I know it is a little early to start thinking about the cold but I've got to plan ahead...financially.

I was pretty much convinced to get a Reiff but then I saw this note (I've got a c-85):

Band heaters will not fit the cylinders on Continental A-65 through 0-200 and 0-300 if there are lock nuts on the cylinder studs. The bands will fit these cylinders if there are no lock nuts. Because the metal HotStrip element must bond to a flat surface, the oval oil sumps on these engines are heated with 3/8" x 12" 50w flexible silicone elements (two if HotPad or Turbo XP System, one if Standard System).

Aren't the locknuts required...they were there when the plane left the factory so I'd think they would be. And having to pay the same price for a silicon heat strip which they say is not as good as their "HotStrip" kinda sucks.

I think I'll just take my wife's hair straightener apart and stick it to the sump with magnets ...kidding

I had an EZ Heat pad on my Franklin (have one now on my Continental) and really liked it - cost effective, easy to install, highly effective. Of course I wasn't operating in Alaskan temperature extremes, but it worked well for what I encountered in the northeast.

http://e-zheat.com/

Uh, the sump on a Continental C-85 is this sorta spherical deal. I doubt if an EZ Heat heater will work, which is the problem he's talking about with Reiff's heat pads.

MTV

Uh, they list the motor on their website so maybe they have a solution? From the looks of the pad I would guess the cuts are intended to accommodate the oval sump...

Vick,
If you can get the reiff system to fit on your engine it works really well. I've had it on two different airplanes and have no complaints.

Have you looked at or considered the Tanis?

I preheat with an electric space heater under the cowl.

Bill

put reiff on my plane when I put in my new 0200 I love it, it is by far better than just the hot pad alone, I have one of the point-and-shoot thermometers and my cylinders went from zero to 55° in one hour I usually heat for an hour and a half, and I never have to use the primer starts on second or third Blade and is ready to go, hot pads are okay to get your oil going, but they just don't do anything for cylinders and I personally think that is really important to get them warm as well
shawn

I have the Reiff system (bands on the cylinders and pad on the oil sump) on our Cessna 140 with the c-85. It works great! I found a picture of the band on the cylinder:

I installed the Reiff system on my 172 and really like it. Makes cold weather starts as easy as warm starts. I recommend you get the full system that has oil sump pad as well as cylinder bands to get a more uniform heat which will help eliminate condensation. Read all the write ups on Reiff's web page to learn about pro's and con's of leaving heat on all the time and other stuff. Well pleased here. John

I've had the EZheat sump heater pad on 3 aircraft so far. As long as the plane is hangared, and you cover the cowl with an insulating blanket (I use an old sleeping bag with the zipper removed), then I don't think there's a need for a "complete" system. My whole engine compartment is toasty warm after a night of being plugged in.

I don't leave the heaters plugged in all winter, only when I know I'll be flying. I have a propane heater for emergeny pre-heats. I've also added a radio control from my house (9.5 miles line-of-sight) so I can switch on the pre-heat from home.