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sarg314(at)gmail.com
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 Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 8:39 am Post subject: how cold is too cold? |
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I was thinking about flying to Grand canyon (kgcn) which is about 1.5 hrs from here. But I note that the overnight temperatures are brutal. Down to about 0 F these days. The FBO will let me drag the plane into a heated hangar in the morning to warm up, but will temps that low overnight do any damage? Cracked plexiglass comes to mind. Any one have experience with this sort of weather? Perhaps I should just wait a month or 2.
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Tom Sargent [quote][b]
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jon(at)finleyweb.net
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| Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 9:28 am Post subject: how cold is too cold? |
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Hi Tom,
I think you have one seriously babied airplane!! J This may be the first time I’ve ever heard zero degrees described as “brutal”. J
I’d say go – the Grand Canyon is gorgeous all the time – even with a dusting of snow. Get started early and you can be back home the same day and not worry about the overnight.
Being from Montana and then Minnesota – my airplanes sat in the hangar on many -30 F nights without damage. Sitting outside isn’t much different than inside when it comes to sub-zero temps (assuming a typical hangar). My coldest flying temperature while in these areas was -10 F. Here in New Mexico, my RV doesn’t normally see temps as cold as my former planes but the occasional sub-zero temp does occur. I’ve not actually measured the inside hangar temp on nights like this but I’d bet it isn’t much different than the outside temp.
As far as damage goes, I can imagine the plexi might revolt if there is a “highly-stressed” area just waiting to crack but I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this happening. Not suggesting that I’ve heard every possible story though. What’s too cold? I doubt there is a sitting still limit (within reason). For flight; I dunno, the aspect that strikes me as the worst for the airplane is being unable to get oil/CHT’s up to a reasonable temp at cruise.
Slightly different topic - I am NOT a fan of cold starts. I know the book says they are ok but every car and airplane I’ve owned complain and scream in pain every time I do it to them. I like to preheat (anything below about 35 degrees) and FBO’s like to rape you for them (in my opinion) and/or heated hangar space.
Jon
http://jdfinley.com
From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of thomas sargent
Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2012 9:39 AM
To: rv-list
Subject: how cold is too cold?
I was thinking about flying to Grand canyon (kgcn) which is about 1.5 hrs from here. But I note that the overnight temperatures are brutal. Down to about 0 F these days. The FBO will let me drag the plane into a heated hangar in the morning to warm up, but will temps that low overnight do any damage? Cracked plexiglass comes to mind. Any one have experience with this sort of weather? Perhaps I should just wait a month or 2.
--
Tom Sargent
[quote][b]
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JohnF
Joined: 13 May 2010
Posts: 124
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| Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 11:36 am Post subject: how cold is too cold? |
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No, Tom, the cold won't hurt. I stored my RV6A in an unheated hangar and just preheated the engine before flying if it got to or below 35-F and no other problems. My now RV-12 is in the same situation, no plexi damage, and no engine harm if pre-heated a bit.
John
[quote] ---
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dave.saylor.aircrafters(a
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| Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 2:12 pm Post subject: how cold is too cold? |
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One thing I've seen is an EFIS that literally took some time to warm up. We had to run for about 15 min on the ground with the heater running before the screen would display anything other than a white blob in the corner. OAT was about 15F and it was cold-soaked. In retrospect I'd have left a heater in the cabin.
--Dave
On Dec 26, 2012, at 11:35, "JohnF" <n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us (n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us)> wrote:
[quote] No, Tom, the cold won't hurt. I stored my RV6A in an unheated hangar and just preheated the engine before flying if it got to or below 35-F and no other problems. My now RV-12 is in the same situation, no plexi damage, and no engine harm if pre-heated a bit.
John
[quote] ---
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smirdrv(at)hotmail.com
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| Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 4:15 pm Post subject: how cold is too cold? |
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Along the same subject; at what point is it necessary to pre-heat the engine/oil before start-up? I have an O-320 and the plane sits out side (at) HMT. Temps drop tohigh 30's to mid 40's. I'm running15-50w oil, and have a strong starter/Battery. What's the preferred point at which one should warm things up before cranking? Thanks in advance.
R.C.
Subject: Re: how cold is too cold?
From: dave.saylor.aircrafters(at)gmail.com
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:12:06 -0800
To: rv-list(at)matronics.com
One thing I've seen is an EFIS that literally took some time to warm up. We had to run for about 15 min on the ground with the heater running before the screen would display anything other than a white blob in the corner. OAT was about 15F and it was cold-soaked. In retrospect I'd have left a heater in the cabin.
