Cold Weather, No Glow plugs

[dhornsey]

Just wondering if anyone has any advice for heating up an engine block that has no glow plugs. When we're at the dock I can aim an electric space heater at it for a few minutes and it starts like a charm.

Any suggestions for a solution away from the dock?

A torch? (seems risky)

Heat packs? (not hot enough?)

Thanks!

[erps]

Never thought about using an alternative heat source to warm the engine. I just crank it a little longer when it's cold.

Although I've not tried it, I recollect some advice at one time to crank the engine for ten seconds or so with the fuel shut off cable pulled. The compression alone will start to warm the cylinders and then release the fuel shut off to start it up.

[Faster]

We used a 250 W heater element (just a flat metal element, didn't get hot enough to glow, but warm enough to surprise you if you touched it) in our engine box. It kept the whole area fairly toasty all winter long, and really helped with winter cranking, mostly by keeping the oil warm. We used these heaters at work to keep instrument housings from freezing.

Of course they only worked with shore power... On the hook you're kind of stuck... run the engine frequently enough to prevent it getting stone cold.

[haffiman37]

Which engine?

[captainjay]

As long as you watched your battery reserves or had a genset, this should work.

http://www.padheaters.com/applications.html

Jay

[haffiman37]

Originally Posted by captainjay

As long as you watched your battery reserves or had a genset, this should work.

http://www.padheaters.com/applications.html

Jay

Most diesels might be equipped with heating elements (glow plugs) in the intake manifold to heat the inntake air which is what You need. Heating block or oil-pan is a waste of energy unless You are starting in -40C!!!!
Some engine manufacturers have kits, some not. but as said above, I need Your make and model.

[witzgall]

Can glow plugs be added to a Volvo 2002?

Chris

[blt2ski]

Another option, altho not eh best, is to try either or some other preferably less volitale agent, like WD40 to give the motor a bit of help is starting. Otherwise, for most temps around the NW US, SE Canada with low temps around 0-10F, heating aids should not be needed per say for diesel engines. They do and will rattle, be a bit rough initially, but they do get over it and go on there way. A lower wt oil will sometimes help on cold days too, but again, generally not needed around here. I run 15-40 in all 4 of my diesels, with out issues.

Marty

[haffiman37]

Originally Posted by witzgall

Can glow plugs be added to a Volvo 2002?

Chris

The only factory kit for Volvo I found was this:
http://accessorycatalogue.penta.volv...14&language=en

But there should be no problem doing the same on 2002, You just need plugs with less capacity.

Try this link:
http://www.iskra-agv.cz/us/aet_products.htm

[Rockter]

Only when the temperatures are very low indeed.
With good compression, you should not need them, really.