"Rob Turk" wrote in message ...
What are the pros and cons of continually heating the carburettor body with
a stream of warm air? Not the inlet air, just the body. The intent is to
minimise the risk of carb-ice, will it have that effect? Will there be
impact on the performance of the engine (Jabiru 3300)?

Rob

First thought: using warm air is not a particularly effective way of
heating the carb body. Too many heat transfer processes. Electricity
or hot oil would be more effective, IMHO.

Second Thought: There are several mechanisms involved in carb ice, and
this won't address all of them. Check any of the many articles on
carb ice to see what I mean. The venturi effect and the heat the
vaporizing gas sucks out of the air stream may overcome a hot carb -
among other possible failure scenarios.

Third thought: heating the mixture will reduce it's density, both of
fuel and air, and thus may cut power, BUT it may IMPROVE the
uniformity of the mixture, allowing you to run leaner without
roughness - see the sidebar on this AVWEB article for some sketchey,
but tantalizing details.
http://avweb.com/news/columns/182583-1.html