Magnetic Oil Pan Heater

[LILHauler]

I was wondering if any one is using an oil pan heater to help with the oil pumpabilty on cold start up. I use the block heater but the oil pan stays as cool as the outside air which is at -35c or -30f. The oil I use is Mopar 15w40 oil as recommended.

I have been trying to find the properties of this oil but no luck. One 15w40 oil was rated nonpumpable after -29c.

Thanks for your replies.

 

[sabersix]

Wow, I'd certainly be using one if it was that cold here.

 

[Jeff Knight]

I believe the Mopar oil is acually Valvoline Premium Blue. The Valvoline website might have the info you are looking for... . Jeff

 

[wildwestdiesel]

Its a good idea if your using 15w40. Im running 5w30/40? dont remember? but its sythetic and at -27f today it seams to be ok with the block heat. Im accually considering one myself.

 

[ADugan]

I used one on my old Ford before I bought this new Dodge. I thought it worked great. Not that the Ford had allot of trouble starting with just the block heater, but combined with the magnetic pan heater (I bought it at NAPA auto parts) it would start like it was 80 degrees F outside. Now mind you it rarely gets below zero in the Kansas City area, but the teens and single digits are not uncommon.



I've heard the dip-stick heaters are sorta cheap and the cord can catch fire easily. So with that type of unit being under the hood, I would stay away from those.

 

[gtobey]

Greetings! The oil pan heater is quite the device to warm the oil in climates like yours. We have sold and serviced Deutz air cooled diesels for close to 30 years. Since there is no coolant in the crankcase of these engines, just oil, this type of heater is invaluable. PM me if you like and I can forward the details to you about the types they use, and you should be able to source one locally. The same folks that manufacture our block heaters manufacture this oil pan heater. Dipstick heaters don't work for engines with only 4 qts of oil. They'll never heat enough to warm our 12 qt. pans...



Keep warm!

 

[kkreigh]

I have had a Wolverine oil pan heater installed on my truck for about 10 months. I really like it. I have an oil temp gauge and when I turn the key on in -5 temps my oil temp is about 100 degrees. It really starts easy and quietly. I am sold on the concept.

I think a lot of wear is caused in engines during extreme cold starts.

 

[LILHauler]

I believe the Mopar oil is acually Valvoline Premium Blue. The Valvoline website might have the info you are looking for... . Jeff

Thanks Jeff, that got me on the right track.
Pour point is -30c or -24f
http://www.valvoline.com/products/pbud.pdf
Borderline pumping is even less at -25c.

We had that point beat last night at -34c. Glad I didn't have to run the truck.
I picked up a magnetic pan heater at 300 watts. I wasn't going with the dip stick heater because there is a lot of oil to warm up down there.
We are just starting to warm up here but no daught, I will be able
try it out on our next round of -30c. Our winter is far from over.

Another piece of advice I got was to use a hockey stick with a metal clip to install it to the pan when it's needed. Was that a great idea!! Don't have to slide under the truck.

Thanks for all the input!

 

[LILHauler]

This is what I picked up locally and got it for less than the price listed.

Works great and I'm sure the oil flows through the pump now.



Kat's Heaters #1160 Hand-Heat Magnetic Heater 300 Watts

 

[gsbrockman]

The oil I use is Mopar 15w40 oil as recommended.

The magnetic oil pan heater you speak of would certainly aid in cold start-ups; I'd bet if you look in the Owner's Manual you'll find a recommendation for 5W40 Synthetic given the anticipated temperature range you're experiencing.



Greg

 

[LILHauler]

The magnetic oil pan heater you speak of would certainly aid in cold start-ups; I'd bet if you look in the Owner's Manual you'll find a recommendation for 5W40 Synthetic given the anticipated temperature range you're experiencing.



Greg

Yes, on the last oil change the Mopar Store quoted to do Synthetic at $400cdn. I wasn't going to drive it much in the winter so I told them to put what even is recommended for our winters. Yes I was surprised to see 15w40 and I figured they had to know what they are doing for winter oil.

If I will be driving it more next winter, it will be synthetic for sure.

 

[cumminsfhama89]

Greetings! The oil pan heater is quite the device to warm the oil in climates like yours. We have sold and serviced Deutz air cooled diesels for close to 30 years. Since there is no coolant in the crankcase of these engines, just oil, this type of heater is invaluable. PM me if you like and I can forward the details to you about the types they use, and you should be able to source one locally. The same folks that manufacture our block heaters manufacture this oil pan heater. Dipstick heaters don't work for engines with only 4 qts of oil. They'll never heat enough to warm our 12 qt. pans...



