Engine heaters for 8n

Stephen Wallace · Nov 18, 2011

I am looking for a way to keep my 8n warm during the coming Maine winter. I am looking for recommendations on this. I see different types of heaters, such as magnetic ones that attach to the oil pan or engine block and I see ones that tie into the radiator hose. What is the best method? And what kind of wattage is sufficient? I'll add that I have been told to change the oil to 5W-30 to help starting as well. Thanks in advance to this fantastic group.

old · Nov 18, 2011

The all around best type heater is one that keeps the coolant warm. That way the engine block and oil also stays warm. If all you do is heat the oil the rest of the engine is still cold so you still get a slower start.

Curtsat15 · Nov 18, 2011

I would recommend a circulating heater that goes inline with the radiator hose. I have a little 500 watt unit on my 8/2N. Plug it in for an hour before I wanna run and she starts like a summer day!

Stephen Wallace · Nov 18, 2011

By circulating do you mean this is more sophisticated than just an inline heater (that just has the heater element and the heat causes the coolant to circulate)? In other words are you talking about something that has its own pump?

old · Nov 18, 2011

They work sort of like a thermosphine (sp) system does and as the coolant heats in the lower hose the warm coolant goes up and the cool falls so it in turn makes the coolant move on its own

Stephen Wallace · Nov 18, 2011

Excellent, that makes perfect sense. thank you.

Stephen Wallace · Nov 18, 2011

Thanks!

Del Huebner · Nov 18, 2011

I use a Kats Lower Radiator Hose Heater in both 49 8N's. It is 600 watt and I got mine at NAPA.
They have never failed to start in the cold and we can get to -20.

duey · Nov 18, 2011

And be sure to cover it well so that whatever heat you DO have stays with the engine.

Dad never had a heater on the 2N he bought new but I remember him taking a teakettle full of scalding water out to the old garage and pouring it over the carburetor and manifold to help the gas vaporize and it seldom failed to start.... even when it was so cold you had to be careful releasing the clutch with the heavy, cold tranny oil.
duey

Curtsat15 · Nov 18, 2011

Yup mine has it's own pump with the heater. Works like a charm.

Dell (WA) · Nov 18, 2011

Stephen........gitt the MAGNETIC block heater and mount it on the INTAKE manifold. The very act of carburation sucks HEAT outta the air. Infact light airplanes have a pull handle called carb heat for landing. It sucks to need power for go-around and not have it. Carb at idle approach will ICE-UP.

The 2nd best thing for cold starting is a WARM BATTERY. (seriously) Ittza LAW, electro-chemical Law. Back in the '40s, dad would remove the 6V-battery and place it by the coalfire heater (my job to haul coal) and install it the next -30F morning. Always started. Neighbor would be pouring HOT WATER into his radiator 'cuz he was too cheap for anti-freeze and cuzzin'. International pickup was always hard to start, even in summertime. .......eazy startin' Dell

Jimmyjack · Nov 18, 2011

Might be Number one and two in the State of Washington Dell, but in the cold states the lower hose heaters, block heaters, and tank heaters are much better.

John (TR) · Nov 18, 2011

My dad always used a small worklight and layed it next to the battery in the cars in the winter and they always started. Battery looses way too many CCA at 0deg.

Dell (WA) · Nov 18, 2011

Jimmyjack.......would you believe 7000ft Durango Colorado????.......Dell

Ultradog MN · Nov 18, 2011

I always liked the tank heaters. They always looked the best.

Duner Wi · Nov 18, 2011

Head bolt heater works for me.

duey · Nov 18, 2011

Luv it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oldtanker · Nov 19, 2011

OK the water jacket is higher than the oil pan and what will heat do????? RISE! So the idea that it will keep the oil warm is not a great idea. The solution is a block heater that warms the block and "winter weight" oil and or both the block heater and a mag one that heats the oil in the pan too. Ive seen it cold enough that at startup with a block heater but to heavy of an oil in the pan the oil pressure fail to come up with 10-30 oil. It was very cold at the time, about -50F without wind chill, 5-30 fixed it. Another fix would have been a mag heater on the pan.

With everything "clean tight and bright" at - 30F my 8N will not start without "help".

Rick

Stephen Wallace · Nov 19, 2011

Thanks for all these great replies and suggestions. They have been fun to read and very helpful. It is good to have options. Installing that (affordable) coolant heater near the water pump side looks to be a bit of a pain to install and I'd have to drain and replace the 12 quarts of anti-freeze. I like the idea, at least in the meantime, of keeping the battery warm overnight and changing to 5W 30 oil and see what that gets me. The mag heaters are certainly the easiest and fastest to get going with, but pricy. I don't know how the tank heaters with their pumps would work on an 8n or where one would install them but I did notice them while shoppping at Tractor Supply. But these are all really great and helpful ideas. It does get cold in Maine but so far the coldest I have seen in past years is about -12 F.

Bob · Nov 19, 2011

"I don't know how the tank heaters with their pumps would work on an 8n or where one would install them but I did notice them while shopping at Tractor Supply"

The tank heaters you saw at TSC, or any other typical tank heater, doesn't have a "pump".

There ARE specialty units made for extreme HD or industrial use that DO have pumps, but that is NOT what we are dealing with here.

The typical tank heater simply works due to the fact that heat rises.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 25, 2013

Hi, Where can you get the type of in line hose heater you mention in your blog? Thanks.

Paul in Edmonton · Jan 25, 2013

In my 8N I have 0W40 oil (you could use any other 0Wxx if your oil pressure is decent when hot) and no heat is needed down to -12°C (+10°F) or so.

Colder, a Tiger Torch for a minute or two works wonders. Mostly on the oil pan, but a few seconds on the intake manifold (for the reasons Dell mentions). Be real careful hitting the carb with flames, though!

BTW, those little torches on 1 lb propane bottles are useless at those temps. The little valves freeze up, and you can't turn them on properly--or worse, once they're on, you can't turn them off. My Tiger Torch runs off a 20lb tank--the big valve doesn't have any problems. (Of course, no propane torch works below -40° or so, as the propane won't vaporize.)

-Paul

Engine heaters for 8n

New User

Well-known Member

Member

New User

Well-known Member

New User

New User

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

New User

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Similar threads