IdaSHO
IDACAMPER
Anyone have any input on cordless engine block heaters?
Im finding that my expedition travels are normally in the winter, and up here in north Idaho, that means extreme cold.
This morning I found myself fighting to start our 7.3 Powerstroke in sub-zero temps, after being parked for 2 days. Even fresh batteries dont want to supply much juice at those temps and 15 qts of cold oil is a lot to turn.
After 4 hrs of a propane backpacking stove under the oil pan, and a shot of starter fluid she finally started. :Wow1: After allw as said and done, I wasted most of the day's usable light fighting to get it running.
So Im in the market for a cordless engine block heater.
Ive read a bit about on-board coolant heaters. Heater by diesel or propane. REAL hard to bite on either without some feedback, given the cost.
The diesel ones are made by Espar, and the cost is >$2500
http://www.espar.com/index.html
The propane ones made by Hilton are much more reasonable, but still spendy. They are nearly $700
http://www.translectricinc.com/catalog/partdetail.aspx?partno=LP6500-24V
Any thoughts?
Im finding that my expedition travels are normally in the winter, and up here in north Idaho, that means extreme cold.
This morning I found myself fighting to start our 7.3 Powerstroke in sub-zero temps, after being parked for 2 days. Even fresh batteries dont want to supply much juice at those temps and 15 qts of cold oil is a lot to turn.
After 4 hrs of a propane backpacking stove under the oil pan, and a shot of starter fluid she finally started. :Wow1: After allw as said and done, I wasted most of the day's usable light fighting to get it running.
So Im in the market for a cordless engine block heater.
Ive read a bit about on-board coolant heaters. Heater by diesel or propane. REAL hard to bite on either without some feedback, given the cost.
The diesel ones are made by Espar, and the cost is >$2500
http://www.espar.com/index.html
The propane ones made by Hilton are much more reasonable, but still spendy. They are nearly $700
http://www.translectricinc.com/catalog/partdetail.aspx?partno=LP6500-24V
Any thoughts?