Heaters: Engine/Transmission

[DavidBentley]

I know some of you folks up in the interior of Alaska (any maybe other more tropical areas) are using transmission heaters. I just wanted to know what kind you are using and how you set them up?



I have one friend up in Delta Junction, AK that is running dual block heaters, dual battery blankets, a transmission heater, and a trickle charger when she plugs in on the company nickel at work.



Stay warm,

Dave

 

[DonFitzwater]

I've got a 5. 9 and run a single factory block heater, two 175 watt pads on the oil pan, one 25 watt under each battery, and a 50 watt single pad on the transmission. I keep the battery pads unplugged until it gets colder than -10 because they were gassing too much otherwise. I also don't recommend putting anything hotter than a 75 watt on the transmission to eliminate burnt trans fluid. Three hours of plug in time at -40 and she fires right up. My next toy is going to be an Espar heater from mopar for the 06, had one on the old 97 and sure miss it. I also zip up my cold front when it's under 0. Mopar makes a very good quality cold front to block off your radiator. My local NAPA sells all of the winterization pads. I think they are zero-start brand but I can check if you need it.

 

[courierdog]

I run the Cloudrider front and the factory block heater plus the Mopar/Wabasto cab heater when no power is available. At -40C everything starts and within 2 Km I have the beginnings of engine heat.
If I have to lay over the Cab Heater keeps us toasty warm and the motor warm. The transmission does get some residual heat. Only the factory battery blankets (Felt - Poor choice as it retains water) Average battery life here in Alberta is 3 years due to the long cold winters, regardless of the running time.

 

[DavidBentley]

Thanks for the feedback. Good stuff.



One thing you don't see as much nowadays are folks using the tank type inline coolant heaters.



I was at the dealer today and asked about the mopar diesel heaters (Webasto I think). They want $1485 for the parts.



Courierdog, did you install the Webasto yourself?

 

[JR2]

I have one friend up in Delta Junction, AK that is running dual block heaters, dual battery blankets, a transmission heater, and a trickle charger when she plugs in on the company nickel at work.

Sounds like my work truck on the slope, but add an oil pan heater and a Webasto Blue Heat to it. I bet the truck draws 1 KW/hr with all that.





On my 01 I have an oil pan heater pad that I got at NAPA. Don't have the part number I just went in and told the guy I wanted one and he brought me out a couple to choose from. As for mounting, I cleaned the side of the pan really well with paint thinner and then brake clean. I applied a large quantity of good silicone sealer to the pad and stuck it on, then I applied a good coating on the outside of the pad and around the edges and stuck a big piece of aluminum foil over it. Once it dried I pulled what foil off that I could. I basically just wanted something to cover the pad. 7 years later its still there and working fine.