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Winter operations / lowest temperature for starting / preheating methods (merged)

I have the Tanis engine heater installed in my aircraft. I met the Tanis guy at Friedrichshafen and discussed the various options.
Obviously he’s a salesman but behind their product is some extensive testing and analysis to show why direct heating is the best, unless you have some serious KW of heat or 12hrs or more to work with.
It’s only been installed recently and only used once so far. The installation was straightforward, just a little time for tidying the wires.
I don’t have local power as I’m parked outside but my small ‘suitcase’ semi silent generator runs it just fine.
On my last trip without it, at around 1 deg C the engine started fine but did ‘sound’ cold.
Recently to test the generator could cope, at 5-6 deg C, I ran the heater for 30mins and the engine purred into life. Oil pressure up double quick and the temps were onto the EDM in good time too.
From circa 5 Deg C I expect 1 hr to be what’s needed to make the engine comfy and maybe upto 2 hrs if its much below. Below minus 5 I’d probably stay at home unless I’d been caught out, and it was to be the return journey.
Heading to Dusseldorf in the cold soon, and now I’m wondering what my options are for running the heater before the trip home. Is this something that they’re used to?

Last Edited by GA_Pete at 20 Jan 00:24
United Kingdom

GA_Pete wrote:

Heading to Dusseldorf in the cold soon, and now I’m wondering what my options are for running the heater before the trip home. Is this something that they’re used to?

If you land at EDDL, contacting Jet Aviation (FBO) in advance is probably your best option https://www.jetaviation.com/locations/dusseldorf

However EDDL is 99% Jets/Turboprop in the meantime. Also they don’t provide 100LL any longer AFAIK. Alternative, less expensive (GA) airfields in the area are EDLN or EDLE (both about half an hour car trip to Düsseldorf).

Last Edited by europaxs at 20 Jan 06:07
EDLE

GA_Pete wrote:

I have the Tanis engine heater installed in my aircraft.

Thanks!

LDZA LDVA, Croatia

EDLE has power outlets on the apron in front of the restaurant. Just talk to the ground staff, they have the tools to lift the little power poles out of the ground.
If you bring your own heater (as you do), you should be fine. That’s what I do in winter, when visiting family.

...
EDM_, Germany

Reading these posts I started to think not to fly in winter at all :)
I don’t have such sophisticated preheating equipment like what you propose.

But looking at the https://www.lycoming.com/content/operating-cold-weather
It is not really needed above -12 C…

LHFM, LHTL, Hungary

It is not really needed above -12 C…

Writes Lycoming… I’m sure they love to sell new engines, as well as spare parts

My guess is that most aircraft owners will read this sentence from the document linked above:
failure to preheat the entire engine and oil supply system as recommended may result in minor amounts of abnormal wear to internal engine parts, and eventually to reduced engine performance and shortened TBO time.

Dan
ain't the Destination, but the Journey
LSZF, Switzerland

Dan wrote:

Writes Lycoming… I’m sure they love to sell new engines, as well as spare parts

Of course I went through my mind, too.
But I think it is not likely that they will behave like that. I worked for many companies, but we when we have recommended maintenance and operation there was never an intention to speed up the wear and tear just to sell more maintenance and spare parts.

LHFM, LHTL, Hungary

Certainly Lycoming does not want to see premature wear or other problems, but they are often slow to change their advice from 50+ years ago. It’s not complex to find a way to pre-heat your engine, and if you believe in physics, you know that it’s better for the engine for many reasons.

https://hartzellprop.com/why-preheat-your-aircraft-engine/

https://www.avweb.com/ownership/the-whys-and-hows-of-preheating/

Fly more.
LSGY, Switzerland

I think what you need is a Tanis preheat system. In that kind of temperatures engine pre-heat is a necessity.

You should confirm whether you need the 115v or 230v system.

In case you need the 230V, the part number is: TA2925-2
In case you need the 115V, the part number is: TA2925-1
You’ll also need bonding sealant (part number: TAU02788)

(I know this company in Europe sells them: https://www.loma-air.com/en/)

(I only now noticed this is a post from 2012, my apologies)

Last Edited by Eagle20 at 18 Mar 11:35
Belgium

Someone (Mike Busch book?) recommended Reiff heaters

EGHO-LFQF-KCLW, United Kingdom
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