"dave" wrote in message
...
Matt, if the entire engine was warm you'd be correct. The problem is
that any unheated parts of the engine may be cold enough to allow
condensation. You need to keep the entire engine at the same temperature.
So if you use a pan heater and cylinder heaters and also use an insulated
cowling cover, you should be fine by leaving the heaters on all winter
because the entire engine should be warm. That's the theory anyway.

Yes, but I can't imagine anyone using an engine heater without a thermal
cover. I have a semi-custom cover that goes clear over the cabin. It's sweet
in that the cabin is nice and warm, too. No frozen butt cheeks when you
first get in.

Using an engine heater without a thermal blanket is like having a furnace in
your home and leaving the windows open. Yet, stranger things have
happened...


I'm trying to decide which way I want to go. I had a pad heater on my
citabria that I would turn on for several hours before I flew if it was
cold out. I just got my bonanza a couple of weeks ago and I'm thinking
about using the full Rieff package or getting a portable red dragon.

What I like about the Reiff is that it's always with you and only needs an
electrical outlet. I've seen a few places that have like T-hangars with an
electrical outlet near by.

The advantage of the red dragon is that you can use it anytime and it
should warm the engine up in about 30 minutes. The disadvantage is that
to make it truly portable, you need to get the 12V model and run it off
your battery. Not a problem at my airport, I'll simply run it off my car
battery but I can imagine being at some airport on a cold Sunday afternoon
with a very warm engine and a dead battery.

Will it fit in your baggage compartment?

--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO (MTJ)