"Mike in GR" wrote in message
ink.net...


"Dave Butler" wrote in message
news:1119360233.195544@sj-nntpcache-3...
That's interesting. I've never owned a heater, don't know about Tanis or
Reiff, since I've been flying, I haven't lived in a climate where
heating is called for, but...

I'd think "at the head" is not a particularly important place to have
the heat. Seems to me heating the oil in the crankcase so it can be
pumped more quickly and start lubricating is a better bang for the buck.

... or maybe the rationale is that heating the head relieves the "choke"
of the cylinder barrel and reduces wear that way? If so, I have to
wonder whether the few degrees rise you're likely to get from an
electric heater has any significant effect on the amount of choke.

Why heat the heads?

Ignorant and looking to learn... Dave

2 reasons to preheat- Lycoming et-al want you to preheat for damage
issues, i.e. choke and oiling as you mentioned. The second reason for heat
though, is to get the pig to start in the first place.

Also, a full Tanis set-up has a small heater for each cylinder and a pad
on the pan to warm the oil.


As does Reiff, and it has a thermostat that Tanis doesn't.