Tannis?

[astjp2]

Does anyone use a tannis engine preheater for thier engine? Is it worth the $400.00?

http://www.tanisaircraft.com/heatersystems.html

[freightpilot27]

Re: Tannis?

Worth every penny. It even keeps the snow melted off the top of the cowl in our 172. (on the rare occasion the airplane is outside when it snows and we forget to bring the engine cover).

[Dan Michaels]

Re: Tannis?

I hated mine. It turned the oil black right away. Go to northern tool and get a pad heater and install it on the oil tank. $35.00. Cover the engine and use a freeze block plug in. On the 150 I used a very slim 850 wa heater under the cowel with a freeze block plug. Worked great and was only $12.00. It kept the engine compartment 40 deg. With the big access covers to the engine on a Taylorcraft this would work great.

Dan

[PT13Pilot]

Re: Tannis?

If I was going for the full heater, I like the Reiff heaters better than Tannis. They have small metal heater for the sump and band clamp heaters for the cylinder barrels. I've installed a lot of them and they are nice! I just put a sump heater on the one I'm working on, just an EZ heat. The old ones with the diamond shape didn't like to stay stuck to the round kidney tank, and there old silicone glue was crap. I got the model 360 this time which is a circle with cuts in it. It had peel and stick glue too. Fit the sump a lot better. I left it plugged in last night with a blanket over the engine. It's only about 10 here today so we'll see how it did last night.
CJ

[GLB]

Re: Tannis?

Hi I've used a Tannis heater for over 20 years they are worth every penny and in 20 yrs has never turned the oil any color, I seriously doubt that 40 to 100 watts will do that beside the heat pad is the exact same thing, perhaps your thinking of the oven heater types of heat element? they definetly are poor at best.

[3Dreaming]

Re: Tannis?

One thing to remember is use it correctly. Plug it in the night before your planned flight. Don't just plug it in and leave it until next time. If you do the latter it can shorten the life of your engine due to corrosion. Tom

[PT13Pilot]

Re: Tannis?

Definately don't leave them on all winter! I have seen that done and the corrosion will run rampant.
I have another customer with a 182 with a full Tannis that has it plugged in through a switch that's cell phone activated. He calls, and it turns on or off at will! Not sure what it costs, but it's a neat idea. He lives a fair distance from the airport.
And the only heater I've seen that cooks oil are those $10 dipsticks from the car parts store. I've seen people try those and pull out a long piece of charcoal later on.

[wlas]

Re: Tannis?

Tim....I've installed many of both systems and pretty much everyone likes the Reiff heaters that go around the cylinders, I got one guy that has the Reiff heaters on his cylinders and a tannis on his oil sump, but I don't think anyone leaves them on all the time, only an hour or so before flight.

[Dan Michaels]

Re: Tannis?

Agreed I was just a rookie and had it plugged in all the time. I was training at the time so I flew once or twice a week. 172N it did start all the time.

I will say though that the little heater and freeze block was used on a 150H and it started all the time also.

Dan

[jmvolpp]

Re: Tannis?

As one who preheats without electricity, I'm envious of all this plug-in talk!

Mike V.

[N74DV]

Re: Tannis?

Pre-heat? cold weather? snow? never heard of the stuff.

[n6346m]

Re: Tannis?

Pre-heat? cold weather? snow? never heard of the stuff.

Too bad. Ski flying is almost as much fun as float flying, and a heck of a lot more fun than wheels.

[PT13Pilot]

Re: Tannis?

I'm with DJ, or I'd like to be! It was 3 degrees here last night. Wind/snow/ice finally stopped. Hoping to get the Tcraft back to the owner today with a good weather window so he can fly with the family around Christmas. Left it plugged in last night, we'll see how it does. And made a cover plate for the cowling so we'll see how the oil temp runs. Hope to fly it a little first and get some video too.
CJ

[flyguy]

Re: Tannis?

Skipped going to the hangar today as I just caught a cold, but temperature was up to 55F here today. Guess we should be counting our blessings out here considering the weather in most of the country.
Darryl

[Steve Long]

Re: Tannis?

I've had really good luck with the Tanis system on my F21. It came with the plane and it's really handy here in Anch. where it gets just cold enough to need it most of the winter. And, ski flying is really great!