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Engine Heater

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Fox5flyer
Guest

Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 10:13 pm Post subject: Engine Heater

I'm looking for ideas for an engine heater.   Following are the things it needs to satisfy for my situation.

  

     - First, no electric is  available so it must be self sustaining, but battery power is fine.

  

     - Must be able to heat  engine up to at least 75 degrees in a reasonable time.

  

     - Must be safe with no threat of  the open flame torching anything or shrinking fabric.  This doesn't mean it  can't have an open flame.  It just needs to be safe.

  

     - Plans built is fine so long as  components are readily available.

  

     - Factory built is fine too if  someone has a setup to sell.

  

     - Must be  portable.

  

 If anybody has any meaningful suggestions they  can contribute I'd much appreciate it.  

 If offering to sell me something, please take that  off list.  Photos are welcome.

  

 Thanks a bunch,

 Deke

 S5 in a cold hangar

  

  

   [quote][b]

Tom Jones

Joined: 12 Mar 2006
Posts: 752
Location: Ellensburg, WA

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:59 am Post subject: Re: Engine Heater

Deke, I have been thinking that one of those "Tent Heaters" would work as an engine preheater.  You an see an example at http://www.outdoorsportz.com/OGTHOOOO1001.html

If you "Do the Google" you will find many examples"



Tom Jones

Ellensburg, WA

Fox5flyer
Guest

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:12 am Post subject: Engine Heater

Thanks Tom.  I like the option.  Keep the ideas coming folks!

Deke

do not archive



---

bearup(at)ida.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:55 am Post subject: Engine Heater

Deke,

  

 Having lived in Alaska for 25 years and having the same needs and  requirements that you mention below for preheating aircraft engines, I can  guarantee that the best engine pre-heater you can get, hands down is the Red  Dragon. You can purchase them from Chief Aircraft and Aircraft Spruce, or search  locally for them as well. 

  

 The Red Dragon is fueled from a portable propane bottle, and uses a 12 volt  car battery to run the electric operated fan.When used with a cowling  blanket/cover to retain the heat inside the cowling, your engine will be heated  in 30 minutes, or less, depending on the outside air temp. At -20 F, 30 minutes  would do the trick every time up in the Fairbanks area. Along with the heater  unit itself, you will want the 6' ducting hose that attaches to the end of  the heater and is placed up under the cowling to direct the heat to the engine.  I have pasted a couple of links below for you to check out. Good luck.

  

 Stan

  

 http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/eppages/reddragpreheater.php

  

 http://www.chiefaircraft.com/cgi-bin/air/hazel.cgi?client=13204987&action=serve&item=/Aircraft/Accessories/EnginePreheater.html

  

 [quote]   ---

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 8:45 am Post subject: Engine Heater

Hey Deke,  That's it.



Lowell



do not archive

---

Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 9:29 am Post subject: Engine Heater

I know you said no electric is available, but I'll offer this in case 

you decide to wire your hangar, or if anybody else is so inclined:



I use a ceramic disc heater sitting on a short step stool, aimed at the 

air discharge area under the rear of the cowl. I have a small (12" x 

18") sheet of stainless steel, about .020", that I use to keep the heat 

away from the fiberglass cowl. This aims the heat up under the engine, 

warms the oil pan, the oil cooler, and eventually the whole engine. I 

set it for 4:30 am, and by the time  the sun is up...6:30 or so these 

days...the engine oil is just about my takeoff temp...140°F. The heads 

are nearly the same temp, and by the time I taxi to the far end, it's 

ready to fly. This works well on my Jabiru, but you Rotax (and your 

Subaru, Deke) guys have a different configuration.



Lynn

On Saturday, November 4, 2006, at 07:34  PM, Fox5flyer wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   I'm looking for ideas for an engine heater.  Following are the things 

 it needs to satisfy for my situation.

  

     - First, no electric is available so it must be self sustaining, 

 but battery power is fine.

  

     - Must be able to heat engine up to at least 75 degrees in a 

 reasonable time.

  

     - Must be safe with no threat of the open flame torching anything 

 or shrinking fabric.  This doesn't mean it can't have an open flame.  

 It just needs to be safe.

  

     - Plans built is fine so long as components are readily available.

  

     - Factory built is fine too if someone has a setup to sell.

  

     - Must be portable.

