effects of heat on magnets

[ROSCOE]

just woundering about a cheap alternative to a magnet block heater.
I was thinking about sticking a good magnet to an iron then sicking it to athe oil pan of a piece of heavey equitment that sits outside in -30 degree weather. question is  how big of magnet?  Would i ever get the iron off the oil pan ?

[finnsawyer]

You could probably slide it off a corner of the oil pan.  I've got a manufactured version of what you're talking about that is useless.  Anybody want it.  Come get it.  He he.  You should either heat the oil directly in the oil pan or the water in the water jacket if you've got a liquid cooled engine.  Another trick that works for deisel engines is to heat the fuel injector pump with a radiant heater.  My lady friend gave me a 750 watt trouble light for Xmas that works nicely.  Oh yeah, you can always build a fire under the machine or hook a hose to the tail pipe of your car, which I assume you can start.