Engine pre-heater ?

[Dayton Murdock]

Hi All
This is the pre-heater that I use

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I installed foam insulation over a room oil type heater and slide under the cowl exhaust of my -4. It it on 24-7 and with the warm air lofting into the cowl the engine is heat soaked. The oil, carb, case and cylinders are all at 61degs on this day with a OAT of 34degs

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I have been using this for 2 years with a good result.

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

I looked at all these various contraptions and finally just ordered a Reiff system. No lugging everything out and setting it up.

Just plug it in.

Pricey? Yeah. But really effective and even.

Plugged it in the other night when it was 4 degrees and started in the next morning when the engine thought it was 80 degrees.

Get the system with the bands around the cylinders.

Frankly, some of these home-brew contraptions look like a great way to make a quick insurance claim and P*** off your hangar neighbors after their airplane burns along with yours.

[AK4x4]

The Reiff preheat system works fantastic and if you don't have power handy you can pair it with something like a Yamaha EF1000is generator and get portable 120v for the preheat & 12v DC for charging the battery if necessary, all for 30lbs and super quiet. My .02 this is much safer and simpler than some of the portable preheat approaches/systems I have seen. Russ

[sblack]

In the Canadian North we drain the oil, put it in a hot water bottle and take it to bed with us along with the battery. It helps if you have sled dogs to keep you warm.

[Neal@F14]

I built my own preheater with a $12 ceramic cube heater from WalMart and some flexible aluminum dryer hose. I attached the hose to the heater by fabricating a flange from some sheet aluminum scrap pieces and held it all together with aluminum foil furnace duct tape.

I shove the dryer hose a few inches up into the lower cowl exist ramp, usually over one of the exhaust pipes, and let the heater run for 30 minutes or longer depending on how cold it is. I don't usually bother blocking off the cowl air intakes but can stick some foam pieces in there if it's really cold enough. All I need to do is get the oil temps up to at least 50-60 degrees F and the engine will start easily even though I have no primer.

EDIT: I do not let this heater run unattended for extended periods. I'm either in the hangar with it while it's running, or no further away than the FBO office or a neighbors hangar having coffee while it's running.

[Rupester]

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry

I looked at all these various contraptions and finally just ordered a Reiff system. No lugging everything out and setting it up. Just plug it in ...

Get the system with the bands around the cylinders.

I agree with Bob. My Reiff system will raise the engine to nice starting temps in 2 to 3 hrs, regardless of OAT. With Phil's Switchbox, this makes for hassle-free winter flying. (if you forget snow shoveling and ice chipping ) The Reiff is not difficult to install, either. It's a well designed/engineered package.

[mikesmithstormlake]

Buy a Reiff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[phillipny]

Hey Terry, download the new app update here
http://switchboxcontrol.com/iphone-app-free/

[kjlpdx]

one day at the hangar my work light bulb exploded, nothing had bumped it, or touched it. leaving electric on over night should be thought thru thoroughly.
I've had issues with my hangar-mate preheating when it's 50? outside. local mechanic from AK says only need to below freezing. I don't like the idea of those space heaters running unattended, especially how they are under the engine, prone to anything that might spill down.

[RKellogg]

Four weeks after original post, we have heat. After considering alternatives I installed the Rieff cylinder heat band system, 200 W per cylinder. The heater won't be left powered indefinitely, so the higher power means shorter pre-heat wait times. Preliminary testing indicates that the system will heat heads and oil about 10 degrees F per hour, in a closed hanger, with inlets plugged.

It was easy to install the cylinder bands. It appears that the system is robust. I appreciate the minimal compromise of other maintenance tasks, and the safety of this method.

- Roger