The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Magnetic Heater for Starts Below 0 F.

I've mentioned before what I do on cold mornings (below zero). Frost plug heater on a timer for 4 hours and a 200W magnetic heater on the oil pan all night. I've been curious if the pan heater did any good so I measured some temps.

It was 5 below when I placed the heater on the pan and plugged in it. In the morning 10 hours later, it was still about 5 below. I used a remote temperature sensor to measure some temps.

Oil pan 1 inch away from heater - +52 deg F
Half way up the side of the pan - +20 deg
Tranny - Minus 5

I don't know what the oil temp was but I convinced myself it's a good idea when it gets cold.

Oil Pan Heater.
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Be sure and push the clutch pedal in while cranking- - - -that gear lube will be like very thick molasses, and the cluster gear turns all the time- - - -even in neutral.
Jerry

Jerry,

I never thought about (or knew about) the cluster gear. Shifting at -5 F wasn't so bad but previously at -20 was something else.

Thank the lordy those temps are good enough reason for me to
hunker down with a basement project and leave the driving to
someone else.
I'm always pushing for leaving the stick 6v system in a
Stovebolt but if I had to drive my 50 in those conditions,
I think I'd throw in the towel and upgrade to a 12v battery.

Probably a common thing with people who live in Alaska, but
down here in northern Illinois, about all I remember seeing
are oil dipstick heaters. Where did you buy your "magnetic"
surface heater???

dg

Denny, most flaps carry them. I remember Auto Zone had them back in the late 90's when I worked there in Princeton.

Sent you an e-mail Denny. A true testimonial--

We got one at NAPA, Katz brand. Use it on the sawmill oil pan in cold weather.

Got it Bruce, I'll look for one at Blain's F&F next time I'm out
and about. Need to find something for the diesel tractor this
winter. They can use all the heat they can get.
So do I....I wish I could swing a cab for the Kubota, but they
cost as much as the tractor did. Thought about rigging some
duct work up to the cowl vents to bring some heat back to
the seat. Would at least help to warm up my hands.

dg

Before I retired, I would crawl under the '48 in the evening and place the heater on the pan. I didn't want to crawl under the truck in the morning dressed for work so I drilled a hole in a 2x2. I could slip it onto the handle, take off the heater with a twist and keep clean.
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Magnetic Heater Remover.
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What is different about modern manual transmissions that use ATF instead of lube? If they are just brass and steel inside like old ones I wonder if one could run ATF in the winter in an older one.

Denny, don't know what kind of tractor you've got, but we tried the magnetic heater on our Kubota only to find out the oil pan was aluminum and the magnet wouldn't stick. I ended up going with the heated dipstick instead.

3300, haven't checked it, to busy gabbing on the stovebolt,
but I wouldn't be surprised if it were alum.
Tks
dg

Bungee cords work on aluminum!
Jerry

My favorite type are the inline recirculating variety. Coolant is warmed and moved thru the heater core and block spreading the warmth around. If it's cold this is by far the easiest type to add on as well provided the system has a heater core/hoses.

PATENT THAT [censored]!

bought the magnetic heater for tractor (New Holland), couldn't find a good spot to put it on block(pan was not an option)

then last winter I blew the clutch, so I had dealer put in a clutch and a block heater

Here's a 600W heater that splices into the lower radiator hose:

http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/m/mzcviFlqFYKUmYMpvEQ3alg/s-l225.jpg

Jerry

These are also very useful for new engine first start.

When I was station in Minot, North Dakota, I had a oil pan heater that I had to RTV to my oil pan and a battery heater also. If you keep it inside or at least keep the wind off of it those heater are going to be more effective.

Is the slogan still "Why Not Minot?" The guys in SAC I served with hated that place! "Nine months of hard winter, and three months of bad skiing!"
Jerry

Kubota--it's steel, but can't really get to a clear place
on the pan. To much undercarriage hiding it.
Back to checking out an inline hose heater.

dg

Just put a light bulb under it.

Or do like they did way back when and just drain the oil into a big pan the night before, heat it on the stove and pore it back in the engine right before you start it :-) I've read that was a pretty common procedure way back in the T model days. Wouldn't really care to try it now, but has anyone here ever done that before?

I've also read about people lighting a candle under the pan and letting that heat things up. I could see that procedure going bad real quick though.

Ya, you'll freeze to death lol! Several times I've shoved a tabletop barbeque under there to get a buddy going where I live.

It was not uncommon for people to shovel hot coals from a wood stove under a Model T, but it was the transmission that needed the heat, not the engine. The grease would get so cold the car would drive forward in Neutral as soon as the engine started, due to the stiff lube oil creating drag on the planetary gears. All it took was a worn out or poorly-adjusted parking brake, and the person turning the hand crank was in danger of getting run over!
Jerry

Did the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issue
a recall for that Jerry?

dg

Another common method on the T model was to jack up one of the rear wheels while cranking if you were starting on magneto instead of battery. Made it a lot easier to get things spinning fast enough to get a charge from the mag. It also helped with cold weather starts. I used to have a 1925 Model TT, which was the one ton truck version of the Model T. Kind of wish I had kept it, as it was a fun toy to play with. Guess I better stop talking about the T models, or I may get kicked out of the stovebolt brother hood :-)

Tiger torch stuck in the end of a length of stove pipe with a 90 elbow directed at the bottom of the oil pan. You don't have to have it blasting at full bore just enough to heat for 5-10 mins.