Another winter ops / preheat question

TShort · #1 12-20-2019, 09:58 AM

I am pretty meticulous about preheating before I fly (Reiff system on the -10).

I'm planning a trip where I likely won't have hangar space on the other end for a few days. No precip forecast, but night temps are looking like 25-30F or so, with forecast highs on departure day of 48F.

I don't think I'll be able to plug in (looking into that now).

On a 48F day (likely sunny - at least in the forecast), how long does it take a 25-30F engine to warm enough to not be cold soaked? I am not planning on leaving until early afternoon.

Probably overthinking this, but interested in how others handle winter travel.

I am flying solo, so I could possibly throw in the 2kW generator and use that to preheat

rv8ch · #2 12-20-2019, 10:13 AM

I think the generator is a great idea, or land where you can get power.

Out of curiosity - which one do you have? Been looking at them myself, and want the lightest, quietest - seems to be the honda, but quite expensive. No idea if it's worth the extra cost.

airguy · #3 12-20-2019, 10:43 AM

When I'm forced to do a cold start, I idle at about 900 rpm until my oil temp reaches 80F prior to taxi, and wait until 100F for takeoff power.

Not saying that's right, or wrong... just that it's what I do.

woxofswa · #4 12-20-2019, 10:56 AM

If I lived in cold country, what I would do is have a quick release access door in my cowl for the following.

This is what I used to do when I flew GA corporate in Utah, Idaho,
Montana, and Wyoming in winter. Once 25 below in Jackson hole!

We carried around a bucket and funnel and upon arrival, drained the oil into the bucket and kept it either in a warm FBO office or even on occasion, took it to the hotel.
Upon arrival just pour it back in. Never had a start up or significant flight delay.

Obviously harder if you have to remove the cowlings hence access door recommendation.

9GT · #5 12-20-2019, 11:17 AM

Instead of carrying around a generator, I would be more inclined to figure out a way to use a small "Buddy Heater" type heater that operates on 1# bottles of propane. When I owned a C-152 that sat out on the ramp in the snow, I devised a contraption using a 35K btu propane torpedo heater that I powered off a 20# bottle and 1000 watt inverter. I just sat in my car on the ramp by the plane as it warmed up.

TShort · #6 12-20-2019, 11:18 AM

Mickey-

The one I have is an older variant of this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Super-Qu...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

I only paid 250-300$ on sale from some deal web site.

I has worked fine; plenty quiet. My brother has a couple of the Hondas, it is similarly quiet but not as well made. No more often than I use it, I didn't see any sense in spending the extra $$

TShort · #7 12-20-2019, 11:19 AM

Thanks for the input so far.

I don't mind starting if the engine is 45F, but don't really have a good idea how long it takes to get close to ambient after a cold night outside.

Still looking into plug in options...

Electrogunner · #8 12-20-2019, 12:09 PM

I called ahead to the AP to make sure they have someplace to plug in. I?m tied down on a ramp in western PA now. I will go out and plug it in the day before we are leaving to go home. I think you will find a lot of AP?s are accommodating even providing cords.

Scott Hersha · #9 12-20-2019, 07:42 PM

I don?t see anything wrong with starting your engine at 45*F, especially if using multi-viscosity oil. It won?t take long to get your OT up to a good takeoff temp ~90*. I was in Troy, MI a few years ago for an overnight and brought my extension cord and timer to use my engine heater before we left the next day. Unfortunately, the electricity in the hangars didn?t work - except for the electric bifold doors. The next day the temp outside and inside the hangar was 15*. The airplane started just fine, and after a slow, but not long taxi to the runway, and normal run-up, my temps were in the norm. Total elapsed time from engine start was about 15 minutes. It helps if you can safely allow your engine to run at 1000 RPM or a little more during the warm up phase before takeoff.

rv8ch · #10 12-20-2019, 10:22 PM

This guy recommends preheat when you get near freezing:

https://www.avweb.com/ownership/the-...of-preheating/

Quote:

As a general rule, we consider any start in which the engine is cold-soaked to a temperature below freezing (32F or 0C) to be a ?cold start,? and any start below about 20F (-7C) to be nothing short of a capital offense against your powerplant. The colder the temperature, the worse the crime.