magnetic engine heaters opinions

[Smiley]

I tried one years ago and it sucked, but it was a real low wattage one. Has anyone had any luck with them for diesel tractors.
Thanks,
Smiley

 

[Allan in NE]

I think they work just every bit as well as the Stanadyne fuel additive does.

I. E. They are designed primarly to separate you from your money. :>)

Allan

 

[bradley martin]

Better than nothing, but not much. I think only low wattage is available. If tractor is inside & out of the wind,plugged in all night, it does make a difference, but if you intend to keep the tractor and use it regularly in the winter, get a real block heater. My 2 cents.

 

[R. John Johnson]

If you are experiencing real cold, do you and your tractor a favor and get either a tank type or the frost plug replacement type of heater.

John

 

[Dave from MN]

Youd be better off having a heat lamo pointed at it. I have a IH 544 deisel Hydro, which seems to be the slowest cranking, cold blooded tractor I have ever dealt with. Engine block water heater, keep it plugged in, batteries charged, split second of either and it will start in the coldest weather. I have heard that the magnetic heater are a last resort.

 

[Bill in Colo]

I have several, only use to heat transmissions and external oil tanks and fuel tanks.
Internal block heaters work fine, but arn/t as fast as a tank type.
the eguipment that is used daily here is plugged in when not in use

 

[Mark-Mi]

When dad bought a 544 hydro utility new in 1969 my dad replaced the bottom hydro trans plate with a big iron one with a heating element in it.Always started good.Might scratch around try to find one of them used,if you could still buy one new I would think it would be awful expensive.Mark

 

[Anonymous-0]

They don't help much because they have poor contact, with little ability to transfer heat to the thing your trying to heat. They have almost the entire heater exposed to the air, so most heat is lost that way. They are still low wattage. Because of the poor heat transfer, they would burn out if they had more power, as they can not transfer much heat to the tractor.
My best luck for an engine heater is to use a frost plug type heater. If a frost plug type heater can not be fitted, often a lower hose heater will do nearly as well.

 

[LenND]

Son used one on oil pan of a 4 cylinder Toyota pickup and it warmed it pretty good. And that was in below zero weather but on motor bigger it would be a waste of money I think.

 

[steveormary]

I never had much luck with the magnetic heaters.
I would reccomend a type of heater that heats the coolant.

steveormary

 

[Rickey H]

I just bought one today $31.00 freeze plug type for my MF 285..... Rickey

 

[buickanddeere]

The 300W contact heater works well on the bottom of oil pans in conjunction with a coolant heater.

 

[DAN9-Midwest]

I think there are different levels of these heaters, maybe from 300 watts to 1500 watts. Years ago I had a 300W one and it was worthless so I went to I think a 1500W. This was 13 years ago but it works fine on a vehicle stored inside. Bought at an auto parts store .
The surface you stick to must be 100% clean. If there is a buildup of crud it insulates the heater from working. Granted, the block heater is the way to go but if you can't, get a big magnetic heater, clean the surface well and leave it on for a while. Synthetic oil works a lot too.
The only place I ever stuck a heater was on the oil pan.
Just my two cents and personal opinion.

 

[LenND]

I had a heater on a 68 6cyl. Chev that went in the lower radiator hose and that worked just as good as a block heater. People told me they were no good but I traded the pickup off with 86,000 miles on it with same original heater in it. I don't know if they are available anymore. Simple to put in all you did was cut lower hose in two and clamp in heater.