1973 05 eagle info needed on block heater and installation.

Gary LaBombard · February 06, 2018, 08:46:28 AM

Hey guys,
Me again. It has been cold as heck the past weeks here in SC, Below 32 deg. many days and nights. My 8v71 has new 40 wt. oil in it and it sure don't want to turn over very quickly. Rather than burn out the starter I wish to install a block heater to warm up the engine coolant and then she should start much easier, I think! Anyhow, my question, I am sending a link to you to evaluate the block heater and cable I think I need and want feedback from those that know. My block now has an old heater installed, I plugged in the cable that I had for it and it sparked and I panicked. Something wrong here and so I decided to just get a whole new block heater and not cob anything up as yet. My block has 3/4" npt threads.

Another question is, I am pretty sure I will have to drain all the darn new coolant out of the block I think I am correct to remove this old heater and not make a mess all over? I doubt I can change it out quickly and minimize the lost coolant and mess but I just wanted to get feedback from you guys. Let me know if this heater is sufficient for my application.

Oh, How long before starting up a cold engine should I plug in this heater to heat up the engine coolant or how long to you recommend. I don't think leaving it on all the time is smart as I run my engine very little right now.

Here is link, thanks ahead of time.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Engine-Heater-Kit-fits-KENWORTH-Trucks-K100-K100E-w-Detroit-Diesel-8V-71-Engine/262781375806?_trkparms=pageci%3A2a71a370-0b5b-11e8-a52b-74dbd18

luvrbus · February 06, 2018, 08:58:31 AM

That type goes in the head you don't lose much coolant, about 2 hours heating and it will fire off

Gary LaBombard · February 06, 2018, 09:09:00 AM

OK, got the correct information from Cliff, as usual, and I ALMOST ordered the wrong block heater. In case anyone else has this problem, I am posting the correct link for the correct part needed for a side of the engine block installation. Now I need to drain the whole darn block, ucks! This project is just killing me. anyhow here is the link to the part needed for 8V71 side of engine block installation of heater.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Engine-Block-Heater-fits-Detroit-Diesel-Silver-Series-8V-71-with/182511555541?epid=1723029212&hash=item2a7e8953d5:g:ADsAAOSwAKxWWJfu

eagle19952 · February 06, 2018, 11:47:28 AM

silicone pad heater, installed hundreds of these in the oil patch...on engine and Allison oil pans... will make your oil think it's in Mohave..

block heaters alone are not going to heat the oil any time soon.
your call.
I have not needed a block heater in the lower 48.
use my pan heater in Minnesota tho.

https://www.amazon.com/Kats-24150-Watt-Universal-Heater/dp/B000I8TQD6/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_263_tr_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=RJ5AM2RF8V439E5ZBWNE

chessie4905 · February 06, 2018, 12:25:48 PM

I'm assuming that silicone pad heater has a magnet in it to adhere to oil pan. I have a magnet type without silicone and it will work as well. Block heaters alone are not going to heat the oil anytime soon? They heat the oil AND combustion chambers in the engine facilitating an easy start in freezing temperatures. True, it won't heat the oil in the pan, but the oil pump doesn't seem to care. Maybe in zero or below temperatures, both would be good to have. Anybody needing to use their coach in those extreme temps, would be better off living or staying somewhere else. Also at those temps you would have to deal with frozen air system components

sledhead · February 06, 2018, 03:18:45 PM

I have one like this on my Cat and it works great . 2-3 hours and all is warm

https://www.amazon.com/Kats-1160-300-Watt-Handi-Heat-Magnetic/dp/B000I8YOR4/ref=pd_sbs_263_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000I8YOR4&pd_rd_r=FR8QRTGQTRVEGXRB5YZ8&pd_rd_w=aRPrY&pd_rd_wg=Dk3Cg&psc=1&refRID=FR8QRTGQTRVEGXRB5YZ8

Dave

eagle19952 · February 06, 2018, 07:45:25 PM

Quote from: chessie4905 on February 06, 2018, 12:25:48 PM
I'm assuming that silicone pad heater has a magnet in it to adhere to oil pan. I have a magnet type without silicone and it will work as well. Block heaters alone are not going to heat the oil anytime soon? They heat the oil AND combustion chambers in the engine facilitating an easy start in freezing temperatures. True, it won't heat the oil in the pan, but the oil pump doesn't seem to care. Maybe in zero or below temperatures, both would be good to have. Anybody needing to use their coach in those extreme temps, would be better off living or staying somewhere else. Also at those temps you would have to deal with frozen air system components

no. we adhesived them with 88% coverage high temp RTV silicone ( pay close attention to the edges/squeeze out, you want some. WIND packed snowdrifts were no match. every oil pan in the Arctic oil patch had one, some as large as 300 watts ) and duck tape...1 hour (sometimes less) plugged them in for 10-15 minutes and out the door. The duct tape took weeks to disintegrate.

we even used them on standby boiler electric burner motors that sat in sheds at 40 below zero...they could exceed FLA without a 50 watt heater and trip a breaker.

A 150 watt pan heater is far better than a 1500-2000 watt block heater, if the motor has good rings/compression...it will make heat in the combustion chamber. that's what they do. 40 weight oil at 10 degrees pours slower than molasses. it's the cold oil stopping the crank from making the pistons move fast enough...

eagle19952 · February 06, 2018, 07:50:35 PM

Quote from: sledhead on February 06, 2018, 03:18:45 PM
I have one like this on my Cat and it works great . 2-3 hours and all is warm

https://www.amazon.com/Kats-1160-300-Watt-Handi-Heat-Magnetic/dp/B000I8YOR4/ref=pd_sbs_263_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000I8YOR4&pd_rd_r=FR8QRTGQTRVEGX
RB5YZ8&pd_rd_w=aRPrY&pd_rd_wg=Dk3Cg&psc=1&refRID=FR8QRTGQTRVEGXRB5YZ8

Dave

300 watts is good