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582 heater core installation and pre-heaters

6 posts in this topic

Posted

So the weather is getting colder and I'm thinking about a couple things.

I'm thinking about putting on an engine preheater, basically just a basic lower radiator hose circulation type heater like the one pictured. For this I'm just wondering if anyone else has installed one and what they think.

The next thing is the cabin heater.  I flew yesterday and the temp was about 40F and it seemed to do fine, but I'm not sure how well it will keep up when the temps are lower. The second picture shows how the cabin heater is plumbed up in my airplane right now. It has 2 heater cores and each one has a computer case style fan. What are others using? Does the plumbing look right? Any tips on boosting heat output?

Thanks,

John Brannen

 

Heater.jpg

Cooling system 1.png

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Posted

its a 2 stroke.. no real need to preheat it UNLESS its really cold and you don't have a clutch.  Then it is more important to heat the gear box so the oil will flow or you will play hell getting it to spin fast enough to fire.

I use a heat muff on mine and get cabin heat just like any other conventional aircraft.

 

For a quick preheater that will also thaw out the cabin and clear the windshield in no time this is what I am using.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/All-In-One-12V-8KW-Diesel-Air-Heater-Car-Parking-Heater-for-Truck-Bus-Boat-RV/133183800107?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D871543df0e044b189205b351852a9fc8%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D401382869584%26itm%3D133183800107%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Acff8bfbc-00ce-11ea-a887-74dbd180abca|parentrq%3A42458a5016e0aa18f15a5295fff35a6a|iid%3A1

I did a test last week on my brothers 170.  At 30 degree ambient temps.  In 45 minutes the engine oil temp went from 30 degrees to 97 and cylinder temps from 30 to 117.  Toss the 4" heat trunk in the cabin door and it was toasty in about 5 minutes.  

:BC:

 

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Posted

Yeah, I'm not too worried about preheating for the sake of the engine, but rather for my own comfort. I want to be able to fly in very cold weather and since my airplane has hot-water heat, I figured the lower hose heater would warm up the coolant so I'd get cabin heat faster, and wouldn't have to wait so long to reach takeoff temp. I have a long enough taxi from my hangar to either end of the runway that I would think the gearbox would be loosened up enough.  I guess we'll see on that.  The other reason I'm thinking about something like this is because I have an internet hotspot we use with our RV that I could put at the hangar in the winter, and with a smart outlet I could turn a lower hose heater on from home a few hours before flying. 

All that said, I'm glad to hear your options and definitely considering all options.

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Posted

Where did you find the inline pre heater?

Thanks in advance.

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Posted

I bought one through Advance Auto just now, you can pick up from store or get free shipping.  $41.99 plus tax.  JImChuk

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