Wolverine Heating Pads--life expectancy

[TallPaul]

My Wolverine 250 watt oil pan heating pad died. It was a bit over 4 years old and had been on the truck for 42000 miles. I called Wolverine and they said the pads do wear out. I should mention that I have it low on the side of the pan and normally keep the oil topped up to make sure it is above the pad, but did use it a few times in later November when I was nearly a quart low (because I wanted a UOA without top up oil). Still, it worked after that, but maybe that contributed to its demise.

 

[sifan]

I had an engine block heater (dry type) that lasted only one winter season. It turned out the wire was bad not the heater itself. I got a replacement under warranty.

What are the factors that can cause the failure of a heating pad according to Wolverine? Did Wolverine give any info on the expected average life of its products? What is the condition of your failed heating pad's exterior?

 

[TallPaul]

Pad looks fine and is tightly adhered to the pan. I plan to test it nearer to the pad to exclude the possibility of a bad wire. If the wire is bad, I'll put a new cord on it. But chances are, the pad is bad.

 

[pepper32]

I use Katz pads, two of them (oil and transmission) are working thier 10th winter. Only 75 watt, what is recommended for 6 quart sumps up here.

 

[sifan]

75W pads? The number seems a bit low. How long do you plug them each time? Does lower wattage translate to longer life expectancy?

 

[Oldswagon]

Any luck finding out why the pad failed? Was there any white spots on the pad? My instructions said this would occur from overheating. How often did you use the pad? Did Wolverine offer any reason for failure or any compensation?

I just installed my Wolverine about a month ago now. So far it's been working wonderfully, however I certainly hope it lasts more than 4 years. I have been using mine on a timer along with a block heater, but at work (where electricity costs me nothing) I have plugged it in all day.

 

[TallPaul]

I haven't been under the truck to further investigate. Too cold and unfortunately got a stomach bug last Monday and still today am not eating my normal diet. Eventually, when I check it out I will report back. I can only figure it maybe got overheated when I ran the oil low. The guy at Wolverine said they do wear out.

 

[pepper32]

sifan, recommended wattage up here is 75 watts for sumps up to 6 quarts and transmissions. 150 watts for over 6 quarts, usually diesel pickups.

 

[TallPaul]

Well, here I sit with no pan heater. Too cold to replace it anyway. But this morning it was -4F and had sat since Friday. I have 10w40 with an additive that thickened it about 1 cSt. Anyway, I cranked it over and it took a full 12 seconds for the mechanical oil pressure gauge to move off zero! Then, normally I will get full cold pressure of low 50s right away (after a mile on a 20F morning), but today it sat around 25 psi for awhile. After one mile it was up to 40 psi. After 6 miles is was 52 psi. Whew! That was some cold oil. Not to worry, I am sure this big 4.9L inline six will handle it just fine.

As for the heating pad, I stupidly burned it out running the oil a quart low I am sure.

And as if I did not learn, Friday I burned out my water heater (little coil thing you stick in a coffee cup of water) by plugging it in before it was in the water. Just plugged it in and immediately poked it into the water, and it sizzled. Seemed to work fine as the water boiled, but today when I tried it, it just remained cold.

So it seems the exposure to heating with no liquid backing does not immediately kill it, but that it dies shortly afterward, which is how it went with the oil pan heater.

Ah well, live and learn. Two strikes, three and I am out.