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PW

Paul W. Weakley

Tue, Dec 29, 2009 4:44 PM

The posts regarding cold weather starts has brought another question to my
mind. The Cummins diesel engine on my previous boat, a Nordic Tug 32, had a
110 v heater integral with the engine somewhere (?). During the winter
months here on the southern Chesapeake Bay I kept an engine room heater,
with thermostat, next to the engine. I also kept the Cummins heater plugged
into a thermostatic plug. The heater came on at about 38 degrees and went
off at about 45 degrees. As long as we never lost electrical power at the
marina I was happy the engine was protected from any freezing weather. I
also ran pink antifreeze through the cooling system. (Belts & Suspenders)
The boat was laid up from 12/1 until 4/1. So cold starting was not an
issue.

Now, my present boat has a Yanmar diesel with no factory installed heater.
I still keep an engine room heater aboard. Now I would like to install an
"Engine" heater onto the engine. I do not believe Yanmar has such an
integral heater as did the Cummins. I have seen, however, various types of
engine heaters which can be installed onto any engine. My primary choice is
a "magnetic mount" engine pan heater. Do any on this list have any
experience, good or bad, with respect to this type of engine heater. The
magnetic mount seems the easiest to install and should keep the engine block
as well as the oil warm enough for freeze protection and easier starting in
cold weather. My primary concerns with this type of installation are
effectiveness and safety.

Thanks in advance,

Paul Weakley
Aboard ABACUS
Nordhavn 35-06

The posts regarding cold weather starts has brought another question to my mind. The Cummins diesel engine on my previous boat, a Nordic Tug 32, had a 110 v heater integral with the engine somewhere (?). During the winter months here on the southern Chesapeake Bay I kept an engine room heater, with thermostat, next to the engine. I also kept the Cummins heater plugged into a thermostatic plug. The heater came on at about 38 degrees and went off at about 45 degrees. As long as we never lost electrical power at the marina I was happy the engine was protected from any freezing weather. I also ran pink antifreeze through the cooling system. (Belts & Suspenders) The boat was laid up from 12/1 until 4/1. So cold starting was not an issue. Now, my present boat has a Yanmar diesel with no factory installed heater. I still keep an engine room heater aboard. Now I would like to install an "Engine" heater onto the engine. I do not believe Yanmar has such an integral heater as did the Cummins. I have seen, however, various types of engine heaters which can be installed onto any engine. My primary choice is a "magnetic mount" engine pan heater. Do any on this list have any experience, good or bad, with respect to this type of engine heater. The magnetic mount seems the easiest to install and should keep the engine block as well as the oil warm enough for freeze protection and easier starting in cold weather. My primary concerns with this type of installation are effectiveness and safety. Thanks in advance, Paul Weakley Aboard ABACUS Nordhavn 35-06

FB

Frank Burrows

Tue, Dec 29, 2009 5:01 PM

Paul:

ZeroStart (www.Zerostart.com) manufacturers aftermarket block heaters
specific to certain engines. Here is a link to their applications
catalog. I have no idea if your particular Yanmar engine is listed but
they do list several. You can check it out.

*http://tinyurl.com/yjtmfyj
*
*Frank Burrows 79 43' Viking Piney Narrows Chesapeake Bay
*
On 12/29/2009 11:44 AM, Paul W. Weakley wrote:

Now, my present boat has a Yanmar diesel with no factory installed heater.
I still keep an engine room heater aboard. Now I would like to install an
"Engine" heater onto the engine.

Paul: ZeroStart (www.Zerostart.com) manufacturers aftermarket block heaters specific to certain engines. Here is a link to their applications catalog. I have no idea if your particular Yanmar engine is listed but they do list several. You can check it out. *http://tinyurl.com/yjtmfyj * *Frank Burrows 79 43' Viking Piney Narrows Chesapeake Bay * On 12/29/2009 11:44 AM, Paul W. Weakley wrote: > Now, my present boat has a Yanmar diesel with no factory installed heater. > I still keep an engine room heater aboard. Now I would like to install an > "Engine" heater onto the engine.

