QSM11 block heater install location

SeaNile

Well-Known Member
Aug 16, 2010
1,514
Chadds Ford, PA
Boat Info
2003 50 Sundancer
Engines
Cummins QSM11
Going to install the pad block heater on my QSM11s this weekend. I felt the bottom of the oil pan and can't tell if there is a large enough flat surface for the pad. Feels like way towards the aft section there could be room but I'd need an extension cord if that is the case.

Has anyone installed the heating pad on the side of the oil pan? I think there is enough room on the forward inboard side of the pan.

I can't imagine the exact location is crucial but figured I would ask anyway.
 
Going to install the pad block heater on my QSM11s this weekend. I felt the bottom of the oil pan and can't tell if there is a large enough flat surface for the pad. Feels like way towards the aft section there could be room but I'd need an extension cord if that is the case.

Has anyone installed the heating pad on the side of the oil pan? I think there is enough room on the forward inboard side of the pan.

I can't imagine the exact location is crucial but figured I would ask anyway.

We just did my friends boat with QSM11's and put two wolverine 500W pads on the bottom of each engine. There isn't enough room for the single 1000w pad. You need to remove the paint with paint remover and clean real well. Then follow their instructions on heating up and putting on the pan.

We put two 500w pads on because we also used 15amp GoVee outlets and can turn on/off the 2nd pad remotely. The first pad is on 24/7. He also has the GoVee temp sensors, so he knows when to turn on the 2nd set. Works real well and considering them myself after I saw how warm the engine room was on Sunday.
 
I have one factory outlet on the forward port bulkhead. Ideally running the block heaters right to the electrical panel would be best but for now I am just going to mount them and plug into the outlet. I'd like them to be on 24/7 and that should hopefully keep everything nice and warm. Once these block heaters are installed I will have no need for my brand new Twin Hornet bilge heater.

Thinking I'll need a mirror to see the bottom of the pan and find the best location for the 500w pad. Mirror, sand paper, break cleaner, a few rags and I should be good to go. Famous last words......
 
I have one factory outlet on the forward port bulkhead. Ideally running the block heaters right to the electrical panel would be best but for now I am just going to mount them and plug into the outlet. I'd like them to be on 24/7 and that should hopefully keep everything nice and warm. Once these block heaters are installed I will have no need for my brand new Twin Hornet bilge heater.

Thinking I'll need a mirror to see the bottom of the pan and find the best location for the 500w pad. Mirror, sand paper, break cleaner, a few rags and I should be good to go. Famous last words......

Not sure one 500w on each engine will be enough to fore go your twin hornet.

I just ordered the same 500w(2) heaters and plan on still needing the twin hornet.

Also did you get the ones with built in thermostat's? If not you might want to add an external one.
 
I ordered two of these. Says 500w is good for 13-27quarts of oil. The QSM11 is right at the upper limit so hopefully the one pad per engine will do the trick.

https://www.amazon.com/Zerostart-34...la-583600713349&ref=&adgrpid=68573217808&th=1

Two 500w pads and the Twin Hornet heater might be too much for the one outlet.

A previous boat I looked at with block heaters kept the bilge so warm it felt like a spa in there. Buddy's Ocean Yacht has block heaters as well, they keep everything so warm even the cabin salon area is warm. I am hoping for a really warm bilge!
 
I installed 500W Wolverine pads on QSM11s on the side of the pan. Been installed since 2014. Trick for clean install is to cut piece of cardboard 1/8" wider than the pad. Spray Zip Strip paint remover on the cardboard and place on the spot you want the pad. Wait and remove. Makes a perfect clean bare metal the shape of the pad. 1/8" extra allows for the sealant to spread around the edges of the pad. No sanding or over prepping and needing to touch up paint. Dave
 
I ordered two of these. Says 500w is good for 13-27quarts of oil. The QSM11 is right at the upper limit so hopefully the one pad per engine will do the trick.

https://www.amazon.com/Zerostart-34...la-583600713349&ref=&adgrpid=68573217808&th=1

Two 500w pads and the Twin Hornet heater might be too much for the one outlet.

A previous boat I looked at with block heaters kept the bilge so warm it felt like a spa in there. Buddy's Ocean Yacht has block heaters as well, they keep everything so warm even the cabin salon area is warm. I am hoping for a really warm bilge!

