BCM Community
Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: ilyafish on January 09, 2009, 09:26:27 PM
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hey guys,
so today i found a 120v plug in the engine compartment coming out somewhere by the engine (it was dark outside) and its about dead smack in the middle of the engine about neck level or so. not sure if this is stock or if someone put it on afterwards, but i was told by the previous owner when i talked to him that it is to preheat the engine....is this true/is this stock/if not what is it?
thanks guys!
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We have an '83 MC9 with the 120 volt plug. A 120v outlet is available at the rear of the bus to plug in an a/c power supply. I believe this was used at the bus stations to pre-heat the engine. You can probably trace the wire to a "plug" where it enters the engine block. This should be the heating element.
In our case, this no longer works - and I'm hoping it is a simple repair. I've heard these are great for cold weather. If you live in the cold weather (like we do) you know how hard it can be to start these engines when the temps are waaaaaaaay below freezing.
Kind Regards, Phil
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yup....experienced that today ::)
now is there any method of testing if mine still works or not? also, what amount of time from when plugged in to where its warmed up am i looking at?
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Don't be like a friend of mine that plugged his up and looked at the meter on the side of the house, the bearings were about to smoke! ;D
If it is a block heater as most folks call them, they will burn a lot of electricity.
Jack
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You're very lucky, you have a hybrid coach!
They are very rare!
Plug it in for a few hours and you should be able to tool around town on a single charge!
I'll bet it's so quiet it's freaky!
:P
Jay
87 SaftLiner
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Block heaters work great as there was one on mine and I used it in freezing weather to keep the engine warm. draws about the same as an elextric heater.Jerry
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To tell if its working, plug it in. You can often hear them start to "sing" shortly after they are plugged in. If not, put your hand on the block close to the plug and it should start to feel warm. Its going to be a 1000 or 1200 watt element - a watt is a watt so about the same as a cube heater.
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It is ten degrees here and I am running mine now to preheat the engine for a trip in the morning, they preheat the water in the engine and cooling system and are very effective. I installed mine years ago for Utah weather, I have also used my generator in the boonies for the preheat.
They are generally installed in one head of the engine, are not expensive, and available at NAPA stores.>>>Dan
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if the engine is a V71 series most on the right head, on 82 series it will be on the right lower corner of the block looking from the front of the engine on both good luck
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For anyone that lives in the colder areas of the country, that plug certainly comes in handy, just by plugging it in for an hour or so makes it easier to start without taking down your batteries or damaging your starter, picture filling your crank case with mollases and then putting the engine block in a deep freeze for a while then use a hand crank to turn it over, much easier to warm it up first and less wear and tear on the engine, the meter cost is minimal unless you choose to leave it plugged in all the time in the winter.
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I have a fork lift with a Detroit Diesel in it and it has glow plugs for cold weather starting.
David
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At least you have a 120v plug in the engine bay! Tha's on my list of things to do! ;) Now where'd I put that list? ::)
Paul
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With my memory, I would also include a timer switch.
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With my memory, I would also include a timer switch.
Ditto! ;)
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We have a similar plug. And ours works ;D :D ;D!!! It does a fine job of heating the engine, if we have been plugged in for a while.
God bless,
John
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Im moveing to Montana, i will need Block Heaters for my Vovlo, Kia, Wife, 4 dogs and me.. ??? i dont thimk im going to like this :-\
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I got used to it after a while but my dog really hasn't adjusted to the block heater yet.
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Just really check that cord to the block heater out very good. I once lost a building and contents plus the vehicle that was plugged into a block heater. In fact here in farm country many fires seem to occur due to block heaters starting fires. The cord on my 8v71 was pretty bad so I cut it off and if need be will replace the whole unit if I ever do any winter excursions. Later
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Yes, check the length of the electric cord for cracked insulation and all the usual electrical wire safety stuff. No broken ground pins...
Think what might happen if the cord is chafed through against the coach body, and the ground pin is snapped off the plug....
Replacement cords may be readily purchased, in many lengths, that will just plug in to the heater.
Block heaters are a lovely thing and another option available for warming the engine to prepare it for starting, providing a load for your generator, bragging rights at a bus rally, and on and on...
plug it in for as long as it takes to get the block warm, and no more, to save electricity.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
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Should I use my block heater at night when it gets down to 28F or so? I am talking about when the bus is just parked for storage.
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Should I use my block heater at night when it gets down to 28F or so? I am talking about when the bus is just parked for storage.
No not just for storage, just if your gonna be starting it.
;D BK ;D
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Helps keep the bedroom warm too! I put a switch in the bedroom to turn it on so I xan start warming the engine without going outside.
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I have noticed that below 60deg I can tell a difference in the bus starting.
I have my block heater connected to my shore power/generator for the winter.
If I'm going to be connected to shore or have the generator running for long periods I disconnect the block heater.
I just plug in my shore power about 2 hours before I have to leave for a gig and the block is warmed and also the interior of the bus because of the space heater I have plugged in.
I also start the generator about an hour before leaving the gig to warm up the bus and engine.
.
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On my big rig, I had an Onan 6.5 Emerald Commercial gasoline generator (the compact Diesel gensets weren't made yet). Whenever the generator was running, the block heater was also-no matter the temperature outside. It created a constant 1500 watt load that kept it from carboning up. Hence in the 12,000 hours that it lived, never had to have the cylinder heads off for de-carboning. Onan didn't believe me on that one-that no carboning and the unit lasted 12,000 hours. Amazing what good maintenance will do. Good Luck, TomC
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I don't see one on my engine. Would somebody with a 6V92TA be kind enough to tunnel out to your bus through the 10 feet of snow and post a picture of this?
How expensive is it to purchase? How difficult to install?
Thanks in advance!
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Quite the thread resurrection! Ours has a stock block heater. Works wonders. Below 40 and coach not plugged in? No starty. Plugged in for a few hours? Starty.
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Dr. Steve, you might not have one. They were not installed on every engine. Look in the end of the block just under the head for a chord coming out. There were a few different places they put them, but that is the one I know of. (I think the most common too)
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I know I am resurrecting an old thread but I think it's better to resurrect an old thread rather than cluttering up with a new post. Especially if it's still applicable. Anyhow, I have this plug on my engine. In the pics I submitted you can see the wire on the front of the engine. In the very top left corner you can see the plug. Is this the block heater that is referred in the original post?
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Its a safe bet.>>>Dan
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If you've never used it and don't know the condition, just use caution the first time in case the heater and/or cord has failed. Probably a good idea to inspect these things first time they're used each year for damage to the cord, etc. Had one on a truck once that had a hidden short - cord got really warm really fast. Almost let the smoke out.
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Being from Alaska and recently South Dakota I've had an block heater on my 8V71N and in 2000 my 8V92TA.
They are easily installed. but the coolant must be drained.
To test either the cord or the plug just use a multimeter and test for continuity between the prongs. If no continuity the unit is bad.
They should have a plug in box in the engine compartment to allow them to be used without an extension. The box should be wired so that it doesn't get power from the inverter.
They are available on ebay or other sites. I recommend you get the one for your individual engine. If you dont, it probably won't fit. If it doesn't fit correctly. it will fail or short out.
Here's a site with a basic discussion:
https://www.dummies.com/home-garden/car-repair/diesel-engines/using-an-engine-heater-in-a-diesel-engine-for-cold-weather-starts/