Why Do You Need To Preheat?

By Dave Juwel

Talking with Mr. Doug Evink, CEO of Tanis Aircraft Products, a manufacturer of pre-heating products, he says everyone flying in cold weather needs to pre-heat their aircraft before flight. Failure to do so may diminish your battery capacity, create mechanical and electrical stress, and cold starts could even damage your engine.

Authorities say starting a cold engine can cause 500 hrs cruise wear and tear on the engine. Low temperatures can cause material seizures and short circuiting. Preheating will preserve your engine life, give you greater operational utility, and greater engine reliability. Decreased warm-up time due to preheating saves you fuel. Preheating give you greater reliability in all weather conditions.

It is very important that all engine components, but especially the cylinder head, be properly preheated in order to assure a safe cold weather start.  When you use a heater, just because the engine starts does not mean its OK.

The best thing to do is use a heating blanket, even in a hanger, because the heating blanket causes deeper heat in the critical areas.

Mr. Evink further states that their equipment heat soaks an engine 70 degrees above ambient in 6 hours.

FMI: www.tanisaircraft.com