Engine heater?

[bobofthenorth]

We never used stove pipe & I don't think I'd want to.  We always used 3 or 4" pipe or square tubing with a 90 elbow on the end of it.  You only need enough pipe to direct the heat and prevent any actual flame coming out the end - 4 feet is more than enough.

[eagle19952]

We never used stove pipe & I don't think I'd want to.  We always used 3 or 4" pipe or square tubing with a 90 elbow on the end of it.  You only need enough pipe to direct the heat and prevent any actual flame coming out the end - 4 feet is more than enough.

Not if it is to short to reach the motor........not if it's your first time...LOL
Stove pipe works extremely well for wood stoves and it is not as much $$ as 4 inch Schd. 40 and elbows....just saying.
I have used air duct in a pinch. at -40/-60 you use what you got.
back in the mid/early 70's you would not want to be in the Yukon/NW Territory w/o a set-up to start your car.
FWIW I agree....12 feet is way more than you'd need, but I assure you the heat will get to the engine bay, AND your bus will not burn to the ground.
All I wanted to express is Safer is better than sorry.
PS It beats lugging around 40 lbs. of pipe....I guess exhaust tubing would work too.

[B_K]

Way back before I got into buses we used to have to warm up the engines on the big wreckers we had.
We always used a small throw away bbq grill or hub cap with charcoal in it.
We'd start it and let the flame die down then slide it in on top of the front axle and drag link and it'd make the engine nice an toasty in no time.
  BK 

[harleyman_1000]

Ok bus started right up without doing anything. Of course it was 56 degrees here today   

[chessie4905]

    As soon as the temp hits zero, everyone needs to go out and try to start their coach with low batteries and no engine heater. Use lots and lots of ether.

[Oonrahnjay]

       As soon as the temp hits zero, everyone needs to go out and try to start their coach with low batteries and no engine heater. Use lots and lots of ether.    

     My bus *starts* OK at freezing (after it's been about that temp overnight) but it shakes and rattles and smokes for a bit.  I think that it would be a good thing -- not necessary but a good thing -- to warm my engine anytime it's below about 50 degrees.  (At 60 or above, it snaps into running with a couple of piston strokes and runs smoothly immediately).  It's a 6 cyl 4-stroke. 

[TomC]

My mechanical Cat 3406B would start well in sub freezing weather. It would turn over several times then start coming up to speed and do what we call pop corning-stamering and missing until enough heat built up to start running consistantly on all 6. Usually would take about 2 minutes of pop corning to come up to speed. Good luck, TomC

[Oonrahnjay]

  My mechanical Cat 3406B would start well in sub freezing weather. It would turn over several times then start coming up to speed and do what we call pop corning-stamering and missing until enough heat built up to start running consistantly on all 6. Usually would take about 2 minutes of pop corning to come up to speed. Good luck, TomC   

     Interesting, the lump of British iron only "popcorns" for about 6-8 seconds, but it's rough for that 6-8 seconds and the smoke goes on for another 30 seconds or so. 

[Lin]

A block heater is not expensive and does a great job.  We don't live in a particularly cold area, but I still consider it almost an essential.  We have a timer for ours since I generally forget to turn things off.  I set it for an hour, and the bus starts like it's in the tropics.  I think even a half hour would work though.  As said before, it works so easily that you feel like your cheating.

This thread was about a one time thing, but I would recommend installing a block heater for future happiness.

[wg4t50]

Jelled fuel, had that happen at 18 f, in Va,  also have driven truck in ND at -25 f no issue. All depends on the supplier how they handle it. 
Today, I preheat with either the 1500 watt water jacket heater or the Aqua Hot, Love the nicer things?
Dave M

[belfert]

I've started my Series 60 at zero degrees with no block heater and no ether.  I had four new group 31 batteries at the time.  Not an ideal thing to do, but we don't always have a choice.