Ace Flying Club of Endicott, Inc.
Preheat Information

Overview

When our airplane was stored in an unheated hangar, we used the engine preheater in cold weather. Here are the instructions for how to use the heater.

We no longer use the preheater because we now have a heated hangar.

Installation Instructions

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1. Open the cowl dipstick access door.

2. Unscrew the dipstick, pull it out a little, and set it onto the lip of the dipstick tube, so that the tube is open and water vapor can vent from the crankcase.

3. Insert the female end of the short black cord into the cowl dipstick access hole and plug the cord onto the heater plug that is tie-wrapped to the dipstick tube.

4. Close the cowl dipstick access door. You won't be able to close it all the way, because the black cord is passing through the hole. That's fine.

5. Plug the male end of the short black cord into the thermostat brick.

6. Use the orange extension cord to plug the thermostat brick into a wall receptacle.

7. Install the cowl blanket.

8. Wait six hours.

9. Remove the preheat equipment, screw the dipstick back into its tube, and close the cowl door.

Questions and Answers

• Why do we preheat the engine?
  It dramatically decreases engine wear during starts. It makes sure oil circulates immediately. It makes sure there are no cold spots in the engine where oil can congeal. It makes the engine start much more easily.

• When should I preheat?
  If it is going to be 20 degrees F or below when you fly, please ensure the airplane has been preheated for at least six hours before you start the engine.

• Do we leave the airplane plugged in all the time?
  No. Install the cords but do not plug them into the wall outlet.

• How do I start the heater?
  Call the FBO a few hours before your flight and ask them to go plug in the airplane.

• Where do I put the preheat equipment while I am flying?
  Put it in the club's locker in the hangar. The locker key is in the black zipper pouch in the tachometer log book.

• Can I take the cords and blanket with me, so I can preheat at my destination, before my return?
  Absolutely! And if you are going to be at your destination for just a couple of hours, installing the blanket while the airplane is parked will help keep the engine warm, even without plugging in the heater.

• What should I do when I am done flying?
  Unscrew the dipstick and set it ajar on the end of dipstick tube, such that the tube is left open. Install the short black extension cord. Install the thermostat and the orange cord. Install the cowl blanket. Do not plug the airplane into the wall outlet. These steps leave the airplane ready to be heated for the next pilot.

• Why do we leave the dipstick ajar?
  Heating sometimes produces water vapor inside the crankcase. Leaving the dipstick ajar leaves the dipstick tube open, which lets the water vapor escape.

• Where can I learn more about engine preheating?
  Visit Reiff Preheating Systems' World Wide Web site http://www.reiffpreheat.com/ for more information.

Revised January 6, 2009