Good Preheater?

[rbuck]

With winter coming, I have to look into a good, and cheap, way to preheat my engine. I recently moved and haven't owned a plane in a colder area before. Does anyone have a favorite product/method that's especially cost effective?

[Bravoman]

I have a toga with a Tanis engine heater that the previous owner who was from mass and Maine installed. Although I live in Ga we get some spells in the 20s and 30s and it works great to get the oil into the 70s. I typically plug it in the night before a flight, but don't leave it plugged in continuously because I have heard doing so could promote condensation and hence internal engine corrosion

[Marauder]

With winter coming, I have to look into a good, and cheap, way to preheat my engine. I recently moved and haven't owned a plane in a colder area before. Does anyone have a favorite product/method that's especially cost effective?

I installed the Reiff pre-heater a couple of years ago. Works well.

[Guest]

Reiff and Tanis make very nice systems.  If you're budget minded any of the EZ Heat types with an old sleeping bag from the Salvation Army to keep the heat in.  If you're more still more budget minded Wolverine Heaters makes a whole line of non aviation ones, I use one of these.

Clarence

[slowflyin]

 $18 at Wally World.   Add a piece of dryer vent hose and stuff it in the cowl flap.  Complete the system with a moving blanket ($10) and remote cell phone switch ($200).  Total system with remote start and stop for under 250.   Without remote- about 35 bucks.

I purchased a vent hose with a louver on the end and it wedges perfectly between the handles on the face of the heater. (Remove the louvers )   I like this set up because I can set it away from the plane and mitigate the risk of fire.   On the down side- not so good for traveling.     Here is a pic I found via google of someone else using a similar set up.

I I used flexible vent hose via the cowl flap.

One of these works great in the baggage compartment.  Get the little one.  It's maybe 16" tall.   I set mine very low and maintain 45-50 degrees or so.  I've always worried about drying out my leather on the back of the seats over time with high heat.  Not sure if this is a valid concern but 50 feels great when its in the 20s outside. 

 

[slowflyin]

Sorry, this pic didn't post previously.

[slowflyin]

Someone else using the same heater with semi rigid hose.

[M20F]

I installed the Reiff pre-heater a couple of years ago. Works well.

I have a Reiff Turbo XP with a pad on the oil cooler and a cowl cover.  Whole set up including install was less than $1000 and in about 3hrs it has the entirety of the cowl at 70 degrees with cylinders and oil in triple digits.  I park outside in North Dakota a couple of times each winter and even at -10 it warms right up.  Nothing to carry but an extension cord. 

If you fly in the cold a lot it is going to be the best 1 AMU you spend. 

[MooneyBob]

I have a Reiff Turbo XP with a pad on the oil cooler and a cowl cover.  Whole set up including install was less than $1000 and in about 3hrs it has the entirety of the cowl at 70 degrees with cylinders and oil in triple digits.  I park outside in North Dakota a couple of times each winter and even at -10 it warms right up.  Nothing to carry but an extension cord. 

If you fly in the cold a lot it is going to be the best 1 AMU you spend. 

I have the same with two pads on the oil pan. I also have the remote cell phone switch so I can turn it on anytime from anywhere. It sends me a txt when it's on or off or if there is a poweroutgage. 

[gsxrpilot]

I've got a Tanis that I removed from my C. Don't know what it's worth, but I'm not using it.

[amillet]

I have the Tanis 100 system on my J model installed 19 years ago when the aircraft was based in Minnesota.  Rebuilt Lycoming will be shipped next month.  Is it worth removing the Tanis system from old engine and putting it on new engine?  I am based in Western Washington and seldom use the pre-heat.  Install new a Tanis 400 rocker cover heaters instead of cylinder elements of old 100 system?

[Hank]

I have one of the oil pan heaters. Works great! Bought a lightweight extension cord to travel with. Driving to the airport the night before to plug in works; having to go back in the snow the next day to unplug got old. I bought a cell switch in the Vendor forum here from philipny, and really love it. Comes in handy since moving back South, too, where it's less cold for a short time and never snows. 

[SkyBound]

+1 Vote for the Reiff. I have great experience with mine. Get their cell switch with it. It's important not to pre-heat the engine unless you will fly right after to avoid moisture and corrosion.

[DrBill]

I use 3 100W bulbs, two on pigtails and one in a ceramic ceiling fixture.. wired with zipcord to a single A/C plug into a timer.

2 pigtails go under the pan thru the oil check hole and the ceramic fixture goes under the radios (on hump between pilot and copilot).

I set timer to come on at midnite and off at 10 am. Set it up the day before and If I elect not to go the lights go off at 10.

Cover the cowl with a pair of blankets.

Works great for me here in NC.

Bill

 

[steingar]

Had a Tanis heater in my last aircraft and loved it, am thinking of adding it to the Mooney.  No light bulb is going to contend with an Ohio winter.  I used to keep my heater on a garden timer so it would come on during the weekend.  It did come on some weekends I didn't fly, but it doesn't seem to have done the engine any harm.

[Robert C.]

I researched Reiff and Tanis extensively, and after discussing it with my AP decided to go for the Reiff (Ovation so with IO-550 engine). Cheaper and just as effective in the places (inside the engine/oil pan) where it matters. Worked like a charm for me during last year's brutal New England winter.

YMMV as they say

[carusoam]

Collection of things to consider...

1) heating pads on the block for ordinary climates.

2) additional heating devices for the cylinders for the more extreme climates.

3) a cell phone switch to turn it on or off.