--Dave
On Dec 26, 2012, at 11:35, "JohnF" <n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us (n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us)> wrote:
[quote] No, Tom, the cold won't hurt. I stored my RV6A in an unheated hangar and just preheated the engine before flying if it got to or below 35-F and no other problems. My now RV-12 is in the same situation, no plexi damage, and no engine harm if pre-heated a bit.
John
[quote] ---
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jon(at)finleyweb.net
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| Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 4:26 pm Post subject: how cold is too cold? |
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If you are a Mike Busch follower (I am), 32 degrees. Read Mike’s full article here:
http://www.avweb.com/news/maint/182846-1.html?type=pf
Hth,
Jon
http://jdfinley.com
From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of R.C. Flyer
Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2012 5:14 PM
To: rv-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: how cold is too cold?
Along the same subject; at what point is it necessary to pre-heat the engine/oil before start-up? I have an O-320 and the plane sits out side (at) HMT. Temps drop to high 30's to mid 40's. I'm running 15-50w oil, and have a strong starter/Battery. What's the preferred point at which one should warm things up before cranking? Thanks in advance.
R.C.
Subject: Re: how cold is too cold?
From: dave.saylor.aircrafters(at)gmail.com (dave.saylor.aircrafters(at)gmail.com)
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:12:06 -0800
To: rv-list(at)matronics.com (rv-list(at)matronics.com)
One thing I've seen is an EFIS that literally took some time to warm up. We had to run for about 15 min on the ground with the heater running before the screen would display anything other than a white blob in the corner. OAT was about 15F and it was cold-soaked. In retrospect I'd have left a heater in the cabin.
--Dave
On Dec 26, 2012, at 11:35, "JohnF" <n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us (n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us)> wrote:
[quote]
No, Tom, the cold won't hurt. I stored my RV6A in an unheated hangar and just preheated the engine before flying if it got to or below 35-F and no other problems. My now RV-12 is in the same situation, no plexi damage, and no engine harm if pre-heated a bit.
John
[quote]
---
| | - The Matronics RV-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List |
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carl.froehlich(at)verizon
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| Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 5:31 pm Post subject: how cold is too cold? |
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I’ve been using the Reiff oil sump heaters for 10 years (Vans and ACS both carry them). These are easy to install and work well. Anything below 40 degrees I plug them in. In a couple of hours the oil is up at 80 or so at engine start.
Just don’t leave them plugged in other than just before you plan on flying. The moisture driven off from the now warm oil will collect on the upper, cold part of the engine – like the cam.
Carl
From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Jon Finley
Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2012 7:26 PM
To: rv-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: RE: how cold is too cold?
If you are a Mike Busch follower (I am), 32 degrees. Read Mike’s full article here:
http://www.avweb.com/news/maint/182846-1.html?type=pf
Hth,
Jon
http://jdfinley.com
From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com) [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com)] On Behalf Of R.C. Flyer
Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2012 5:14 PM
To: rv-list(at)matronics.com (rv-list(at)matronics.com)
Subject: how cold is too cold?
Along the same subject; at what point is it necessary to pre-heat the engine/oil before start-up? I have an O-320 and the plane sits out side (at) HMT. Temps drop to high 30's to mid 40's. I'm running 15-50w oil, and have a strong starter/Battery. What's the preferred point at which one should warm things up before cranking? Thanks in advance.
R.C.
Subject: Re: how cold is too cold?
From: dave.saylor.aircrafters(at)gmail.com (dave.saylor.aircrafters(at)gmail.com)
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:12:06 -0800
To: rv-list(at)matronics.com (rv-list(at)matronics.com)
One thing I've seen is an EFIS that literally took some time to warm up. We had to run for about 15 min on the ground with the heater running before the screen would display anything other than a white blob in the corner. OAT was about 15F and it was cold-soaked. In retrospect I'd have left a heater in the cabin.
--Dave
On Dec 26, 2012, at 11:35, "JohnF" <n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us (n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us)> wrote:
[quote]
No, Tom, the cold won't hurt. I stored my RV6A in an unheated hangar and just preheated the engine before flying if it got to or below 35-F and no other problems. My now RV-12 is in the same situation, no plexi damage, and no engine harm if pre-heated a bit.
John
[quote]
---
| | - The Matronics RV-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List |
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