Explore Aircraft Engine Preheat System Parts

Frequently used in cold weather regions, pre-heating systems are designed to keep an aircraft’s engine or engines warm during periods of inactivity. As their name implies, they are used only in periods before flight, not during. 

The reason for why pre-heating is so important is because of the design of the engine. To save on weight, most aircraft piston engines use aluminum in their construction. Some parts that do not require as much strength, such as the crankcase, pistons, and cylinder heads are made from aluminum, while others that require more resilience, such as cylinder barrels, connection rods, and crankshaft, are made from steel.

Different metals, however, have different rates of expansion and contraction as they heat and cool. Aluminum contracts almost twice as much as steel in cold temperatures and will expand twice as much when heated. Because of this, the component clearances between parts made of steel and parts made of aluminum  shrink to the point that friction between moving parts can cause damage to the engine.

Pre-heating systems come in several different forms. The first is a forced-air preheater, which runs a gas, diesel, or propane engine to warm air and then pump it via tubes into the aircraft’s manifold. However, these pre-heaters do not distribute air evenly, so some parts of the engine can be warmed, while others are untouched.

Some aircraft engines will have an electric heating system installed on them. By attaching electrical heating elements to the cylinders, oil pan, and crank case of the engine, the system can simply be plugged into an outlet and given time to run.

Lastly, time in a heated hangar overnight can accomplish the same outcome as the first two options, with the added benefit of heating the entire aircraft as well. However, space in these heated hangars is often at a premium.

At Aerospace Aces, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we sell aircraft pre-heating systems and parts from some of the top manufacturers around the world. Some of these manufacturers include Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, and Lycoming.