Engine Pre-Heaters/Preheating Techniques

[Dale Campbell]

I hanger in the mountains of Penna, very cold in winter.
My hanger has insulation & the winter sun sometimes get the inside 10 degrees warmer than outside temp. I picked up two $40.00 ceramic heaters at Wal-Mart. I open the front gear doors with emergency pump handle & pull the gear motor breaker, that's on my 337H model. On front engine I place the ceramic heater on top a metal bucket to gain more height. I cover both front & rear engines with blankets, close off openings in front & rear cowlings with blankets. On rear engine, I place ceramic heater in main gear wheel opening. I set timers to ceramic heater to come on 5 hours before my next flight. When I get there the engines are nice and warm. You can also put a ceramic heater in cabin to get interior up to temp. That way all instruments and controls are also nice and warm.