REFLECTOR: Are engine/oil heaters worth it?

[Andy Millin]

An inexpensive electric heater that is shaped about like a shoe box.
Really, just a very big hair dryer only the fan is larger and turns slower.
You can find them at Wal-Mart for about $20.

Andy

-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Terry Miles
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 10:02 PM
To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
Subject: RE: REFLECTOR: Are engine/oil heaters worth it?


Thanks everyone.  What is a milk box heater?
Terry

-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Scott Derrick
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 6:09 PM
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Are engine/oil heaters worth it?


I heat my plane when the temps fall below a 20-30f range.

I use two cheapo electric milk box heaters. One hangs on the prop and 
blows hot air onto the engine from the cowl exhaust port. I cover the 
cowl with a insulated blanket to help keep the heat in. The other goes 
in the cabin. I think its just as important to heat the gyros, switches 
and levers, I also like to be warm when I taxi and take off. My wife 
really likes it. I heat the inside up to 85-90 degrees. The engine 
usually shows about 60 degrees if the outside is down to 0.

two $20 heaters and an old blanket is a cheap way to go and works like a

charm.

Scott

Chuck Jensen wrote:
>
> Aviation Consumers, engine builds, et al, seem to be fairly consistent 
> in the recommendation that preheat between 20F and 35F is recommended 
> and required below 20F if you like to fly to the full TBO. The numbers

> vary slightly from source to source, but as said, they are consistent
> in recommending it. Interestingly, continuous heat may not be best. 
> The warmth in the oil will certainly drive off any moisture present, 
> but the cold engine above recondenses it to form water droplets that 
> fall down and the process starts all over again.your own miniature 
> rain forest. Hard to know if that actually occurs, but seems 
> plausible. In sum, a heater seems superfluous for Orlando, 
> occasionally useful for Chattanooga and essential for Chicago.unless 
> the big bucks for a heated hangar are no problem.
>
> Chuck Jensen
>
> -----Original Message-----
> *From:* reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org]
> *On Behalf Of *Terry Miles
> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 08, 2006 12:33 PM
> *To:* 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
> *Subject:* REFLECTOR: Are engine/oil heaters worth it?
>
> Dear Anybody,
>
>     http://www.reiffpreheat.com/
>
>     The above is a engine heater company that shows up each year at
>     Osh. I am thinking that oil viscosity alone is sufficient to
>     handle startup and idle RPM to temps down to zero degrees F
>     without using these things...assumming I make sure I have good oil
>     temp at takeoff. They make a ring-type heater that wraps around
>     each cyl. Or a cheaper version that is just a big spot heater
>     attached to the underside of the oil sump.
>
>     Are these good ideas? I am trying to finish up my wiring plan and
>     need to decide on some of this stuff now if I can.
>
>     Thanks,
>
>     Terry
>
>     Illinois/Penn
>
>     IO540K
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
>
> _______________________________________________
> To change your email address, visit
> http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
>
> Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
> user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
> Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
> Check old archives:
> http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
_______________________________________________
To change your email address, visit
http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector

Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
_______________________________________________
To change your email address, visit
http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector

Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html