I know this is a very covered topic but I was looking for input on the validity of these small, stuck to your oil pan, engine block heaters. I was given one the other day and to see if it worked before removing my cowl I plugged it in. This device within 1min was way to hot to hold in one’s hand. Is this normal? Do you guys who fly regular real cold ops. recommend them? I’m not nearly in the climate your in but thanks to global warming it’s been in the teens here in NC.
BTY it’s not this pad but one that’s very similar

When adhered to 300lbs of metal with appropriate adhesive, the heat goes into the metal quickly so they don’t get as hot to the touch as you experienced. They work. Not as good as the kits with bands on the cylinders, but they do work. The real aviation ones (Tanis, Reiff) have temperature controllers built in. Industrial ones may not have that feature and simply be a resistance wire embedded in silicone.

That makes sense, it actually has a sticky side that you peel and stick on the oil pan

Attached is continentals & Lyc’s *.pdf cold weather guidelines

Lycoming
“ The use of pre-heat will facilitate starting during cold weather, and is required when the engine has been allowed to drop to temperatures below +10°F/-12°C (+20°F/-6°C for –76 series engine models).”

Continental
“Preheating is required whenever the engine has been exposed to temperatures at or below 20° Fahrenheit / -
7 degrees Centigrade (wind chill factor) for a period of two hours or more. Refer to the Pilot’s Operating”

The pads seem to work, I’ve seen them in everything from 4 cylinders to turbines, don’t forget your battery and avionics may not respond well to getting extreme cold soaked

I haven't used 1 on a plane, but on a 4-cylinder Fiero engine they will warm it up in about 4 hours at -15 degrees so that it starts easy and the temp gauge is off the bottom of the gauge when it starts.

One other though, ice and frost


Wing covers nice, but if you get some frost, or just pull a plane out from a heated hangar into snow, these backpacks work well, fill half with type 1 fluid, then source some hot water

https://www.amazon.com/Professional-190 ... 239&sr=8-3

They work fine if you have time and a engine cover. Cessna 180 plugged in overnight with cowling cover in 40 degree temp had oil and cylinders all at 90 degrees. For occasional use in non arctic weather should do just fine. Denny

DENNY wrote:They work fine if you have time and a engine cover. Cessna 180 plugged in overnight with cowling cover in 40 degree temp had oil and cylinders all at 90 degrees. For occasional use in non arctic weather should do just fine. Denny

You don’t NEED to preheat for +40f

If you’re thinking of using a silicone pad attached to your oil pan, get one of these: https://www.e-zheat.com/ The plain silicone pads, as the OP noted, get really hot. They have been documented to burn oil at the site of the pad.

The E Z Heat pad is thermostatically controlled to prevent that, and much safer.

MTV

First off don't plug the thing in until it's installed. I think you will F up the adhesive (It will start to cure?). I just installed the E-Z Heat on my Champ last week (A-65). Installation was straight forward (Although after installing it, I would have a few tips for anyone doing it for the first time). I have only used it once, but it seemed to work great and didn't fall of while flying, which is good. Plugged it in overnight and the next morning the oil pan and bottom case were warm to the touch. It was +6 outside, probably teens in the hanger. I still had the cowling off so the engine compartment wasn't warm. Put the cowl back on and then put the skis on the plane. Probably took a hour and a half total. By the time I unplugged it the engine compartment was warm as were the cylinders. It does get hot to the touch though, although as MTV said they are supposed to have a thermostat to prevent overheating. Not sure how they work on bigger engines (There are multiple sizes), but it seems to work well on my little one.

Pete

I've used E-Z heat on my last two Franklin engines and I agree, the thermostat works great. Nothing on the engine (mags, cylinders, starter) is ever too hot, more like warm on a summer day. On my Franklin, the cams are low in the engine and don't collect moisture up high like a Lycoming, so I feel comfortable leaving it plugged in for periods of time. My electrical draw is about 300 W on start up and about 175 W when warmed up.