DM

David Marchand

Tue, Dec 29, 2009 5:09 PM

Paul:

The marine diesel gurus over on boatdiesel recommend the Wolverine heater.
It is a pad that is designed to be glued (supplied with the heater) to the
bottom of the oil pan. Certainly not as easy as magnetic, but I haven't seen
those discussed on boatdiesel.

David

Paul: The marine diesel gurus over on boatdiesel recommend the Wolverine heater. It is a pad that is designed to be glued (supplied with the heater) to the bottom of the oil pan. Certainly not as easy as magnetic, but I haven't seen those discussed on boatdiesel. David

SH

Scott H.E. Welch

Tue, Dec 29, 2009 5:23 PM

jweakley@visi.net writes:

My primary choice is
a "magnetic mount" engine pan heater. Do any on this list have any
experience, good or bad, with respect to this type of engine heater. The
magnetic mount seems the easiest to install and should keep the engine block
as well as the oil warm enough for freeze protection and easier starting in
cold weather.

I've just (2 weeks ago) installed two of these on Island Eagle. My engine
weighs about 4000 pounds, so if they can heat that lump of iron they should
be just perfect on a little Yanmar. I'll report back in the spring. By the
way the main reason I put them on is not for starting (I don't use the boat
in the winter) but as a general way of keeping the engine room warm. BTW one
small note, I think the oil pans on some Yanmars are made of aluminum, you
may want to check yours with a magnet before you buy the heater.

Scott Welch

"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn
out." - John Wooden

jweakley@visi.net writes: > My primary choice is >a "magnetic mount" engine pan heater. Do any on this list have any >experience, good or bad, with respect to this type of engine heater. The >magnetic mount seems the easiest to install and should keep the engine block >as well as the oil warm enough for freeze protection and easier starting in >cold weather. I've just (2 weeks ago) installed two of these on Island Eagle. My engine weighs about 4000 pounds, so if they can heat that lump of iron they should be just perfect on a little Yanmar. I'll report back in the spring. By the way the main reason I put them on is not for starting (I don't use the boat in the winter) but as a general way of keeping the engine room warm. BTW one small note, I think the oil pans on some Yanmars are made of aluminum, you may want to check yours with a magnet before you buy the heater. Scott Welch "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out." - John Wooden

MP

Marty Puckett

Tue, Dec 29, 2009 6:05 PM

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 29, 2009, at 10:44 AM, "Paul W. Weakley" jweakley@visi.net
wrote:
<snip>

I also ran pink antifreeze through the cooling system. (Belts &
Suspenders)
The boat was laid up from 12/1 until 4/1. So cold starting was not an
issue.

Paul,
Something you may want to consider before you use an oilpan heater,
especially when the engine isn't started and run for several months.
Heating the oil causes it to release any moisture that may have
accumulated. This moisture will condense on any cool surfaces inside
the engine (think rods, pistons, cylinder walls) then run back into
the oilpan starting the process over again. After several months of
this any nice residual oil coating will surely wash off leaving a not
so nice rust spot.
If you do the pink antifreeze, why the extra expense to heat the engine?

Just thinking out loud,
Marty

PS. New to the list, do not have a boat yet, but definitely the
Admiral and myself have the itch.

Sent from my iPhone On Dec 29, 2009, at 10:44 AM, "Paul W. Weakley" <jweakley@visi.net> wrote: <snip> > I also ran pink antifreeze through the cooling system. (Belts & > Suspenders) > The boat was laid up from 12/1 until 4/1. So cold starting was not an > issue. > Paul, Something you may want to consider before you use an oilpan heater, especially when the engine isn't started and run for several months. Heating the oil causes it to release any moisture that may have accumulated. This moisture will condense on any cool surfaces inside the engine (think rods, pistons, cylinder walls) then run back into the oilpan starting the process over again. After several months of this any nice residual oil coating will surely wash off leaving a not so nice rust spot. If you do the pink antifreeze, why the extra expense to heat the engine? Just thinking out loud, Marty PS. New to the list, do not have a boat yet, but definitely the Admiral and myself have the itch.

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Starting Diesel Engines