Block heater for Td5

[TD50below]

Hi. I'm in the process of buying a 90 with a Td5 in it (my first LR in 30 years), and due to where I live I'm going to need some form of engine heat to ensure that it will start (it was -44c the last couple of mornings, -55c with the windchill. Do you have any idea how many cups of tea it takes to keep warm in those temps?!)
My first choice is a simple block heater, but the problem is that no-one makes one. Not LR, and I haven't been able to find an aftermarket one either. I've just heard of a friend of a friend who has a 300tdi (for which there is also apparently no such thing as a block heater), but he found one from a Ford tractor that fits and, he says, melts the snow off his bonnet.

The core plugs in a Td5 are 28mm and 46.5mm, apparently. I know that the smaller ones are unthreaded, am not sure about the larger. I can find 28mm block heaters on Amazon etc for $100 but they're all threaded and I need the plug type. I'd love to hear from someone who found one that did fit - tried, tested and in every day use. And a make/part number!

I'm aware that there are alternative options (e.g. Webasto, DEFA, Eberspaecher), but they will be $3000 fitted whereas a block heater is a fraction of the cost and I can fit it myself. If I can find one. Someone somewhere makes a block heater that will fit. It won't have been designed for a Td5, and whoever makes it may not know what a Td5 was if it fell on them out of a tree, but it will still fit. Can anyone help? Thanks!

[webmaster]

I don’t think such an animal exists. However I know that many people use a circulation heater spliced into the heater hoses. Check out: https://phillipsandtemro.com/wp-content ... 20_WEB.pdf

Regards

[rgallant]

@td5obelow I have on in 4.6 I am stripping, it might fit. I suspect it is too small but I can check in the Am

[TD50below]

I don’t think such an animal exists. However I know that many people use a circulation heater spliced into the heater hoses. Check out: https://phillipsandtemro.com/wp-content ... 20_WEB.pdf

Regards

Thanks for this. Funny thing about the circulation heaters that you mention is that I have never heard of a single vehicle using one in the 13 years I've been in the NWT. Not to say that they don't work, you just have to wonder why they're not found on every vehicle (as block heaters are).

I have a horrible feeling that you're right about what I'm looking for not existing - still won't stop me trying to prove you wrong, though!

Cheers

[TD50below]

@td5obelow I have on in 4.6 I am stripping, it might fit. I suspect it is too small but I can check in the Am

I would very much appreciate that, thank you. Core plugs on the Td5 are 28mm and 46.5mm. I know that the smaller ones are not threaded, but I'm not sure whether the big one is or not.

Cheers.

[paulg_d130]

could try something like this,
https://www.amazon.ca/Kats-24150-Watt-U ... B000I8TQD6
or
https://www.hotstart.com/solutions/oil-heaters/

I had one on an old Ford Diesel and the good thing about it was it heated the engine from the bottom up so the oil was warm as well.
with a conventional block heater they just warm the coolant in the jacket on one side of the engine, conduction over time heats the rest of the block and heads but the oil usually stays cold cause its below the heat source and isolated by the pan gasket.

[Tony4921]

I have a Webasto in my TD5, heats the block up about 1/4 of the way on the temp gauge, then turns on the heater motor and heats the cab. Wonderful system and no 110v power outlets to look for.

[TD50below]

could try something like this,
https://www.amazon.ca/Kats-24150-Watt-U ... B000I8TQD6
or
https://www.hotstart.com/solutions/oil-heaters/

I had one on an old Ford Diesel and the good thing about it was it heated the engine from the bottom up so the oil was warm as well.
with a conventional block heater they just warm the coolant in the jacket on one side of the engine, conduction over time heats the rest of the block and heads but the oil usually stays cold cause its below the heat source and isolated by the pan gasket.

I like that second link - I wasn't aware of them but it only makes sense really. Like a block heater for the sump. Thank you for that.

[TD50below]

I have a Webasto in my TD5, heats the block up about 1/4 of the way on the temp gauge, then turns on the heater motor and heats the cab. Wonderful system and no 110v power outlets to look for.

The power outlet isn't a problem because every parking spot at anyone's home or work has plug-ins for our block heaters. But good to know how effective the Webasto is. They're only rated to -40c and it beats that here, but not nearly as much as it used to anymore. Do you find it reliable? My own experience with them is that a couple of times each winter it won't have fired, and while where you are that just means a cooler ride than you'd prefer, here it means a dead vehicle. How often do you get yours service/service it yourself? Thank you!

[bsa_m21]

I don’t think such an animal exists. However I know that many people use a circulation heater spliced into the heater hoses. Check out: https://phillipsandtemro.com/wp-content ... 20_WEB.pdf

Regards

Thanks for this. Funny thing about the circulation heaters that you mention is that I have never heard of a single vehicle using one in the 13 years I've been in the NWT. Not to say that they don't work, you just have to wonder why they're not found on every vehicle (as block heaters are).

I have a horrible feeling that you're right about what I'm looking for not existing - still won't stop me trying to prove you wrong, though!

Cheers

If you check out pre-heaters for heavy construction equipment, you will likely find lots of them using circulation heaters. Good luck whichever way you go.

M

[oldgravy]

Could be a long shot, but the chap at Britannica Restorations might have an idea. He's in QC and is no stranger to block heaters in Land Rover motors.

[HeadDamage]

One of these Temro hose heaters worked in my 200tdi RRC while in Yellowknife though I did later install a Webasto so that I could heat without being plugged in. Also the Webasto can be run while driving which helps the heater work in YK where the roads are too slow to really heat up the diesel in -30 to -40 weather.

https://www.amazon.ca/Kats-1-Inch-Lower ... 8856&psc=1

[TD50below]

Thanks for this. Funny thing about the circulation heaters that you mention is that I have never heard of a single vehicle using one in the 13 years I've been in the NWT. Not to say that they don't work, you just have to wonder why they're not found on every vehicle (as block heaters are).

I have a horrible feeling that you're right about what I'm looking for not existing - still won't stop me trying to prove you wrong, though!

Cheers

If you check out pre-heaters for heavy construction equipment, you will likely find lots of them using circulation heaters. Good luck whichever way you go.

M

I run heavy equipment and drive trucks for a living. We use block heaters, I wonder whether it's a regional thing?

[TD50below]

Could be a long shot, but the chap at Britannica Restorations might have an idea. He's in QC and is no stranger to block heaters in Land Rover motors.

Appreciate the tip - I spoke to Mike a couple of months ago.

[TD50below]

One of these Temro hose heaters worked in my 200tdi RRC while in Yellowknife though I did later install a Webasto so that I could heat without being plugged in. Also the Webasto can be run while driving which helps the heater work in YK where the roads are too slow to really heat up the diesel in -30 to -40 weather.

https://www.amazon.ca/Kats-1-Inch-Lower ... 8856&psc=1

That's good to know re:Temro. I'll end up using either a Webasto or a Calix system.

[RobinS]

Not sure about the td-5 but I found a listing for the 300 tdi block heater . It is the push in style with an o-ring seal Temro # 3100087 . I installed it today .

[ANDYD]

I had this Block heater come in a box of parts - don't know too much about it, but you maybe able to search a similar item if it works for your application.

The markings on it say- CGE-369 115V 400W APP336 DF2 it fits 46-47mm its a push it type with a gasket.

Cheers, Andy

[Seekerbeta]

yeah mike has done them on 200 tdi and 300 tdi, they are called frost plug block heaters, they apparently work quite well, I would recommend if your going that route to think about an OIL Pan heater and possibly a Battery blanket for keeping the battery warm too

KAT'S FROST PLUG #11441 is for the 300tdi