I think a stick-on silicone pad heater would be a better solution as well. Kats has those also.
I've looked at the Kats. Reliability seems to be hit or miss. Same with the Zerostart from the info I am digging up. Likely low quality units either made in china or made from Chinese sourced parts (granted what isn't anymore these days). I found the proheat that I linked above which seems to have some better reliability. Then I stumbled on E-Z Heat
https://www.e-zheat.com/other-engines which seems to specialize in pads for aircraft with built in limiting thermostats. Given the FAA approved application one would infer that these should be of much better quality, theoretically. I cant find much user based feedback to verify this though.
I am not trying to solve world hunger here, but I am a proponent of "buy once, cry once" and given the application prep and silicone sealing use, a few bucks more for a better proven unit is worthwhile in my opinion. Not that cleaning everything off and replacing a faulty unit is hard, just a nuisance when there's always 1000 other things to do out here.
I totally understand the desire to keep most equipment on the same oil, makes it easy to grab a jug and top things off without worrying about what is in the engine. I would try one of the flexible silicone heating pads. My 2000 K3500 diesel had a factory block heater, freeze plug style, worked very well. You might research that application and see if the diameter would work for the 292. Mine was one of the last Detroit/GM 6.5 turbo V8's
Exactly. I don't need to worry about accidentally wiping off markings on any of the numerous oil jugs and then not knowing what is in what. Or, worry about helping hands putting the wrong fluids in the wrong applications. KISS method.
The unit in my 6.2 diesel could give a neutron star a run for its money and the factory Duramax heater that I put in my Gen3 LS 5.3 gasser silverado will heat that iron block V8 engine from 0-80F in just under 2 hours (Its like 1000 watts or something ridiculous). Ill dig back into frost plug specs and try and locate a unit for the C60.
