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At 12:08 PM 9/21/2004, Elaine Campbell wrote: >TCM recommends preheating at 20 degrees F. N5466F is hangared in S.E. PA >where the average overnight low in Dec./Jan. is approx. 10 degrees F. Is >there anything wrong with placing a protected lightbulb in the bottom of >the cowl to raise the temperature during these relatively cold months. I >have used this technique, on occasion around the house over the past 50 >yrs., and found it effective-- ie. balky garage door opener, frozen water >main valve, etc.-- but I have never seen it offered as an engine >preheating aid for an airplane. Although the temperature rise would be >modest, sometimes that is all you need. John: Do not under any circumstances leave an engine pre-heated for the entire winter. Lack of regular use, plus pre-heating accelerates corrosion. There have been many stories of people using pre-heat 'pads' leaving them on all winter, then finding cam, crank, etc., corroded to death come Spring. I suppose you could use a light-bulb to preheat for a few hours before flying. Some of use propane 'bullet' heaters directed into the open cowl and right at the oil tank, along with an old sleeping blanket or quilt over the cowling. That works well. Clamp the heater onto a ladder. You'll find that the heat heats the oil, then rises up and warms the cylinders. About 15-20 minutes does it. Another option is the Red Dragon preheater...expensive, but maybe not so much so if you get together with a few other guys and buy one. Very safe. I'm not crazy about the pads...you carry them around all the time, and they take a good long time to have much effect and don't get the heated oil up where it needs to be at start-up. The advantage of the bullet heater is it also can be used (with ventilation) to keep you warm during a winter oil-change! Greg ========================================================================== ==== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm Search the archives on http://escribe.com/aviation/coupers-tech/
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