Backcountry Pilot

[Skylane offline]

Hottshot,
I expected discussion on preheating engines, methods and temps. etc. Instead I got treated to someone being renamed Asshole, Thought I was lost for a while

You and me both

One thing about it, is you better be quick and not miss anything.

See ya, Bub

[Skylane offline]

I would be taking my Honda generator to plug the plane in, if I was leaving early.

Just what size generator do you use on what type of preheat system?

On the 182 I have the little ez-heat miniture water bed heater pad gizmo.

BTW, lower 40's and rain in Burns this morning. Lord know we need the moisture.

See ya, Bub

[Hammer offline]

Happy Birthday, Zane

[RanchAero offline]

Yeah- Happy Birthday Zane! I was thinking about getting one of those Jetboil gizmos for engine preheat. Does AK Bushwheels have the STC for that?

[Zzz]

Thanks guys.

Turns out we have talked about this before...here's the thread:

http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=860

That at least has some thoughts on pre-heating, but I am still really surprised at Mr. Scout's TBO's and that he attributes them to always preheating. This thread is good for something afterall.

[GumpAir offline]

That at least has some thoughts on pre-heating, but I am still really surprised at Mr. Scout's TBO's and that he attributes them to always preheating. This thread is good for something afterall.

As one who most always flew one engine a year to TBO, let me second Mr Scout's emphasis on pre-heat. We ALWAYS kept airplanes covered and plugged in with temps under 40, or if stuck out in a village with no electricity on the ramp, firing up and warming up every few hours, until we could get the f**k out of there and back home. Same for gyros. Electric heater in the cab, and blanket over the glareshield to keep gyros warm. Spin up a horizon or DG at 30 below and it's gonna fail on you right when you need it the most.

Gump

[Zzz]

Last time I used it the 182 it was sitting in 9 degree F temps all night and we raised the temp to over 50 degrees in 45 min. There was no power where we. I was pleased.

Is there any value in lengthening the amount of time over which your raise the temp of the engine? It seems like applying a lot of heat to one region of the engine non-uniformly, like the oil pan, isn't necessarily great for it either. I suppose 45 minutes is long enough to avoid uneven expansion?

Would be cool to do the same thing as jmtgt did, but with an MSR Whisperlite International burning 100LL.

[GumpAir offline]

Is there any value in lengthening the amount of time over which your raise the temp of the engine? It seems like applying a lot of heat to one region of the engine non-uniformly, like the oil pan, isn't necessarily great for it either. I suppose 45 minutes is long enough to avoid uneven expansion?

I think this was discussed in last year's thread, but, be really, really careful of pre-heating too quickly on a very cold day. That engine compartment might feel toasty warm, and the oil temp probe might show into the green, but you can have a solid ball of frozen oil sitting there in the tank, and on take-off it's all gonna come unglued on you as the prop stops turning from oil starvation.

Slow heat, or better yet, never letting it cool down is the way to go. Of course this is for work airplanes that don't sit much. Mine down here in Nevada... I'll plug it in the night before a trip, and have engine and cockpit all set to go in the morning when I'm ready.

Pre-heat, just as are post-flight chores in cold temps, is as important as airspeed when in the air moving. Mother Nature is very fussy about her laws of physics, and there aren't any lawyers in her world to plea bargain your way out of breaking those laws. You got to do it right all the time.

Gump

[mr scout offline]

I would be taking my Honda generator to plug the plane in, if I was leaving early.

Just what size generator do you use on what type of preheat system?

On the 182 I have the little ez-heat miniture water bed heater pad gizmo.

BTW, lower 40's and rain in Burns this morning. Lord know we need the moisture.

See ya, Bub

The Honda is a EU1000 about the size of a playmate lunch box. I also use the oil pan type heater and a engine cover.

[Hottshot offline]

Happy Birthday, Zane

Brown nozer...

[mr scout offline]

Last time I used it the 182 it was sitting in 9 degree F temps all night and we raised the temp to over 50 degrees in 45 min. There was no power where we. I was pleased.

Is there any value in lengthening the amount of time over which your raise the temp of the engine? It seems like applying a lot of heat to one region of the engine non-uniformly, like the oil pan, isn't necessarily great for it either. I suppose 45 minutes is long enough to avoid uneven expansion?

Would be cool to do the same thing as jmtgt did, but with an MSR Whisperlite International burning 100LL.

Zane now that your older, and hopefully wiser try this for your MSR
http://tacaviation.com/emanual.html

[Hottshot offline]

Sorry I kinda felt a little left out after not getting to at Zane last night...

[Zzz]

The Honda is a EU1000 about the size of a playmate lunch box. I also use the oil pan type heater and a engine cover.

I woke up this morning feel older, wiser, and hungry for jabbing from some old guys.

That little Honda sounds cool...since I do have a 110V patch heater on my oil pan. My impression of small generators was an older one my dad has that is about the size of a tiny welder and weighs the same. Doesn't seem like a good use of useable load. Shit, the thing must weigh 35 lbs, and I thought it was small.

[GumpAir offline]

I woke up this morning feel older, wiser, and hungry for jabbing from some old guys.

So did that senator from Idaho a few weeks ago!!!!!

Gump

[Hottshot offline]

Sorry I kinda felt a little left out after not getting to at Zane last night...

You suck

[Hammer offline]

Regarding Senator Craig, this is some funny ship...


http://nationalbanana.com

[Bear_Builder offline]

OK, sorry, but I gotta bring this back on topic for a moment.

I try to preheat any time it's below 40F, and don't even try starting without one if it's below 32F. What I've been using the last few years is a Little Buddy 900W car interior heater, inline with an industrial thermostat inside an insulated cowling cover from Alaska Tent and Tarp (also available from Wiggys.com). I set the thermostat for 80F and hang it on the engine mount, set the little buddy in the bottom of the cowling, then wrap the engine and let it run overnight. No worries about anything overheating, and I know everything is fully warmed up. As far as the engine knows, it's starting on a nice summer day.

So far I haven't had to preheat anywhere that didn't have electricity available. If I did I'd probably go with a Northern Companion heater.

But by far my favorite preheat method is a heated hangar.

Phil

[Hottshot offline]

OK, sorry, but I gotta bring this back on topic for a moment.


But by far my favorite preheat method is a heated hangar.

Phil

It's OK we forgive you, I have yet to be outside somewhere withthe temps below 40* with out a current bush, I do how ever have my Wiggies nose mittin and a Tannis(I think) heater system. I will put the Jet Boil thing on the front burner (Yes pun intended) and see what happens.

[Bear_Builder offline]

Well, it's all kind of achedemic for me now. The private strip I'm based at doesn't plow the runway in the winter, and I don't have skis. So not much flying when a preheat is required these days. In fact, I just called Avemco this morning to suspend my insurance for the winter. But at least I have the heated hanger now!

Phil

[GumpAir offline]

I just called Avemco this morning to suspend my insurance for the winter. But at least I have the heated hanger now!

Phil

Damn... You're missing out on the best flying of the year up there.

Gump