much easier on the starter motor.

Using the above techniques, our C8.3 (has no intake heater) has started immediately on the first try at temps as low as 10 degrees (F).

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #3 – November 28, 2023, 06:15:13 pm

If you are plugged in I don't know why starting you generator would help. If it makes a difference
it means the 50 amp circuit is not working. As Chuck said use the block heater the night before.
Does your engine have a intake manifold heater and is it working. When you are plugged in or the
generator is running you will get extra amps from your inverter/charger if you have the boost switch
on. On my coach the magnum gives me an extra 125 amps.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #4 – November 28, 2023, 06:23:11 pm

I definitely have 50amps coming in:
So now i will have to see are my house batteries charging properly, they may not be charging to full voltage which would deprive the start batteries from getting a top up through the maintainer.
Yes the block heater: I had to suddenly start the engine this morning so I had not used the heater.
Thanks

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #5 – November 28, 2023, 06:50:36 pm

My coach has a DD 6v92. It definitely doesn't like the cold. As long as I turn the block heater on the night before, it fires right up in the morning.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #6 – November 28, 2023, 07:02:09 pm

I'm not sure adding a battery heater is more effective than simply using the block heater to reduce the initial load on the starter/batteries as they are.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #7 – November 28, 2023, 07:29:32 pm

How long does it take for the block heater to bring up the oil/ engine temperature ?

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #8 – November 28, 2023, 07:38:04 pm

For block heaters, maybe four hours and they don't do my for the oil temperature as the block
heater only heats the coolant same thing with the Aqua-hot. I think there are pan heaters but I
have never used one.
Do you have a intake manifold heater in your 8.3 engine.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #9 – November 28, 2023, 07:40:58 pm

I am fairly sure it is an intake heater
Your is not so bad, I have used it on occasion but had it on overnight.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #10 – November 28, 2023, 08:02:17 pm

I grew up in MN and I remember weeks at a time when it never got above 20 below. I won't go into all the gory details about trying to start a car in that cold weather but I guarantee you do no want to expose a diesel motorhome to those conditions.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #11 – November 28, 2023, 08:15:02 pm

Dakota Slim I have no intention of heading north, in fact I would like to have weather where cold batteries, freezing temperatures, glow plugs and intake heaters are not thought about! Winterizing a thing of the past. But we live in Ohio which is certainly not as bad as Alaska! I should have retired by now but my wife says I like working too much and just bought out a sub contractor and am growing that business as well. So yes every now and then starting can be an issue like this morning when I had not planned to start the engine early on a cold morning in the low 20's and that's how this tread started!
All this because I went back looking for the "third" number on my hydraulic pump, the degreaser I sprayed on it froze making I impossible to see the pump surface, so I decided to start the engine which would bring up it temp of the pump which would melt the ice coating. Because the block heater had not been used it was a bit difficult to start etc. this also confirmed that one glow plug on the generator is evidently in need of replacement.
As I waited for the ice to melt I kept looking at the hydraulic pump belt I decided to replace it and the tensioner because it had a bit of movement.
At that I went off the work, it pays for my toy!
Ordered the parts this evening.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #12 – November 28, 2023, 08:19:22 pm

One could think of the engine and its oil as a tub of ice cream. At normal room temperatures, both "fillings" are liquid-ish. When cold, both get more viscous (ultimately near solid, in the case of ice cream).

You could warm the ice cream scoop (batteries and starter) and get through the cold ice cream a little bit easier, but it's still a lot more work than if you let the ice cream soften a little (use the block heater to warm the fluids and lower their viscosity some) first.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #13 – November 28, 2023, 09:15:14 pm

For cold weather as primary use. Change to synthetic oil. It helps a lot . Ask the Alaskanites.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #14 – November 28, 2023, 09:20:27 pm

Thanks I will do that next time, I just changed the oil last week with regular. Thanks for the tip.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #15 – November 28, 2023, 10:45:29 pm

Before trying to start my coach at that temp I would turn on block heater and wait four hours if electricity available. I've been caught boondocking in that kind of temperature and then I followed the cold start procedure in owner's manual with boost switch on and fingers crossed. A wiser man than I would run generator four hours to let block heater do its job and then start. But my block heater had failed on that trip so it was what it was. Homolovi State Park AZ in early February. Add 8,000 feet of altitude and you might just have a long term parking spot with an all mechanical engine like mine.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #16 – November 28, 2023, 11:42:36 pm

I have a M11 with 3 start battery's. I have always ( last 10 years years) used Rotella T-6 full synthetic oil in 5-40 in the engine, Generator, and fan/power steering system. I chose this for the exact reasons you are having.
From living in the Chicago area for 72 years I know what to expect from cold and engines and all systems that live outdoors that require lubrication.
The biggest culprit with starting is the engine cranking speed. The synthetic oil does not thicken as much as the dino oil.
Your fuel is another area that needs some help in the cold.
I would try an oil change before I would start trying to heat batteries that live outside.
For cold weather you need all the "ducks in a row" to be successful.
You want an engine that will start no matter where you are and regardless of how long it has sat there. There may not be time to heat the entire engine block or have a place to plug into.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #17 – November 29, 2023, 10:02:22 am

Our team used 2 salamander heaters for heating the rear axle and engine in the Busch north car . For qualifying
It was standard op.
Changing from Dino to synthetic on the race cars shows 2-3 hp on my chassis dyno. On 140 whp.
No question that it rolls easier with synthetic .
The new Toyota uses 0-16 wt oil.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #18 – November 29, 2023, 10:25:57 am

I think it was the winter of 1985 give or take a year and I had a weekly haul from Arkansas to Minneapolis Mn. Christmas time and I had to leave a 855 Cummins 400 hp sit at my customers plugged in for 10 days and I flew home for the hollidays. It was cold when I returned and the warehouse manager said the wind chill had dipped as low as 75 below zero during the time. That engine started but slowly. Never saw a truck rock and buck and blow smoke rings like that one did. Of course I never touched the fuel pedal but I went inside and let it do it's thing for an hour. Of course I had to take a torch to all the brakes to get the shoes freed from the drums. Point is a block heater is a wonderful invention and they can work in the most extreme conditions.providing batteries, starter and such are top notch. The situation was such that one will remember it 38 years later.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #19 – November 29, 2023, 11:01:41 am

At -5 F I couldn't get my 8.3 engine going and the block heater was broken so I got out my heat
gun and heated the intake manifold and the engine started right up. A hair dryer would also work.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #20 – November 29, 2023, 11:13:38 am

Back in the day before a lot of things were available I've seen and have placed a wash tub with charcoal under oil pan. Early days one had to be resorcefull.

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #21 – November 29, 2023, 03:02:21 pm

I have a question about the 5-40 synthetic. During pandemic it was all I could find in north western Oklahoma in January. Is that okay for year round use in a C8.3?

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #22 – November 29, 2023, 03:27:52 pm

Quote from: Realmccoy – November 29, 2023, 03:02:21 pm

I have a question about the 5-40 synthetic. During pandemic it was all I could find in north western Oklahoma in January. Is that okay for year round use in a C8.3?

should be. Fine , the low number affects your cold cranking speed and pressure .
Might try for 10/40 or 15/40.
If the hit idle pressure is too low. Move up

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #23 – November 29, 2023, 04:13:38 pm

A battery charger will warm a battery.

If you are on shore power, or a generator, and your inverter/charger is working, turn the boost switch on to warm your start batteries.

Tim

Re: Engine Battery Heater Suggestions Wanted

Reply #24 – November 29, 2023, 05:10:05 pm

All of these stories explain why Quartzsite makes so much sense in the winter.

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