This information report covers fuel fired pre-heathers which burn gasoline, diesel, or propane fuels. This type of heater must be used in remote areas where 110/220 V, 60 Hz electric power is not available, and is recommended anywhere an on-board self contained system is required. The guidelines in this report are applicable, but not limited to, fuel burning heater installations on the off-road self-propelled work machines described in SAE J1116.

Purpose—The purpose of this information report is to provide selection and application guideless covering most liquid hydrocarbon fuel burning, engine pre-heating systems. Operating conditions and characteristics of the equipment will determine the design of any successful system, and since these characteristics and conditions vary greatly from one application to another, the application engineer must determine the goals he expects to reach under the conditions encountered. To determine the type of size of heaters will require adherence to several guidelines, some of which are outlined in the following paragraphs.