  

 If anybody has any meaningful suggestions they can contribute I'd much 

 appreciate it. 

 If offering to sell me something, please take that off list.  Photos 

 are welcome.

  

 Thanks a bunch,

 Deke

 S5 in a cold hangar

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:12 am Post subject: Engine Heater

Deke,  I remember reading of an Alaska pilot using a length or stove pipe 

fed into the cowl with one of the old fashioned gas fueled "blow torches" at 

the bottom.  They would start if up early and return to their cabin for 

breakfast and oil heating - see below.  I suppose a propane torch might 

serve as a modern replacement of the blow torch or even a small multifuel 

camp stove might be best as it could use the aircraft fuel in a pinch.  If a 

fixture was made to center the flame of the propane torch or camp stove, a 

length of flexible aluminum dryer hose could be used as well.  this 

conceivably would help move the flame further from the airplane.   One other 

thing they did in extreme conditions is drain the oil, heat it in a pan on 

the stove and return it to the engine hot.  These were must fly commercial 

guys.



Lowell

---

Fox5flyer
Guest

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:40 pm Post subject: Engine Heater

Thanks Stan.  That Red Dragon unit is probably  the best on the planet.  Actually I'm looking for something a bit more  portable so that I can stow it in the baggage compartment for cross country  trips.  My Soob is a great engine, but can be a bit temperamental below 35f  ambient without some heat.  The Zodi tent heater looks like it just might  be what I need.  Still looking at options though so all suggestions will be  appreciated.

 Deke

  

 [quote]   ---

Fox5flyer
Guest

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject: Engine Heater

Thanks Tom.  That looks like a nice unit.  I might just go in that

direction, but still considering options.

Deke



---

Fox5flyer
Guest

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:57 pm Post subject: Engine Heater

Thanks Lowell.  That sounds very similar to the setup that I already tried.

What bothered me was the open flame going up through the pipe and I was too

paranoid to leave it alone for even a few minutes.  Also, it was difficult

to control the amount of heat going up the pipe and I caused a small amount

of damage to my belly fabric under the radiator, so I decided that I didn't

like the setup and would look for something more effective and safer.

Draining the oil wouldn't work very well on mine because like the 912 my

Soob has a remote oil sump.  The hot oil wouldn't really heat the engine to

ease starting.  Still considering options.

Deke

 Ps:  still waiting for a good day to install the low-fuel sender.  Too many

visitors are keeping me too busy with other things.  I did manage to see Bob

Dylan in concert the other night at the Palace...

 	  Quote: 	
		  

 Deke,  I remember reading of an Alaska pilot using a length or stove pipe

 fed into the cowl with one of the old fashioned gas fueled "blow torches"

at
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   the bottom.  They would start if up early and return to their cabin for

 breakfast and oil heating - see below.  I suppose a propane torch might

 serve as a modern replacement of the blow torch or even a small multifuel

 camp stove might be best as it could use the aircraft fuel in a pinch.  If

a
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   fixture was made to center the flame of the propane torch or camp stove, a

 length of flexible aluminum dryer hose could be used as well.  this

 conceivably would help move the flame further from the airplane.   One

other
	


[quote] thing they did in extreme conditions is drain the oil, heat it in a pan on

 the stove and return it to the engine hot.  These were must fly commercial

 guys.



 Lowell

 ---

bearup(at)ida.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 4:49 pm Post subject: Engine Heater

Deke,

  

 Check out the small catalytic heater on the link below. This looks  like it would work well for pre-heating, and appears that it would be simple to  adapt a tube to that would feed up beneath the cowling.

 Stan

  

 http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=5036-850&categoryid=3000

    [quote][b]

Fox5flyer
Guest

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:17 pm Post subject: Engine Heater

Thanks Stan.

 do not archive

 [quote]   ---

bearup(at)ida.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 7:49 am Post subject: Engine Heater

Check out the link below for the Northern Companion preheater. A very  effective and light weight engine preheat system designed by an Alaskan bush  pilot for the Alaskan environment.

  

 Stan

  

 http://www.myles-rec.com/Aviation%20Accessories/folder3/Northern%20Companion/northerntindex.html

    [quote][b]

Fox5flyer
Guest

Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:07 pm Post subject: Engine Heater

Thank you Stan.

 Deke

  

 do not archive

  

 [quote]   ---

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