Cold Starts

On Thu, 19 Feb 2004 07:08:17 -0700, "Tom Sixkiller"
wrote:




Isn't the GEM a single cylinder monitor?

No.

The EDM-700 has six and I think that precludes using the Tanis.

No it does not. There are several options available, including dual use
probes as well as the heated bolts that I have. It may be more expensive,
however.


I have no experience with the Reiff system.

With a cover, my cylinders are usually around 100°F and the oil around
80°F
with OAT's down to -5°F or so.

Gets the cabin heater going more quickly, too, I surmise.

If I had a decent cabin heater, it might ng.


Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)

I have Tanis heaters on the IO-470's in my Baron, along with an EDM 700
engine monitor with no problems.

In an experiment I plugged in one engine and left the other unplugged
overnight in my heated hangar. I saw 42 degrees (the ambient temperature) on
the unheated side (both the CHT's and EGTS, which is a cheap calibration
check), and 65 degrees in the CHT's of all of the cylinders uniformly on the
heated side.

The Tanis heaters came with the plane, and since the hangar is heated, I had
never used them. However, I wanted to see how well they worked, which was
the reason for the original post in this thread.

My conclusion is that if the plane is going to sit outside below around
20-30 degrees for over three hours it may be worth plugging in the heaters.
They probably should be plugged in for at least 3-4 hours to get any effect,
depending on the outside temperature, and I recall Aviation Consumer had a
review of these systems in a recent article.

John, that has been the point I have been beating on... A quick preheat does
nothing, except convince the pilot he is being good to the engine...

A thorough preheat of a number of hours, with adequate insulation and
keeping the wind off the prop blades, does bring the engine core temperature
up, and certainly does no harm...

Leaving heat on the engine all the time may set you up for condensation
rusting - depends on the details...

My experience has been that with semisynthetic, multiviscosity oils
preheating is not necessary - until you reach arctic conditions..
denny

"John Galban" wrote in The reason for the Alaskan
habit is that when temps go low enough, a
chunk of frozen oil can develop in the crankcase. Even after
preheating the engine to what seems to be a suitable temp, you can
have a frozen chunk of oil surrounded by slightly warmer liquid oil.
(PA28-180)

"Dennis O'Connor" wrote in message
...
John, that has been the point I have been beating on... A quick preheat
does
nothing, except convince the pilot he is being good to the engine...

A thorough preheat of a number of hours, with adequate insulation and
keeping the wind off the prop blades, does bring the engine core
temperature
up, and certainly does no harm...

Leaving heat on the engine all the time may set you up for condensation
rusting - depends on the details...

Yes...unless you use both a cylinder AND an oil sump heater.

http://www.reiffpreheat.com/FAQ.htm#QA3

I have the Reiff cylinder bands and pan heater for my Arrow - works
just great. I set the timer and the whole engine is warm to the touch
when I arrive even when temp is near zero. I also use a Kennon padded
cowl and prop cover to retain the heat.

"Ron Rosenfeld" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 19 Feb 2004 07:08:17 -0700, "Tom Sixkiller"
wrote:




Isn't the GEM a single cylinder monitor?

No.

The EDM-700 has six and I think that precludes using the Tanis.

No it does not. There are several options available, including dual use
probes as well as the heated bolts that I have. It may be more expensive,
however.

It is, apparently. It also must be "customized" to the particular engine.

Right now it looks like $2300-$3000 or so for the Tanis system, or $675 for
the Reiff system for the bird I'm looking at.


I have no experience with the Reiff system.

With a cover, my cylinders are usually around 100°F and the oil around
80°F
with OAT's down to -5°F or so.

Gets the cabin heater going more quickly, too, I surmise.

If I had a decent cabin heater, it might ng.

Bummer, dude!!

"Mike Rapoport" writes:

The oil will gell at some point and apparantly that point can be found in
AK.


Which is one of the great things about synthetic oil. When I lived
in MinneySoda, the automotive cranking speed difference between it
& natural at -20F was astonishing.

But, there is no more synthentic aircraft oil, is there?
--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433

But, there is no more synthentic aircraft oil, is there?

Aeroshell 15-50 is "semi-synthetic"...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I have Tanis heaters on the IO-470's in my Baron, along with an EDM 700
engine monitor with no problems.

Ditto on our O-540.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Most of the time, I've been able to arrange either to leave it plugged in, or
more often have the fBO move it and plug it a few hours before I intend to
depart. I keep an extension cord in the plane all winter. You never know when
a short stop might turn into a longer one than intended, and the weight of the
extension cord is not all that much.

Travis Marlatte wrote:

So, for those of you with plug in heaters, how does that work out? I presume
that at your home airport, you are parked in your own unheated hangar or
near an outlet on the ramp. What about visiting other airports? Do you asked
to be parked near an outlet? Do they stretch a cord across the ramp for you?
Do they plug it into a service truck for a couple of hours before start?

-------------------------------
Travis

--
--Ray Andraka, P.E.
President, the Andraka Consulting Group, Inc.
401/884-7930 Fax 401/884-7950
email
http://www.andraka.com

"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Benjamin Franklin, 1759