I bough a electric magnet heater with a little block heater cord to plug into to put on the crank case of my 06 500 EFI. I'm planning on just plugging it in a half hour to 45 minutes before it gets started just to get the oil warmed up.

 

That's a good idea, but a heated shop would be nicer [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

yah a heated shop would defiantley be nicer, I do have a shed for it just not heated.

 

is this something that is needed in cold weather. i have a magnet heater as well, i guess it would make it easier on the machine.

 

What is a magnet heater?

An engine heater is NOT needed, but definitely would benefit the engine. Cold starts are a main cause of engine wear, and warm oil will help out for sure. I fly single engine airplanes, and pre-heating the engine in the winter is standard practice.

I run my Sportsmans through the winter, and the temp gets below zero a lot. Neither one has refused to fire on the first turn of the key or stay running after that.

 

its a heater that has a magnet that would mount to the oil pan on a car if you didn't have a block heater, not sure if it would work or not on a wheeler.

 

As long as it's a heater it will help. My Father is a heavy equipment mechanic and we went on a service call into the middle of nowhere for a skidder that wouldn't start. When we got there he asked me to go into the bush and find some wood. I thought he wanted a shelter from the wind, but he made a fire under the oil pan to warm the oil and it started in an hour or so.

 

Yowza... I'd never build a fire under an engine. His theory is right (heat the oil) but those big engines so often have various leaks and skims of fuel, oil, etc. on them that I'd be afraid of starting a very serious fire.

Glad it worked that time with no injuries.

 

That will work great on my PLASTIC oil Reserve on my Polaris!!!!.........LOL.......Does that magnet stick to plastic??.........Caper...........

 

you only can get plastic magnets in Alaska [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]