Circulating heaters

[Fysh Guide]

I have both a block heater and a circulating heater that came installed when I bought my truck. Unless it's down to -30C I only use the block heater. It seems that the circulating heater is set up so it circulates in such a way that when I use it in "normal" winter temps (-10C or so) the coolant temp sensor tells the computer the engine is warm and the glow plug cycle is too short to start the truck. I have to unplug the sensor and start, then plug it back in while the engine is running. The truck then runs nice and warm and smooth, but on a cold morning, half awake (or asleep) and late for work it's a pain. At -30 or colder it works well, too cold to fool the computer. I guess it needs to be plumbed differently.
The block heater works fine, and the truck will cold start (not plugged in) down to -10C, not that I usually do that.
As for the oil pan heater, they are a good idea if you run standard oil but with synthetic, flow shouldn't be an issue. I always run synthetic....

 

[tazz]

That would be Me....
I have a 1500 watt heater mounted in the pass side battery box support. It draws coolant from the line to the surge tank (out of the lower radiator hose) via a T fitting made from brass plumbing parts. A 1/2 T, 2-1/2 x 3/4 hose barbs, and one 1/2 x 5/8 hose barb. There is a brass elbow to make the needed 90 degree turn into inlet port of heater. The outlet of heater is spliced into the heater core return line that is coming right into the to of radiator. when I first hooked it up, coolant would flow through the radiator instead of going through the heater core, and then onto coolant crossover and splitting into the heads. to correct this, I put a threaded ball valve (1/2 inch) between the T at the top and the radiator. with this closed, and heater on, the heated coolant flows backwards through the heater core, into the crossover, and into the heads, then down through the block and back into lower radiator hose....

Hi All,

First time poster long time lurker. Iknow this is an old thread but as a new member I just came across it. I just installed a circulating heater the way 94k30 pointed out. It was a very easy install but.............. I can't seem to get it to reverse flow through the heater core. I hear there might be some sort of check ball in this circuit to prevent reverse flow? If so, can I take it out and where is it located?

Thanks,
Dan