4-Stroke Block Heaters?

I installed a block heater and had to take it out. What happens is the coolant warms up and the temp sensor warms as well this in turn tells the ECM that the engine is already warm and does not allow the enrichining circut to engage to add extra fuel into the cold engine. The engine will just crank and not start. Once the engine cools down it fires up without any issues. I then confirmed this with my dealer and was told the FI engine dosen't need it and only to use a block heater on a carbed engine.
I too live in central Ontario and we had some -38 nights this past winter and did not have any issues starting. Hope this helps.
 
kizerboy said:
I installed a block heater and had to take it out. What happens is the coolant warms up and the temp sensor warms as well this in turn tells the ECM that the engine is already warm and does not allow the enrichining circut to engage to add extra fuel into the cold engine. The engine will just crank and not start. Once the engine cools down it fires up without any issues. I then confirmed this with my dealer and was told the FI engine dosen't need it and only to use a block heater on a carbed engine.
I too live in central Ontario and we had some -38 nights this past winter and did not have any issues starting. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Yes, that helps. Thanks. I don't think I will be putting one in and will use the money from that to ad some other part to my machine.
 
kizerboy said:
I installed a block heater and had to take it out. What happens is the coolant warms up and the temp sensor warms as well this in turn tells the ECM that the engine is already warm and does not allow the enrichining circut to engage to add extra fuel into the cold engine. The engine will just crank and not start. Once the engine cools down it fires up without any issues. I then confirmed this with my dealer and was told the FI engine dosen't need it and only to use a block heater on a carbed engine.
I too live in central Ontario and we had some -38 nights this past winter and did not have any issues starting. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

I think that's some serious mis-information. I've got lots of video to disprove your statement. I'm in no way suggesting you are making it up, I believe that you're sure of your statement, but I think you're wrong based on my own experiences. All I can wonder is if the block heater was installed correctly in the right place (it is easy to get it wrong). I've never had the computer become confused by the block heater warming the coolant. Not a single problem. The Nytro engine will start down to approx. -37 C air temp unassisted if it was running the night before but beyond that without the block heater it won't fire. Even as such, using it at -30 C to aid in cold starting so it isn't so hard on the motor has never caused me a failed start attempt. So if it does get cold enough, FI engine's do need block heaters, the dealer is misinformed. We test these units up here and provide information to Yamaha Canada about installation of these units and proper use because of the amount of sub -40 weather we face each winter.

Given all of this, macpat, you probably won't face or be riding in temperatures where you will find yourself wishing you had the heater installed by the sounds of it. I have heard of guys who go touring for a week and get hit with a bitter cold snap somewhere and couldn't get their sleds started in the morning because it was -40 and they didn't have a block heater. That would really put a thorn in your trip. Now if you had a phazer engine the cut off is near -27 C, so I definitely recommend them in anyone who may chance riding in those temps.

Cheers,
YK
 
kizerboy said:
So where did you put yours to make it work then???
Click to expand...

Here's a photo of between the disc brake and the oil reservoir. I can't get the image to display vertically for some reason.

CoolantHeater-2.jpg
 
I've been told the same thing by different dealers..."Don't install the inline coolant heater on a FI sled" And I've been one of those touring guys who couldn't get the sled started at -40f. -32f it started but not -40f. Sucks when all the 2-stroke ski-doos start and ride away and we are dicking around with blow dryers and battery chargers for 3 hours!!!

Doesn't it say not to use them in the Yamaha accessory catalog? I'll look.


Seems to me that we shouldn't have these conflicting reports. Yamaha should design something that works for very cold weather starting, period. But then, maybe they have if Yellowknife is startiing his at those temps...I've seen all the videos!!
 
Nope. I was wrong. This is the quote from the Yamaha web site:


Fits '94~'02 liquid-cooled twins, all 4-stroke models
 
That's where it was installed and like I said before Once the system was warm the engine did not fire up, let it cool down to ambiant temp and away it went.
 
Yellowknife said:
kizerboy said:
I installed a block heater and had to take it out. What happens is the coolant warms up and the temp sensor warms as well this in turn tells the ECM that the engine is already warm and does not allow the enrichining circut to engage to add extra fuel into the cold engine. The engine will just crank and not start. Once the engine cools down it fires up without any issues. I then confirmed this with my dealer and was told the FI engine dosen't need it and only to use a block heater on a carbed engine.
I too live in central Ontario and we had some -38 nights this past winter and did not have any issues starting. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

I think that's some serious mis-information. I've got lots of video to disprove your statement. I'm in no way suggesting you are making it up, I believe that you're sure of your statement, but I think you're wrong based on my own experiences. All I can wonder is if the block heater was installed correctly in the right place (it is easy to get it wrong). I've never had the computer become confused by the block heater warming the coolant. Not a single problem. The Nytro engine will start down to approx. -37 C air temp unassisted if it was running the night before but beyond that without the block heater it won't fire. Even as such, using it at -30 C to aid in cold starting so it isn't so hard on the motor has never caused me a failed start attempt. So if it does get cold enough, FI engine's do need block heaters, the dealer is misinformed. We test these units up here and provide information to Yamaha Canada about installation of these units and proper use because of the amount of sub -40 weather we face each winter.

Given all of this, macpat, you probably won't face or be riding in temperatures where you will find yourself wishing you had the heater installed by the sounds of it. I have heard of guys who go touring for a week and get hit with a bitter cold snap somewhere and couldn't get their sleds started in the morning because it was -40 and they didn't have a block heater. That would really put a thorn in your trip. Now if you had a phazer engine the cut off is near -27 C, so I definitely recommend them in anyone who may chance riding in those temps.

Cheers,
YK
Click to expand...

I started to get worried from some of the posts that said installing a heater would cause other problems with the computer. If I get the heater installed by my dealer there should not be issues others are having with theres?

Are the people who are having problems with theirs installed by the dealer or did they install it themselves?

YK, my wife is considering a new phazer for this year so I guess if I put a heater in hers I should put one in my Nytro so that when we are out riding we will not have any starting problems. Thanks for you input!
 
Definitely some conflicting stories on this topic. I wish Yamaha could set the record straight with how these work with their EFI systems.
 
Live in Northern Ontario as well..i leave my xtx parked in a car port exposed to the elements..routinely take it to campd for days at a time and have never had a problem starting in minus 40 weather..don't feel heater is required..only time have had problems when in shop for maintenence then put back out into -30 + weather..still starts but sputters a little
 
I had one on my sled and the problem was that once it's plugged in and heats up your sled you will have a hard time starting. This is due to the coolant temp sensor measuring the temp of the coolant and if it finds that the engine is warm enough it does not engage the enriching circuit. Leaving you flat busted. Once you let the coolant cool back down to ambient temp the machine starts like a champ. I have since then removed it and have had no issues starting in cold temps. That was two seasons ago. Hope this helps.
 
I have not had a problem starting yet and I live in Northern Ontario too. I don' have a garage so my sled sits under the cover all week beside the house and it starts every weekend! We get some weeks where it gets below -30C every night... As I'm sure you do too.

Just use 0-40 full synthetic motor oil and you should have no problems! This is the real key i think!

I think it may be a good idea to replace the battery after about 3 or 4 years though. I know my quad batery stopped holding a charge after 4 seasons and it is a sealed maintenance free battery like what is in my nytro.

Boy you must be anxious to ride your new nitro huh?
 
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