---------------------------------------------------------- JabiruEngine-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Wed 07/12/06: 2 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 08:35 PM - Re: 3300 Winter Engine Warming Requirements? (N1BZRich@AOL.COM) 2. 10:38 PM - Re: 3300 Winter Engine Warming Requirements? (xl) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 08:35:28 PM PST US From: N1BZRich@AOL.COM Subject: Re: JabiruEngine-List: 3300 Winter Engine Warming Requirements? Hi Chris, It seems strange to be talking about cold weather procedures when it was 94 here in Virginia today. But to provide some input to your question, I am sure it does not get as cold here as up in Wisconsin, but what I normally do in put two 100 watt light bulbs under the cowl near the bottom of the engine. I also plug the inlets and put a big blanket over the cowl to keep the heat in. We sometimes get temps in the low teens and this procedure seems to keep the engine compartment about 40 degrees above ambient temp in my hangar. Don't know if that would be the case in WI. I have used this procedure during the winter months for over ten years, first on my Bonanza, and now with my Jabiru 3300 powered Esqual. Blue Skies, Buz ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 10:38:21 PM PST US From: xl Subject: Re: JabiruEngine-List: 3300 Winter Engine Warming Requirements? --> JabiruEngine-List message posted by: xl I'm in Seattle, so I don't have much subfreezing starting experience. When it is below ~45F I do preheat. I also richened the idle mixture based on the Jabiru tech tips. If I don't richen the mixture and preheat I may not get it started before the battery runs down. If you can't get it started right away it probably won't start. I had to jump start once and switch to a charged battery before I started preheating. You'll need some sort of heater below 40-50F. My plane is parked on the tarmac, no hanger. I don't have electricity available. I use a length of aluminum dryer vent and a propane torch. I shove the vent into the lower cowl and point the torch into it. The colder it is the longer I wait. Usually the preflight prep time is long enough for the carbs and manifold to get warm enough. This method would probably take too long if the OAT was below 20F - unless I used more torches. Even if it will start, preheating is easier on the engine and battery. It may be cheaper to heat the engine externally than to run it to get the oil temp above 100F. Joe E N633Z @ BFI CH601XL, Jabiru 3300, 360 hours http://www.cleanh2o.com/633z/