3400 Ford engine heater

I just installed a 1500 watt tank type engine heater in my 3400 Ford Diesel. Was about 4 degrees this morning. Plugged it in for about an hour. Started just like summer. Always used a 1000 watt but what a difference with the 1500 watt.
Thanks for every ones HELP
 
That is a large heater for such a small engine, I definitely wouldn't want it running for more than a few hours, or left on after the engine started. My 5.9L Cummins only uses a 750w heater.
 
Had to Google "tank type" heater...interesting concept. I have a block heater in my 3400 and have to let it heat for at least a couple of hours and even then might have to use the thermostart if it's that cold. When this heater quits I might look into one of those.
 
My freeze plug heater went this winter so it was a lot easier to use a tank heater. Works great and has thermostat so it doesn't overhead. Actually can be left on all the time if you want to pay electric bill.
 
Those are common on standby generators. You need to be careful with some of them. They can over heat the engine if left on too long. I wouldn't let it go more than two hours
 

Those tank type engine heaters were all there was not too many years ago. If you wanted your chore tractor to start the next morning, you plugged it in when you finished choring today. Never a problem.
 
(quoted from post at 15:38:33 01/15/19) My freeze plug heater went this winter so it was a lot easier to use a tank heater. Works great and has thermostat so it doesn't overhead. Actually can be left on all the time if you want to pay electric bill.

Yep, you got it right, Steve, the common ones (KATS or Zerostart) have an internal thermostat, and it doesn't hurt a thing but your wallet to leave them plugged in.
 

Most of the tank type heater I've seen on dealers shelves are the hotter 100-120 degree ones that heat the engine to near operating temps, and yes if left plugged in full time they don't last long. Personal experience.
I use the ones on my standby gen set that only heat the engine to around 80-100 degrees, warm enough for a engine that starts at full throttle but not so hot that the heater used a lot of electric and doesn't last long.
The heater on that gen set stays on 24-7-365, present heater has been in use for 7 years.
They made a tank type heater that only heats to 60-80 degrees, this would be my choice for a winter use tractor, plug it in a leave it, tractor would be warm enough to start anytime you need it.

Google Zerostart tank type heaters.
 
(quoted from post at 10:16:49 01/16/19)
Those tank type engine heaters were all there was not too many years ago. If you wanted your chore tractor to start the next morning, you plugged it in when you finished choring today. Never a problem.

"Those tank type engine heaters were all there was not too many years ago."

Dunno what you mean by that, RF, the first mass-produced electric engine heater, the "headbolt heater" was invented in 1947, and that lead to "block plug heaters", and tank heaters.

http://plainshumanities.unl.edu/encyclopedia/doc/egp.ind.027

Headbolt heater history.

Mr. Freeman was an acquaintance of my late Uncle Joe, who was a pioneer in the rural electrification of North Dakota.
 
Hi, if the heater is thermostatically controlled, why would you worry about leaving it plugged in. Ed Will
 

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