Thinking about getting an oil pan heater for the coming winter months.
Anybody have an experience good/bad with any heaters?
Recommendations, things to stay away from etc.
TIA.

 

Where do you live at? And how cold does it regularly get?

Most of the pan heaters I have seen were just kinda like blankets that 'stuck' to the pan in some fashion. They would warm the oil, but, they were also very good at trapping crap against the pan, causing it to rust out fairly quickly.

Block heater might be a better idea.

 

A battery blanket is probably needed before a sump blanket or block heater... especially if you're using an appropriate oil for the climate.

I've seen a 5.9 Magnum with only a battery blanket start just fine after a 72hrs -40°F cold soak... the rear axle sounded like it was self destructing though.

 

I had one on my old engine. I also had a block heater so I'm not sure how much it helped. Just get a block heater and a good battery and you'll be fine.

 

Thanks for the comments.

I'm in Wyoming. It's gotten down to -40 but that's not typical. Typically where I'm at it doesn't drop below -10/-20 degrees all that often. I just hate starting the the truck up when it's that cold. The engine is slow to turn over and there is some clickin n clackin going on until the oil get circulated. Was thinking if I can keep the oil warmer it would flow better and lubricated quicker.

Do block heaters do a good job of keeping the oil warm? I've never used one.
Was thinking an oil pan heater, whether it be one of the stick on pads or magnetic types would do a better job then a block heater.

 

They use salt on the roads?

Block heater warms the coolant. So, very shortly after you start the engine, you have heat...... that's important when it's well below zero.

 

No. Salt isn't really an issue here, nor is rust. So that doesn't concern me too much.

 

Isn't there a heated oil dipstick to preheat your oil as well? I thought I heard somebody mention that before.I've done fine with my block heater in my truck in ND.

 

I've heard of them, not sure I've ever actually seen one though.
From a cost standpoint, block heaters are cheaper then any of the oil pan heaters I have seen. But the from an installation standpoint, block heater probably take 30 mins to install, where a magnetic oil pan heater would take about 3 seconds to install lol. Going to keep doing some research on this.

 

What color is the truck?