Winter flying

R

Rattler 1

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Sep 17, 2022
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101
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Minnesota
I recently purchased a Champ with an A65. Today its 18 Deg. out. Other than installing the oil cooler block off plate, is there anything else I could do to ensure the engine stays warm enough and also the cabin heat? When I had a Cessna 150 the engine inlet holes in the cowling had a winterization kit that would block off about half the opening. Is there something recommended?

Thanks.
 
You'll probably need to cover part of the cylinder air intakes. I made some covers from .032 half moon shaped and used hardware store plastic P-trap elbows to direct air into the carb and heater openings. I also used old round inspection cover springs to hold them in place, I don't like drilling holes in my cowling. Some people use duct tape to cover part on the openings, but that can pull paint off at the end of the season.
I've seen covers that close off part of the bottom opening in the boot cowl.
I've never used the asbestoes covers for the oil tank and intake tubes as I never had any. That should bring the oil temp up to a reasonable level.
The stock heater is just barely adequate to warm your left big toe.
Dress warm and you should be good for about 1 hour, then it's time to land and warm up in your car. Without preheat, yours should start into the 20's, but it's kind of hard on the engine. A friend of mine had priming into all cylinders and his would start all the way down to near zero.
I used to fly until it got about 30 and no lower, no preheat and I could tolerate about an hour on a sunny day in Minnesota.
 
Thanks for the information. I'm from Minnesota also. I flew it yesterday. Was around 18 deg. out. My oil temp was about 120 with the oil cooler cover in place. The inside was not too bad. I do have some drafts coming from somewhere. If I stop them I should be OK. I want to be able to fly above 10 deg. I might make some sort of engine cowling covers to maintain engine temp and increase the flow coming into the cab.
Thanks again.
 
I have Reiff cylinder band heaters installed along with an oil tank heater so the engine is warm when I start it. I have it connected to a Switcheon cellular controlled switch so I can turn it on with my cell phone a couple hours before I fly. Works great.
 
I couldn't find my old photos so I went out to the cold garage to make new ones.
My cowling is original, your inlets may be different so the attachment may be different too. Like I said, I really don't like drilling holes in my cowling.
My covers sit in the flange around the inlets with half of inspection cover steel springs holding them in place with screws and nuts. The white plastic is P-trap from the local hardware store in different diameters to match the carb and heater openings.
Simple, light and it works for me, you may invent something better. IMG_1767 (1024x683).jpgIMG_1768 (1024x683).jpgIMG_1769 (1024x683).jpg
 
Champdriver said:
I couldn't find my old photos so I went out to the cold garage to make new ones.
My cowling is original, your inlets may be different so the attachment may be different too. Like I said, I really don't like drilling holes in my cowling.
My covers sit in the flange around the inlets with half of inspection cover steel springs holding them in place with screws and nuts. The white plastic is P-trap from the local hardware store in different diameters to match the carb and heater openings.
Simple, light and it works for me, you may invent something better. View attachment 5843View attachment 5844View attachment 5845
Click to expand...
Thanks for the pics. Good idea.
 
I never said I went out at 10 F. I may have flown in the past at maybe 25, but more like in the 30's on a sunny day. I didn't have any preheat so that was part of the limit, the rest was how long you could take being in there even with extra warm clothes.
Everyone knows that the stock muffs and anemic heater will only "warm" your left big toe.
All that said, when it's good winter weather it's really good for flying, and easy to spot deer in the woods too.
 
Champdriver said:
I never said I went out at 10 F. I may have flown in the past at maybe 25, but more like in the 30's on a sunny day. I didn't have any preheat so that was part of the limit, the rest was how long you could take being in there even with extra warm clothes.
Everyone knows that the stock muffs and anemic heater will only "warm" your left big toe.
All that said, when it's good winter weather it's really good for flying, and easy to spot deer in the woods too.
Click to expand...
I think Bartman is referring to my post that I want to be able to fly down to 10 deg. I'm going up today as its going to be 20 deg and 11 mph winds. Yes, fun to spot deer but I look for Coyotes. I went out last night with my thermal setup and got two. Love winter flying. I'm contemplating skis.
 
This is what I've made so far for additional winterization kit. I plan on putting weather stripping around the outside edge as to not scratch the paint on the cowling. I'll attach them without drilling any holes in the cowling. Going to put a piece of aluminum strap across it that will have a screw on each end to clamp on the cowling. I'll attach pictures when I get it done. Not sure if there is enough air flow or too much but am excited to try it out. I flew today at about 20 deg. and got 115 degree oil temp. Trying to get it around 150 or so.
 

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I installed my winterization plates today. Took it for a test run. Oil temp got to 145 deg with an outside temp of 35. I then blocked off some of the holes with duct tape. Tested and now got 155 deg. My oil psi went to 25 while in cruise and down to 10 at idle. I am using 20-50 oil. Am I OK?
 

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I did some more experimenting today. I wrapped the oil sump with insulation along with installing the cowling block off plates. I think it was too much. The oil temp reached 175 deg which dropped the oil psi to 18 lbs cruising. I then removed the block off plates and tried again with just the insulation on the sump. The temp went to 155 deg and oil psi up to 28. I feel by just putting the oil sump insulation does the trick. I ordered a sump blanket from Wag Aero today to replace my McGiver one. I think I'm good to go. Still have the plates in case I need them at much lower outside temps. Today was quite warm at around 45 deg outside.
 
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