Keep warm!

i have an old air cooled deutz man lift. Runs pretty well, but leaks a ton of oil! the fan blows it all over the motor, its like its coming from under the coils the oil travels in to cool, but i took them all out and stil have a leak. Any common spots that leak? its almost like its from the head but idk, its tough to work on

 

[Cattletrkr]

Lookup TDR member Nickleinonen. He's another North-of-the-border guy. I believe he's mentioned a 0w-40 that he uses. Exxo or Esso or something like that is the brand.

We had -30F a couple weeks ago. My truck popped right off using Amsoil 5w-40 and the block heater. Insight said the coolant temp was 70-75*F. I was considering a pan heater as well, but we haven't seen -30F here in 20 years and only get to -20F a handful of times per year.

 

[gtobey]

Deutz air cooled diesel...

i have an old air cooled deutz man lift. Runs pretty well, but leaks a ton of oil! the fan blows it all over the motor, its like its coming from under the coils the oil travels in to cool, but i took them all out and stil have a leak. Any common spots that leak? its almost like its from the head but idk, its tough to work on

If you will PM me the engine model and serial number, I will be glad to send some pictures of applicable oil circuitry from the parts books. Thanks!

 

[Lnwing]

Greetings! The oil pan heater is quite the device to warm the oil in climates like yours. We have sold and serviced Deutz air cooled diesels for close to 30 years. Since there is no coolant in the crankcase of these engines, just oil, this type of heater is invaluable. PM me if you like and I can forward the details to you about the types they use, and you should be able to source one locally. The same folks that manufacture our block heaters manufacture this oil pan heater. Dipstick heaters don't work for engines with only 4 qts of oil. They'll never heat enough to warm our 12 qt. pans...

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but since your experience with Deutz was mentioned... do you know of any creative re-power projects utilizing these engines? I have a good running 5 cylinder in a trashed Iveco Z100, and it seems too good to scrap. Any ideas?



Lynn

 

[gtobey]

Deutz repower

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but since your experience with Deutz was mentioned... do you know of any creative re-power projects utilizing these engines? I have a good running 5 cylinder in a trashed Iveco Z100, and it seems too good to scrap. Any ideas?



Lynn

Lynn, we have seen quite a few of these engines used in some interesting applications. One of the most unique was where a fellow installed this truck engine into an F-250 pickup of a late '70's vintage. He still runs it today... Right now I'll bet he's having to dress well to drive it... low teens... since they didn't put out much heat to the cab. I used to drive one of those Iveco vans with the 5 cyl engine, and it was a fairly tough truck for it's size and weight. The engine just kept on gettin' it! If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. Thanks.

 

[AH64ID]

I was wondering if any one is using an oil pan heater to help with the oil pumpabilty on cold start up. I use the block heater but the oil pan stays as cool as the outside air which is at -35c or -30f. The oil I use is Mopar 15w40 oil as recommended.

I have been trying to find the properties of this oil but no luck. One 15w40 oil was rated nonpumpable after -29c.

Thanks for your replies.

At those temps your supposed to run a synthetic 5w40, per the owners manual... Thou switching to a synthetic 15w-40 would be good also.



Arctic Operation

Where there are no provisions to keep the engine warm

when it is operating in ambient temperatures consistently

below (-10°F/-23°C), use 5W-40 synthetic engine oil and

fuel that meets the requirements in Section 7, “Maintenance

Procedures,” Engine Oil Selection.

 

[Toolman9304]

I run Amsoil 15w-40 synthectic it flows down to -44 degrees

 

[gtobey]

Amsoil 15W-40 Synthetic Diesel Oil is a good oil. I had it sampled once while running it in my '02, and it showed very little metals, and great condition after 10K miles. I know that is low mileage for a synthetic, but the results were really promising. I liked that oil. Have you used it in super low temps? Here in VA we don't really go below zero but a few times during the winter. Once when I was in Ohio, it was 12 below, and it started and ran fine when I had the block heater plugged in. I ran around there during the day when the highs were 5 above down to 10-12 below at night, and it performed great... but at those temps, the rubber in the tires gets really hard, and the shocks get rougher, but I guess I did too! Glad I finally thawed out!!!



Take good care!