1955 JD 70 block heater

Paul Hearsey · Dec 15, 2008

I live in Williams Lake, B.C. Canada. It hit minus 38 celcius last night;that's about minus 40 fahrenheit. I can buy a 400 watt immersion-type heater that screws into the underside of the cylinder head, and I think I will. 400 watts is a little wimpy but it's all I can find. Any other (better) ideas?

BUT.... the engine oil is just like molasses. I am using 5W30, which I thought would be light enough, but no way. I would NEVER start an engine knowing the oil was this viscous. I have a 1947 Fairbanks-Morse gen-set I can't use at the moment either, because of the same concern. Does anyone have some advice on heating the oil while the block heater warms the coolant? Before you ask, I just moved here from the milder coast, so I've never had to think about winter before! Thanks. Paul

armand tatro · Dec 16, 2008

I use a BBQ lpg tank (about a 20 pounder I think) with a heater on it to heat the crankcase. build a metal windbreak on the bottom and sides of the engine and that will heat the oil and coolant both in about one hour. Besure engine is clean and keep an eye on it while yoa are using this heater. What kind of tractor are you using? This heater should also warm your gen-set also. Armand

buickanddeere · Dec 16, 2008

A battery blanket or pad so the battery keeps it's warm weathe rpower. A battery with -40F plates and acid is almost useless.

Plan A Use 5W30 synthetic oil and it won't go thick.
Plan B . This company also makes 150W and 300W immersion oil heaters. I assume the oil depth in the sump is 6+" inches so a taller 300W heater should work fine.
page 68 http://www.phillipsandtemro.com/coldStart/oil_pan_heaters.asp

Plan C. Use a couple of 300W magnetic oil pan heaters.

300W oil and 400W coolant should be enough if parked out of the wind and given 4+ hours.
There is also the possibility of a great honking 2000W external tank coolant heater.
I'd try warming the battery with a balnket or underpad from that web site. Plus both the 300W oil and 400W coolant heaters.

M w J · Dec 16, 2008

1500 watt tank heater will warm the water and keep the oil warm enough to flow well. Hook it to drain plug and put a T in where the temp sending unit goes for the top hose. You can either leave it pluged in or plug in for a couple of hours before use.

Paul Hearsey · Dec 16, 2008

Thanks for all the advice! I'll look into an even lighter oil like 0W30, and investigate an oil heater of some kind. Question: do those magnetic oil-pan heaters work very well? it seems to me they might work OK on my truck, with its thin stamped sheet metal pan, but a two-cylinder JD has a massively thick cast sump. I would think most of the heat would dissipate into the surrounding (REALLY COLD) air. Comments? Paul

1955 JD 70 block heater

Paul Hearsey

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armand tatro

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buickanddeere

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M w J

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Paul Hearsey

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