4) where the plug goes. Out the bottom or up by the oil dipstick access door.

5) small cabin warming device with additional safety features.

anything else?

best regards,

-a-

Edited September 15, 2015 by carusoam

[DXB]

If you're as cheap and lazy as I am, and assuming you have a hangar, this worked great for my C model last winter:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-1500-Watt-Utility-Ceramic-Portable-Heater-with-Pivot-Power-675919/202843067

Take 1 cowl cheek off.  Set on stool that raises to just above bottom of cowl.  Cover top of cowl with old sleeping bag.   No extra added ductwork etc.  Even in sub 20F lows, by morning EVERYTHING (including oil sump, crank case, oil cooler, jugs on both sides) is warm to touch.  15 minutes after turning it off and finishing preflight, it's as easy to start as in the summer.   If it's staying above freezing, don't bother with the sleeping bag.

Not exactly portable to the FBO ramp, so need to go places that offer preheat.  I've noticed the preheat charges are typically comparable to the fee to plug in your Tanis etc. overnight anyway.

I may threaten my CB status this year by springing for the cell phone activated switch and a second heater for the cabin.

[Oldguy]

I had the Reiff oil pan and cylinder heating system on my Cessna and have put the Reiff oil pan heater on my J. Using it and an old sleeping bag over the cowl and prop, I am warm enough to crank without any worry. This year I will be adding the cell switch even though I only live 5 minutes from the field.

I was surprised how much better it warmed with the prop covered, but realized a big aluminum heat sink does tend to bleed off heat fairly well in the winter. D'oh!

 

John

[StevenL757]

I have a Reiff Turbo XP with a pad on the oil cooler and a cowl cover.  Whole set up including install was less than $1000 and in about 3hrs it has the entirety of the cowl at 70 degrees with cylinders and oil in triple digits.  I park outside in North Dakota a couple of times each winter and even at -10 it warms right up.  Nothing to carry but an extension cord. 

If you fly in the cold a lot it is going to be the best 1 AMU you spend. 

Couldn't agree more.  Same configuration here, minus the cowl cover (she's always hangared).  Factory is putting these on as options for new aircraft and retrofits for existing...I've used both "major" brands of heaters between several aircraft, and found the Reiff to be far superior.

Edited September 18, 2015 by StevenL757

[Marauder]

Couldn't agree more.  Same configuration here, minus the cowl cover (she's always hangared).  Factory is putting these on as options for new aircraft and retrofits for existing...I've used both "major" brands of heaters between several aircraft, and found the Reiff to be far superior.

One thing that I didn't see mentioned this time around, but is worth discussing again is how to pre-heat when you are in the middle of winter sitting on a transient ramp. That is why I think a Reiff or Tanis system has an advantage over propane pre-heaters.

I carry a small Yahama generator with me that I can plug in both the Reiff and a small ceramic heater (with tip over protection) for the cockpit. Chain the generator to the plane's gear, throw an insulated cover over the cowl and go stay warm in the FBO.

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[StevenL757]

I researched Reiff and Tanis extensively, and after discussing it with my AP decided to go for the Reiff (Ovation so with IO-550 engine). Cheaper and just as effective in the places (inside the engine/oil pan) where it matters. Worked like a charm for me during last year's brutal New England winter.

YMMV as they say

Exceptional choice!  :-)

[Houman]

 

One thing that I didn't see mentioned this time around, but is worth discussing again is how to pre-heat when you are in the middle of winter sitting on a transient ramp. That is why I think a Reiff or Tanis system has an advantage over propane pre-heaters.

 

I carry a small Yahama generator with me that I can plug in both the Reiff and a small ceramic heater (with tip over protection) for the cockpit. Chain the generator to the plane's gear, throw an insulated cover over the cowl and go stay warm in the FBO.

 

 

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I'm setting this up on my Mooney this year, getting the Reiff system and already have a small Honda Generator E2000i, what size of generator do you have, this is what I got : 

http://powerequipment.honda.ca/generators/inverter-series/eu2000i

I have always been reluctant to carry it in the plane, it is about 50 lbs, and has gasoline inside of it. I was told that I could run 100LL in it, but would need to have it clean more often. 

Would be interested in your thoughts, not sure Canadian laws would even permit the transport if it in the plane, maybe if it was drained of all the fuel...

[carusoam]

Why clean it more often?

100LL is stable so that the gas that is left in it from last winter doesn't cause you to clean the carburetor out before this winter...

there may be some brown LL crap coming out of the exhaust pipe though...

i have a lawn tractor that is going to use the 100LL experience when it's tank runs empty...

best regards,

-a-

[Marauder]

I'm setting this up on my Mooney this year, getting the Reiff system and already have a small Honda Generator E2000i, what size of generator do you have, this is what I got : 

http://powerequipment.honda.ca/generators/inverter-series/eu2000i

I have always been reluctant to carry it in the plane, it is about 50 lbs, and has gasoline inside of it. I was told that I could run 100LL in it, but would need to have it clean more often. 

Would be interested in your thoughts, not sure Canadian laws would even permit the transport if it in the plane, maybe if it was drained of all the fuel...

I have the Yahama version. I fill it with regular gas treated for the ethanol and carry it onboard. There is a shutoff valve for the fuel. So, if something caused it to leak, I have other issues.

Never ran it on 100LL. It runs on low power draw so I can get 8 hours on a full tank. More than enough to pre-heat. When I hook up the ceramic heater, I'm down to 4 hours of run time. Still more than enough.

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