The BEST oil pan heater

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This is for folks who are in a cold climate and use conventional oil.

I bought one of these immersion heater when I first bought my truck. I used to run a 15W-40 conventional oil during the winter months. Once I switched over to synthetic, I didn`t need it anyone. The heater made no difference.

Look at this picture. The heater looks like the 2nd & 3rd ones in from the left. Front Row.
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It takes the place of your oil pan plug. ( 22mm)

Its a 150 watt heater. The element is 3½" long. Its not long enough to reach to the top of the oil level line.

On a 20 Degree morning, heater on for 6 hours, the oil pan was "luke" warm. The oil on the dipstick was luke warm to warm.

Didn`t have to worry about the oil boiling near the element(not good). Its only 150 watts.

Big difference when I went to start it. Much quieter and ran smooth with warm oil.

The heater came with a cordset (same as our OE block heaters) and I don`t remember if a gasket came with it or not. The OE oil pan gasket works great. Never dripped.
I used a 2' heavy duty extension cord under the hood. Plugged both the Oil pan heater and block heater into it. Snaked it through the bumper slots, then plugged it into my timer. Never had a problem.

It is made by the Zerostart division of Phillips & Temro. The suppliers of our OE block heaters. Very high quality products.

Home page: http://www.zerostart.com/

Their product catalog download section is not working. (at least for me)

Here is the discription and part # of the heater (circa 1995)

Part # 860-2859
Wattage: 150
Voltage: 120
NPT Thread size: 22mm
Element Length: 3½"
For use in: Water/Oil
Element Construction: Stainless Steel

I think I paid about 56 bannanas

Reconfirm the part # if interested in getting one.

This immersion heater was MUCH more effective than a 'stick' on of a 'magnet type' pan heater.

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Bill R
94 2500 SLT 4x4 5 Speed, 3. 54 LS, JRE 4" exhaust, Autometer Pyro, Boost & Water temp gauges, Bosch 215 HP injectors, Timing @ 14. 7 º, JRE Stage III #4 plate 270/675, AFC spring kit, Scotty Air, Bully Dog Propane Injection, Roadmaster Active Suspension, Optima Red Tops, Geno`s Exhaust Blanket,Espar Heater (won it!), Synthetic lubes throughout.



[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 12-09-2000). ]

 

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Looks like a good idea Bill, better than the magnetic 200 watt one that I use. Because I have to reach under the truck to put it in place, it only gets used bellow 0 F. I agree that warming up the oil a bit makes a big difference cold starting. I also don't like runnning the lighter weight oil in winter.

Neil

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Neil Copeman 92 D250,LE,limited slip, 16cm turbo housing, Isspro gauges, factory tach option, Lear cap, DC crankdown tire carrier
Hadley air horns, Stealhorse leather seats, e-mail (home): bombedcummins@sympatico. ca

 

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ETOBICOKE,
I tired one of those magnetic heaters and I thought it did nothing. Couldn`t feel the oil any warmer than air temp. I brought it back.

I`m not sure if your truck has a 22mm oil pan plug though. #ad

 

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Bill,I always heard that the immersion type oil heaters were hard on oil,especially the type that replace the dipstick. If this one isn't it must run at a much lower temp. I have scars on my hand to prove that the magnetic type get plenty hot. I've left the magnetic ones in place all winter before,just secure the cord well with cable ties in case deep snow may knock it off,though I've never had one come off. They stick pretty well and I always felt they did a go good job heating the oil. Don't use one on my Dodges,the block heater seems to be enough.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks Stinger,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,5 speed,Driftwood,Banks&Phscotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)

 

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Bill my manetic heater is made by zerostart, although there are others, some of them get up to 600 watts. The wattage of the element does not realy determine how hot it will get, just how much power it consumes. Usualy a short stout element, while less efficient lasts much longer, this would be the sort of element used for a block heater so that it can fit in place of a frost plug. I don't know what size my drain plug threads are, but will be able to check soon when I change the oil(next warm day). I haven't done any subjective testing like you have, but the pan does seem to get warm, not that that I would want to spend any time under my truck at -26C, and wouldn't take my gloves off for long. The reason that I don't leave it on all winter is that we often get 8" plus of snow, and have to get over the plow burms to get into some driveways that haven't been cleared. I realy like the idea of mounting the heater in place of the drain plug, it should be much more efficient and secure. I have also seen heaters that mount into the oil pan, but these are used on very large engines, like generators.

Neil

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Neil Copeman 92 D250,LE,limited slip, 16cm turbo housing, Isspro gauges, factory tach option, Lear cap, DC crankdown tire carrier
Hadley air horns, Stealhorse leather seats, e-mail (home): bombedcummins@sympatico. ca