Help with aftermarket Engine block heaters.

My dad has a 1950's Ferguson MF 25 diesel. I would like to install a plug in 120 volt block heater. No easy access freeze plugs. Was thinking about external oil pan heater but I have desided a coolant heater would heat the engine better. How well do lower radiator hose block heaters work??

 

Need to buy this within the next week. Strongly thinking about a lower radiator hose heater .

 

They work fine and are easy to install. Just have to cut about an inch out of the lower radiator hose for the heater. They are essentially the same element as in a block heater, just in the hose. Look at your hose though, its recommended to have a section running vertically to the waterpump. IIRC, lots of older tractors have the bottom hose running mostly horizontal from the radiator to the pump.

 

Thank you for the reply! My truck has a freeze plug type, and I have seen factory installed in our semi trucks at work just did not know how well a lower radiator hose heater worked. I will be getting one. I understand that they work of the method of thermosyphon to pull coolant from the radiator and cycle through the engine. At 26$ it will be a good investment for a 1956 Massey. Any recommended brand? I was going to go to orielly auto parts and get one.

 

Not sure of particular brands. I know napa's are made by Katz. Most common brand I've seen for the pipe thread type or freeze plug type is Zero Start. Make sure to know the exact I.D of your hose. There's a lot of variation in radiator hose sizes.

 

Very good point on the variation of radiator hose sizes!! I will have to get the exact size of the hose probably down to an eighth of an inch or even a sixteenth. I am noticing some differences in wattage. I know the higher rated wattages would probably heat up faster. I will have to do some shopping around. It is a 1.8 liter diesel engine not much to heat up

 

Well being the tractor is in Michigan and i am in Indiana. I am having horrible trouble finding out the lower hose size. I was going to install it on the tractor for my dad as a Christmas gift. Its his first and only diesel tractor out of 5. He likes it a lot for the steady torque and furl economy.

 

Heck , doing it for the old man ? Buy a new lower hose , you will know the Id , get some clamps and the heater . Take some antifreeze also !

 

Here is the tractor itself, what better way to show you !!

 

Couldn't track down a new lower hose very easy. The Massey dealer here can't order them very easy but gave me a part number. Trying to find the lower hose inside diameter size still. They had Katz 1.5 inch 600 watt at tractor supply for 30$ .