Hey everyone,

Can't seem to find anything in the search engine, maybe I am not using the correct key words.

I have a 86 F350 with a 83 6.9 in it. Block heater is still there but I do not use it due to potential cracking of the block. What alternatives do fellow 6.9 owners use instead?

note: she starts right up at 0 degrees f weather after a few cycles of the glow plugs, but she sure sounds really angry that I had to wake her up.

thanks,

 

Iam no expert on these engines, but from what I read, it was the 83 and 84
engines that had that problem. The block casting was beefed up around the block heater hole.
in the 85 and later engines.



Charlie

 

They make radiator hose heaters that go in the lower radiator hose, and also magnetic oil pan heaters.

I'd probably go with the radiator hose heater, but the oil heaters work as well... just not as well, as the heat has to go through the oil pan first. And the oil isn't in a continuous galley like the water is.

 

Iam using a 200W Kats magnetic Oil Pan Heater each night, plus a 250W Heat lamp clamped to the frame, and pointed up towards the Starter/Pan/Block area. The light heats the block some what.

I believe in having warm oil to circulate through the engine a quickly as possible.
There are the electric heat pads that glue to the Pan to heat the oil also.

The lower radiator Hose is the next best thing to use if you are nervous of using the Block Heater as Macrobb mentioned.

I use the Heat lamp because....
1/2 or what ever # of my GP`s do not work, I have new ZD1`s to install, how ever I do not know what brand is in the engine now. For fear of them being Auto Lites, Iam not messing with them till summer, or the snow is over. Just don`t need one breaking off etc... and the threads are pretty rusty. Even with that, I stick a HF Heat gun down the intake for a few min. Once the GP Light kicks off she starts right up.




Charlie

 

use the block heater in your 86 without any worry. it is a 1000 watt unit and will work much better than any of the little oil pan heaters.

 

If you read closely, he states he has an 83 engine in his 86 truck. So block could crack there. I would prefer a lower radiator hose heater over pan, but I also wouldn't like to cut my perfectly good hose.

 

Thanks for the replies. The radiator hose sounds like a good option.

 

i would still use the block heater, just not leave it plugged in all night.
2-3 hours is more than enough to fire the engine unless it is sub zero temps.

 

The "weak" blocks ran from 83 until 85 sometime in the midyear they were revised. I'll have to dig up the serial numbers. That being the case, the original motor and the replacement in my truck are both early 85 engines and neither failed from extensively using the block heater. To me it seems if the Hester could crack it then you're engine would when your loaded downtowing 15k+ with 210 degree engine temps..

 

Is this the info on the blocks?


Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Single Post - Do I have a Good Block?




Charlie

 

​​​​​​Yes, that's it Charlie thanks

 

I have the radiator hose heater on my 89 because the wires to the block heater had been cut when I got the truck. And it works pretty good

 

I would use 3 heaters.
1-Circulating block heater, not a convection type, but one with an actual circulating pump
2-Oil pan heater
3-battery heater
An optional 4th heater would be for your transmission.


All 4 are standard, dealer installed, here in the interior.

 

Holy cow for all that just park the thing indoors

 

Hi,

i use the original Blockheater on my 85 F250 every day in Winter no Problems!

Best regards

Torsten