Reiff pre-heat review

[larryb]

I recently installed a Reiff Hotband XP. I actually purchased the Turbo XP system, but have not yet installed the oil pan part. So I currently have 100W on each cylinder and none on the oil pan or the oil cooler. The oil is heated by conduction from the cyl heaters, and the oil cooler I suppose is heated by heat radiated by the cylinders.

 

Being an engineer, I wanted data on the performance, so I instrumented the cyls, oil, oil cooler, and ambient and tested the system overnight with both a blanket/cowl plugs and without.

 

I also measured the actual power of the system, which came out to 364 Watts. A little low, but within reason.

 

With the blanket, I get about 60 degree rise on cyls and 40 on the oil. Without the blanket, I only get 40 degree rise on the cyls. So the blanket is critical to get good performance.

 

The first two pics are the absolute temps and then the rise with the blanket/plugs. The second two are absolute and rise without the insulation.

 

My conclusion is that the current system is good to about 0 degrees, which is about as cold as it ever gets where I fly. More typically it's 10 to 20 degrees as a low. I may install 100W of the oil heater just to even things out a bit.

 

Larry

 

 

[Dave Marten]

I had the reiff bands on my Bonanza back in South Dakota and they worked great! Oil temp was about 50F ish at -10F. Had a full up insulated cowling cover and prop cover.

Try an old sleeping bag as your cowling blanket better insulation and your wife won't be upset at you for stealing the comforter!

You'll be fine for those really bitter California winters!

[larryb]

I got the comforter at a local second hand store for $7. Cowl plugs are $1.99 Walmart microfiber car washing sponges.

[Cruiser]

I have the Reiff standard system.

I just checked last week, after 3 hours operation without a cover, the cylinders were 65°F and the oil was in the 80s. Outside air temp was 22°F, airplane was in an unheated hangar. 

[John Pleisse]

I have a Tanis heater on an IO360 M20J. It performs much as Tom has chronicled his Rife above, however, my Tanis takes a good 4 hours or more to achieve similar warm temps. Gonna be a good 'ol fashioned winter this year. If you have a preheater....toss a 100' extension cord in the back.

[Marauder]

I have the Reiff standard system.

I just checked last week, after 3 hours operation without a cover, the cylinders were 65°F and the oil was in the 80s. Outside air temp was 22°F, airplane was in an unheated hangar. 

 

I have the Reiff Turbo XP version. One morning I showed up to the airport to drop off the new SDs for the navigator and I found my engine frigging hot! So hot in fact, I thought someone had flown it! Actually went to find the airport manager to view the films!

 

Turns out that my T-Mobile number on the SwitchBox must have been a popular "pay as you go" number and someone triggered it the heater the night before (have since put in the white list feature limiting calls to my cell number).

[aviatoreb]

-14F out there tonight.

 

..good morning!  Now its -26F out there.