Magnetic Block Heaters, Gas Engine?

[gill finn]

Hello all, since we've entered the winter chill arena, the old 350 in my '84 c20 is a bit cranky in the colder weather. I can give it a tiny shot of starter ether and she cranks right up, but I'm wondering if anyone's yet tried one of these aftermarket magnetic block heaters? I've seen some videos of guys using them on older tractors without them, just sticking it to the side of the oil pan and I'd imagine the oil would contain a good core heat value once it heats up. Anyway, just wondering if someone's had some experience or am I just wasting $. Thanks a lot for any help and happy belated new year!

g

 

[Turbo4whl]

No experience with oil pan heaters. I would recommend a tank type coolant heater.

Zero Start is a good brand:

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[Normmus]

In my experience the magnetic oil pan heaters are not as effective as coolant heaters, but are better than no heater at all.

 

[Ricko1966]

Now think about this. If you put a magnetic heater on the oil pan you will have 5 quarts if warm oil in the bottom of the pan. The block above it and the intake manifold,radiator,everything is still stone cold and trying to be warmed by 5 quarts of warm oil. If you use a freeze plug heater,radiator hose heater etc. Your heater core will be warm,the block will be warm,the radiator will be warm,lots more bang for your buck warming the 4 gallons of coolant. Warm coolant that sounds strange doesn't it.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

A $30 block heater has never done me wrong. Never replaced one either. Starts obviously way easier, gets heat in it wayyy faster. -20F last night windchill was about -50F. We've had a cold snap for a few days here lol.

I do run a small chunk of cardboard on the rad below single digits though. Usually get lazy and don't take it off until +30's, the truck doesn't care, it maintains temp just fine. Ive done it on new trucks too. Helps with warmup and keeping temp up, especially with winds and higher speed driving. White trash grille winter cover lol, at least it's not ugly and expensive as hell

 

[77 K20]

On my first K5 Blazer it came with a soft plug engine block heater. It blew out on the highway and I lost all my coolant in about a minute. Haven't run one since.
I have had several oil pan heaters of the magnetic type. Just stick them on the bottom of the oil pan and plug it in before I go to bed. Warm oil pumps a lot easier than cold oil and also heat rises.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

On my first K5 Blazer it came with a soft plug engine block heater. It blew out on the highway and I lost all my coolant in about a minute. Haven't run one since.
I have had several oil pan heaters of the magnetic type. Just stick them on the bottom of the oil pan and plug it in before I go to bed. Warm oil pumps a lot easier than cold oil and also heat rises.

It wasn't installed properly. I've never had a problem. And I've torn down so many engines with those things and they were basically like removing the regular soft plugs lol.

 

[Grit dog]

Coolant heater = better than oil pan heater. Warms everything but the oil. Oil pan heater leaves everything cold except the oil.
In the Arctic when it was not too cold yet, we only ran coolant heaters. One it got to be winter, everything got plugged into a quad plex electrical box under the hood. Coolant/block heater, oil pan, trans pan and battery maintainer.