On Fri, 22 Dec 2006 22:35:13 -0600, "Stan Prevost"
wrote:

If this is blowing the warm combustion gases into the cabin, plenty of
drawback. The combustion products are primarily carbon dioxide and water
vapor. Lots of water vapor. The moisture can fog all the windows, or
create frost on the inside of the windows if it is below freezing. OK on
the engine, bad in the cabin.


The combustion gasses have more than CO2 and water vapor. They are
highly acetic which is hard on about everything in the plane. If you
have one of those little carbon monoxide detectors (Yellow button)
it'll most likely change color and need to be replaced every time your
preheat. Unless the heater is very good it will also have a lot of
carbon monoxide in the output.

They make good engine heaters in an open space, but I'd not want to
use one in a garage, hangar, or for preheating the cabin.


I used an LP fired salamander in my shop when under construction. It
made my eyes water so bad I had to shut it down and that building
leaked like a sieve before it was closed up.

I changed to a kerosene fired salamander @ 50,000 BTU and checked the
area for CO. It was pretty clean, but I'd want to check any open
flame or catalytic heater for CO before trusting it.

BTW they make a nice small, 1200 watt heater with a fan and thermostat
that also has a tilt switch you can put in the cabin a couple of hours
before take off. Ramp the temp up in steps. (If you have an extension
cord that will reach) Throw some blankets over the cabin if
necessary. It'll be nice and toasty when you get in and drop to
freezing your butt off temps right after engine start, but the
instruments will be nice and warm and you'll at least be comfortable
while getting situated.

As to the propane heater and cabin, I'd outright say don't do it.
The CO will leave quickly but it's hard on every thing else in there.



"dave" wrote in message
...
Another thread made me think about using the portable propane heater I use
in my garage to preheat my airplane. It's the standard metal tube type
with the fan from Home Depot or Lowes. I've seen people simply attach a
flex duct to the end of this type heater and blow the hot air into the
cabin - poor man's red dragon. Any drawbacks?

I've seen them blow air into the engine compartment, but never the
cabin.

Thanks
Dave

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com