Engine heater left on 24/7 OWT BUSTED!

[John Pleisse]

Reiff may have built a better mouse trap, but it doesn't give them the right to take 3 days to return call, not answer the phone, let the phone ring endlessly, drag you through 15 minutes of BS taking a phone order, only to have them inform you (after wasting days of your time) that they don't take your credit card, smugly tell you they'll hold ordering info in case you come to your senses and then send a letter outlining their own bewilderment over why you wouldn't buy their product.

 

I had my plane open for an annual and a mechanic waiting while all of this transpired. This was also followed with a snipey e-mail exchange from Robert Reiff, asking if worked for the credit card company he didn't take.

 

I had no problem hanging up the phone and ordering a $400 more expensive system to make my point. My previous post on this thread is the only testiment backed up by borescope and oil analysis on a factory new engine as a reference, spanning more than a decade.

 

I would also add the rapidity with which an engine is heated and overall temperature should be viewed with caution. The Tanis is an even heated, lower temperature system well suited for leaving plugged in all winter. 

 

It ain't easy making a buck in GA, but some constants must remain.

[Marauder]

Reiff may have built a better mouse trap, but it doesn't give them the right to take 3 days to return call, not answer the phone, let the phone ring endlessly, drag you through 15 minutes of BS taking a phone order, only to have them inform you (after wasting days of your time) that they don't take your credit card, smugly tell you they'll hold ording info in case you come to your senses and then send a letter outlining their own bewilderment over why you wouldn't buy their product.

I had my plane open for an annual and a mechanic waiting while all of this transpired. This was also followed with a snipey e-mail exchange from Robert Reiff highlighted by his query, asking if I worked for the credit card company he didn't take.

I had no problem hanging up the phone and ordering a $400 more expensive system to make my point. My previous post on this thread is the only testiment backed up by borescope and oil analysis on a factory new engine as a reference, spanning more than a decade.

I would also add the rapidity with which an engine is heated and overall temperature should be viewed with caution. The Tanis is an even heated, lower temperature system well suited for leaving it plugged in all winter. It is also rubust and doesn't involve glues or other solvents.

It ain't easy making a buck in GA, but some constants must remain.

Can't speak to the after sale service treatment since mine has been working fine. Can speak about the buying process. Had no issues with me connecting live with someone who took my order and shipped the unit to me in a timely manner.

That said, I did get the impression that this was a small business operation and it is certainly possible that Ethel behind the phone could get easily overwhelmed with too many requests at one time.

John -- as to your point about rapid heating. When I researched the units, I thought the Tanis used a bayonet heater in the CHT port. While Reiff uses a band heater on the cylinder. I would think that the bayonet style would need to be hotter than the band in order to transmit the required heat through that rather large cylinder mass. Also, isn't firing up an engine the ultimate rapid heating?

[John Pleisse]

Tanis minimum heat time... 8 hours, newer systems.....6. The Tanis offers three options for CHT porting, depending on your engine monitor options. The Reiff's need to buy a Droid or an I-phone...maybe some call forwarding and a less arcane website. Maw-Paw is right. I indulged them more than 72 hours of my patience. No biggie....just put my money where my mouth is, Chris.

 

Tanis has a website that is easy to navigate, a full time sales department and they take all major credit cards.

[bd32322]

Your oil will take 4 degrees per minute to warm up. Minimum t/o for most engines is 100 degrees F, so on a freezing day, you would want to wait a little over 15 mins before you even think of running full power. Then, 30 mins thereafter for for complete lubrication at cruise power.

 

I preheat my engine and oil - so by the time I go to do my run-up its already past 100 - more like 120/130

I was more concerned about how long to cruise for - which you answered - thanks - looks like I am doing enough - with 2 flights per week for 1 hour and change - altho weather sometimes limits it to 1 flight