Overview

When the temperature dips below freezing, preheating the engine before starting is good operating practice. This pre-engine heater sends heat to the lower part of the engine; from there heat migrates to the engine case and cylinders. Combined with an engine blanket and cowl opening plugs, the engine becomes warm enough to start after three or four hours depending on ambient temperature.

Description

To pre-heat N9103D’s engine, the pre-heater is placed at the bottom edge of the engine compartment at the cowl flaps, with cowl plugs installed to seal the engine compartment. With warmed air pumped into the engine compartment, the heater brings engine temperature (as measured by oil temperature on the EMS) from -1° C (30° F) to 18°C (65°F) in about three hours.

In practice, the ‘Star enjoys pre-heating anytime ambient temperatures fall below 10° C (50° F).