Cold weather starting.

This morning's forecast was for 30 degrees F and the ATIS was reporting 0
degrees C. After opening the hangar door I touched the concrete floor and
could tell it was much warmer than the air temperature. I placed a
digital thermometer against the front cylinder fins and got a reading of
45 degrees F. The thermal mass of the floor and earth beneath had kept
the engine at a safe starting temperature.

Interesting. I've also found that our hangar retains heat well in mildly
cool temperatures like this.

When it's cold like today, however (it's currently +3 F as I'm writing
this), the weak winter sun just can't bring the hangar up to much over 15
degrees.

That's why an oil pan and cylinder head heaters are essential in the upper
Midwest.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"