The ones you ordered are 4.2 amps each, so the TH heater may not be too much if your outlet is 20amp. Your heaters will stay on all of the time unless you put a thermostat on them. I ordered these with internal thermostat's on at 170 or below and off at 200. Stops the oil from reaching boiling point and breaking it down. Perhaps you can exchange them.

The Ocean's have 1500w block heater's and the engine room is directly below the salon. Big difference.
 
Mind if I ask why? Just to heat oil pans for cold starts?

I thought the same not too long ago. But the heat radiates through the engine block which in turn heats the engine room. I didn't think oil pan heaters would do squat, but I just helped a friend do his QSM11's with two 500w heaters and the engine room is toasty. Could not believe how well they worked. The temp was only in the 40's but his engine room was almost 70. Granted the water temp is still around 50 so that's not a good representation of how the dead of winter will be, but still I was impressed.
 
The ones you ordered are 4.2 amps each, so the TH heater may not be too much if your outlet is 20amp. Your heaters will stay on all of the time unless you put a thermostat on them. I ordered these with internal thermostat's on at 170 or below and off at 200. Stops the oil from reaching boiling point and breaking it down. Perhaps you can exchange them.

The Ocean's have 1500w block heater's and the engine room is directly below the salon. Big difference.

Couldn't resit, bought 2 of the 500w pads with thermostats. On at 170 and off at 200 seems pretty perfect to me. Not sure what temps the constant 500w pads would get to but the idea of the oil boiling doesn't sit well with me.
 
I installed 500W Wolverine pads on QSM11s on the side of the pan. Been installed since 2014. Trick for clean install is to cut piece of cardboard 1/8" wider than the pad. Spray Zip Strip paint remover on the cardboard and place on the spot you want the pad. Wait and remove. Makes a perfect clean bare metal the shape of the pad. 1/8" extra allows for the sealant to spread around the edges of the pad. No sanding or over prepping and needing to touch up paint. Dave

With or without thermostats?
 
I purchased and installed two Wolverine 500w 120v Oil Pan Heaters last fall. Engine room temps stay between 52-55 degrees even when it is 20 degrees outside. I had to remove both raw water hoses to be able to access the oil pans, sand and prep for install. I will likely unplug them in the summer but I understand many folks leave them ON year round.
 
I purchased and installed two Wolverine 500w 120v Oil Pan Heaters last fall. Engine room temps stay between 52-55 degrees even when it is 20 degrees outside. I had to remove both raw water hoses to be able to access the oil pans, sand and prep for install. I will likely unplug them in the summer but I understand many folks leave them ON year round.

When they work, they're great. Just don't expect them to last forever.

When I installed mine years ago, I spoke to the Wolverine folks asking if I should add a timer to let the heaters take a periodic break. They said just leave them on as they cicle every 30 seconds. Well, my theory on letting them rest was definitely on the right track. I took their advice, only to learn that the heater on the mains died within 1.5-2yrs.
 
I purchased and installed two Wolverine 500w 120v Oil Pan Heaters last fall. Engine room temps stay between 52-55 degrees even when it is 20 degrees outside. I had to remove both raw water hoses to be able to access the oil pans, sand and prep for install. I will likely unplug them in the summer but I understand many folks leave them ON year round.

I have the same but put them on the internal oil cooler (6v92 Detroit). I bought the ones with thermostats so they cycle. I believe there on until 200 and then cycle between 175 and 200. I ran a new outlet into the ER with a GFCI outlet. Now I have a breaker on the panel that is labeled "Block Heater(s)". Makes it easy to turn on/off, I have no intention of running them all year, no reason for it.
 
The 500w block heaters I put on the pan definitely do not warm up the engines like I thought they would. I mentioned this before but another 50 with MAN engines had block heaters and it it felt like the engine room was 80. Either that or the guy started the engines for a while before I showed up. Friends 85 Ocean Yacht with Detroit 671TIs has block heaters and his engines are extremely warm to the touch. That's what I was expecting.

If I want to do this right i need 1000w block heaters and wire them directly to the panel. 500w x 2 is all the GFI outlet would handle in the engine room.
 
The 500w block heaters I put on the pan definitely do not warm up the engines like I thought they would.

Not sure why you would want to warm up the engines/room more than say 55 degrees.
 

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