ENGINE PRE HEATER FOR WINTER

[Isham]

Has anyone used a Aerotherm type heater for their FD airplane?

https://aerothermheaters.com/

 

[Tom Baker]

If you are going to spend that kind of money I would just install a Tanis. It works well, and goes where the airplane goes. just take an extension cord.

 I have used a $20 Patton heater from Wal Mart, a home made plenum, and some ducting from the hardware store for several years. There are others around the airport that do the same. For about $40 and an afternoons work you can have something that will do the same as what you linked to.

[Jacques]

I use a heatgun..on the floor..with tubing to the bootom of cowling

 you can warm the cabin as well (with a second heatgun ) ,by 'turning on ' the cabin heat and shooting air through the front air inlet

[Isham]

Hi Tom.  I actually have the walmart version I built for my Cherokee.  Just wanting to see if anyone knew of any issues leaving it on all winter.  That's what I did with the Piper and I assume it will be okay with the Rotax.

 

[Tom Baker]

When I had my CTLS I left it on when in the hangar during the winter months. I stuck one hose in the oil door, and the other I used a cut down Daisy sour cream container and plugged it in the round cooling duct hole.

[Isham]

Good input.  Guess I better run to the grocery for potatoes and sour cream!

[Trip]

6 hours ago, Tom Baker said:

If you are going to spend that kind of money I would just install a Tanis. It works well, and goes where the airplane goes. just take an extension cord.

 I have used a $20 Patton heater from Wal Mart, a home made plenum, and some ducting from the hardware store for several years. There are others around the airport that do the same. For about $40 and an afternoons work you can have something that will do the same as what you linked to.

This is what I made for my Cherokee 235 years ago.   It worked well and was like $30.   Put it on a timer.   4-6 hours would be toasty (in Alabama but it does get 20 or below).   

[Jim Meade]

There are several Reiff's used locally, including mine, and we get along.  I just bought one for my new build which has a Rotax 912ULS and it was $272 including freight.

[Isham]

My Cherokee originally had an oil pan heater.  I left it on a few days and turned the oil black.  After that I made the Walmart dry air heater and used it for years without any problems.  To me it is easy to use and keeps everything under the cowl warm.  Just my opinion.

[Animosity2k]

I'm using a Reiff and seems to work fine here in Cleveland Ohio where we are typically in the 15-30s for the bulk of our winter.