Keeping oil pan heater 24/7/365?

[Matt Lyman]

I installed the 250 watt pan heaters that I got from SBMAR, and I believe its been suggested to keep them on 24/7. Is that true? Any concern with carbonizing or damage to the oil? Fire danger? 

Do other members of the forum keep them on 24/7?

Thank you for the help!

 

 

Topic

[Rob Schepis]

Yea, think of an old house with a small floor-standing cast iron radiator that keeps the whole room warm and dry, similar concept…

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hifirush

[hifirush]

Wow Rob! Thats some great numbers. Heck, I’ll be doing this to help control the humidity. 

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Rob Schepis

[Rob Schepis]

Matt do a forum search for wolverine with me as author. I have posted about the engine room temp and humidity benefits. 

[hifirush]

Thanks Bill! Looks like I’m gonna have to put those on the “to do” list! 

[William Walter]

Pan heater

Matt I also have a 38 open with 480 ce engines. I installed the wolverines about a year and a half ago. I was hoping for a reduction of white smoke on start up but have seen only a slight difference. I have noticed the engines idle better at start because they are are warmer.Water temperature seems to be about 20 degrees warmer than ambient at start.The best benefit seems to be how dry my bilge is . I think not having all that moisture saves a tremendous amount in the corrosion department. I run them all the time at the dock.A very worthwhile investment.Bill

[hifirush]

Thanks for the explanation Steve, that makes a whole lot of sense. 

 

Matt

[Steve Lewis]

Some general theory

The Wolverine oil pan heater is used to add heat to the actual oil pan.  So in most cases the ideal is to attach the heater pad to the underside of the oil pan.  That will then impart heat to the oil pan.  When left on long enough, the heat will transfer to the oil and the rest of the engine, heat conducted through the metal.  The engine will then act as a big lump of a heater for the air in the engine compartment.  As the temp rises in the engine compartment, the relative humidity will go down and in best case will dry out the whole area.  There should be enough convection current of air flow to achieve this when left on 24/7 when engines are off.

The base goal is to add heat into the oil so that the start up oil viscosity is decreased and flow is better and the engine starts easier.  Also a warm mechanical engine will smoke less than a cold one.  The side effects are beneficial and numerous.

[hifirush]

Rob, you say you don’t always run them in the summer, but when you see humid conditions and rain coming you do, do these fight moisture collecting in the engine room? Thanks, Matt

[Rob Schepis]

Like Tony said, low wattage, long term use.  It would take six of them to equal a hairdryer.  I have ran mine for months on end.  I used to run them 24/7 on the hard for winter layup from Nov to May, did it for 7 years straight, which kept them bone dry and made things a tad more comfy for winter work on the boat.  Just last year my winter yard stopped allowing extended plug-ins for insurance reasons.  I missed them this last winter.  In water I run them 24/7 for the shoulder seasons but not the heat of the summer, unless I see a real humid or rainy stretch ahead..  Like anything else, proper installation is important.

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Tony Athens

[Tony Athens]

If you have installed them right,  250W per  an engine/gear combo  in the 1300-1800 lbs class  will keep the engine/gear  in the right temp range as to being 100%  safe running 24-7-365.  “Warm to the touch” 

If you are in and area that ambient temps are above 75-80F all the time , then you might consider a simple timer ,  like you use for  outside  x-mas lights  and run them at 50%- ish. These oil pan heaters have shown to be very long term reliable & safe.. 

We have at least 1000 of these in service and I’d think someone else can comment too. But yes, I have  had a few go poo-poo over the years-  always due to a bad connection though–you are in a nasty  “marine environment” 

What can I say?

[Author]

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