Cold weather engine baffling

[kevinbrooker]

I did a search of the site looking for suggestions on prepping the engine for cold weather flying. I have an oil kidney blanket and induction tube covers on. The nose bowl oil cooler cutout has been taped closed and was planning on covering the intake grills half way down and half way out from the spinner. My intent is to keep the oil at similar temps to summer ops. Any suggestion/experience passed along will be greatly appreciated.

[Robert Lees]

Sounds like you're doing the right sort of thing. Are you in Alaska or in the lee of the Lake Effect?

[stormman]

ditto on Robert

[kevinbrooker]

Neither place. I live in Vermont. Just getting back into powered aviation after a 30 year hiatus. 6 months of potential snow on the ground so getting the airplane ready for colder temps is important. I taped off the grill near the spinner hoping to keep the cylinder heads cool with direct airflow and try to limit the cooling of the jug base and case. Swapped out the wheels for skis and been out flying. I didn't realize how much fun I had been depriving myself from.

[kevinbrooker]

Has anyone had any experience putting a fabric boot over the bungees to limit the infiltration of air into the cockpit? I see there are tabs for some type of fairing and figured a coated nylon boot might do the trick and not get into the way and add very little weight. Other ideas (including just leave it alone) are welcomed.

[n6346m]

Using a wood prop instead of metal helps.

Bob

[Mark Bowden]

Kevin, welcome back to powered flying. You mention you see tabs, yes there are supposed to be fairings over the bungees. They keep air out but importantly keep oil, grease, dirt and acid combustion products off of them and out of the cockpit.

If you look on Scott's blog at the following link and scroll down to pic #196 that is what they are supposed to look like.

In the winter I also tape up the wing root fairing gaps at the windshield and have foam weather striping on the door and window gaps.

And a blanket. lol

https://c-fclr.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_98.html

[kevinbrooker]

Thanks Mark. I have the outside covers/fairings and doped in some fabric to close up the bungee area from the inside beneath the seat sling. The wing roots have been sealed and the doorframe is also pretty tight. Instead of a wind coming through there are a few small air leaks. Was flying the other day with OAT at 700' MSL at 10F. flew for three hours and was never cold bit I did dress well.

Covering up part of the grill seems to work well too. Oil stays around 140-150F. My son (18 Y.O. and working on his Private) stopped for lunch the other day. Taxied about 1 mile across the lake on 8" of fresh powder. To keep the engine warm we ran at about 1400 RPM to taxi at a brisk walking pace before shutting down. OAT was 18F. We put the cowl blanket on as soon as we shut it down and an hour later the cowl was nice and warm. Started on the second blade with no prime shot.

Last night it rained and temps have been in the mid 30s with sun so the end of the ski season looks here or at least very near unless we get a decent jag of snow.

Thanks for all of the help and suggestions to get us back and keep us flying.

[astjp2]

Just dont fly below 0, unless you have a airplane set up for it, too many things can happen in the cold. Tim

[Robert Lees]

Thanks Mark. I have the outside covers/fairings and doped in some fabric to close up the bungee area from the inside beneath the seat sling. The wing roots have been sealed and the doorframe is also pretty tight. Instead of a wind coming through there are a few small air leaks. Was flying the other day with OAT at 700' MSL at 10F. flew for three hours and was never cold bit I did dress well.

Covering up part of the grill seems to work well too. Oil stays around 140-150F. My son (18 Y.O. and working on his Private) stopped for lunch the other day. Taxied about 1 mile across the lake on 8" of fresh powder. To keep the engine warm we ran at about 1400 RPM to taxi at a brisk walking pace before shutting down. OAT was 18F. We put the cowl blanket on as soon as we shut it down and an hour later the cowl was nice and warm. Started on the second blade with no prime shot.

Last night it rained and temps have been in the mid 30s with sun so the end of the ski season looks here or at least very near unless we get a decent jag of snow.

Thanks for all of the help and suggestions to get us back and keep us flying.

We need photos of you and your son and the aeroplane on snow / lake!