Pracical Unaided Starting Temperatures
01-15-2009, 08:38 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Pracical Unaided Starting Temperatures
Question for the experts: What is the minimum pratical engine starting ambient temperature for smaller model diesel engines? I.E. how cold can it be for me to go to the field and expect to get reliable starts?
I've been breaking in my PAW .09 with temperatures on the 60sF, but now it's going lower and will stay there for a while. I've got 10, 2 minute runs in and want another 5 before really leaning it out and working for a good idle. Preliminary readings with a 7X4 Top Flight wood prop are 12.5K top end and as low as 2800 RPM idle. Literature says I can go into the lean zone for operation and not hurt the engine.
Assume a good engine and new fuel - Old English Mix in this case.
Thanks,
John C
I've been breaking in my PAW .09 with temperatures on the 60sF, but now it's going lower and will stay there for a while. I've got 10, 2 minute runs in and want another 5 before really leaning it out and working for a good idle. Preliminary readings with a 7X4 Top Flight wood prop are 12.5K top end and as low as 2800 RPM idle. Literature says I can go into the lean zone for operation and not hurt the engine.
Assume a good engine and new fuel - Old English Mix in this case.
Thanks,
John C
01-15-2009, 09:44 PM
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RE: Pracical Unaided Starting Temperatures
If at home you have two very handy "warming" tools - your handy heat gun and your automobile exhaust. Since you usually have no heat gun at the field I would suggest using your automobile exhaust. That's been my "cure" for a cold engine for more
than forty years of diesel and glo
ORIGINAL: John C
Question for the experts: What is the minimum pratical engine starting ambient temperature for smaller model diesel engines? I.E. how cold can it be for me to go to the field and expect to get reliable starts?
I've been breaking in my PAW .09 with temperatures on the 60sF, but now it's going lower and will stay there for a while. I've got 10, 2 minute runs in and want another 5 before really leaning it out and working for a good idle. Preliminary readings with a 7X4 Top Flight wood prop are 12.5K top end and as low as 2800 RPM idle. Literature says I can go into the lean zone for operation and not hurt the engine.
Assume a good engine and new fuel - Old English Mix in this case.
Thanks,
John C
Question for the experts: What is the minimum pratical engine starting ambient temperature for smaller model diesel engines? I.E. how cold can it be for me to go to the field and expect to get reliable starts?
I've been breaking in my PAW .09 with temperatures on the 60sF, but now it's going lower and will stay there for a while. I've got 10, 2 minute runs in and want another 5 before really leaning it out and working for a good idle. Preliminary readings with a 7X4 Top Flight wood prop are 12.5K top end and as low as 2800 RPM idle. Literature says I can go into the lean zone for operation and not hurt the engine.
Assume a good engine and new fuel - Old English Mix in this case.
Thanks,
John C
01-16-2009, 07:15 AM
#3
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RE: Pracical Unaided Starting Temperatures
John, I've run some Diesels when it was 30f but I can't remember doing it any colder. Its about 8f here right now, I'm sure I could get an engine started, but its me that won't start.
01-16-2009, 10:53 AM
#4
Thread Starter
RE: Pracical Unaided Starting Temperatures
Thanks for the responses. My vehicle is a diesel with a 4" exhaust pipe and a cold exhaust at idle (or not under load). Sounds like I can use 50F or so and expect to get a start. Last two days at the field I was flying electrics with frost on the starting benches and glow a bit later in the day, but still under 50F. Maybe next week...
John C
John C
01-16-2009, 11:10 AM
#5
RE: Pracical Unaided Starting Temperatures
If you are going to try and rough-it in the winter be VERY careful and use good hand protection. The ingredients in diesel fuel evaporates very fast and can give you frost bite.
I would suggest resorting to building when it is below freezing and flying (or engine running) only when it is above freezing.
As a teen, I ran diesels in cold weather and got lots of cold hands and bloody fingers, but that may have been because I was just learning diesels at the time (nineteen fifties). I have more sense now.
George
I would suggest resorting to building when it is below freezing and flying (or engine running) only when it is above freezing.
As a teen, I ran diesels in cold weather and got lots of cold hands and bloody fingers, but that may have been because I was just learning diesels at the time (nineteen fifties). I have more sense now.
George
01-16-2009, 11:27 AM
#6
Thread Starter
RE: Pracical Unaided Starting Temperatures
I too was running diesels in the 1950s...but in South Florida where we rarely got down to 50F, though they may this week. I do remember delivering papers with numb fingers on my bicycle though [X(].
ohn C
ohn C
01-18-2009, 03:41 PM
#7
RE: Pracical Unaided Starting Temperatures
I'm not sure what "unaided" means here, electric starter or a friend who flips better...?
But if you preheat the engine with a small torch it is very easy to start. One can then easily hand start the engines even when it's below freezing, the problem is to fly wearing gloves...
But if you preheat the engine with a small torch it is very easy to start. One can then easily hand start the engines even when it's below freezing, the problem is to fly wearing gloves...
01-18-2009, 06:32 PM
#8
RE: Pracical Unaided Starting Temperatures
ORIGINAL: Mr Cox
I'm not sure what "unaided" means here, electric starter or a friend who flips better...?
But if you preheat the engine with a small torch it is very easy to start. One can then easily hand start the engines even when it's below freezing, the problem is to fly wearing gloves...
I'm not sure what "unaided" means here, electric starter or a friend who flips better...?
But if you preheat the engine with a small torch it is very easy to start. One can then easily hand start the engines even when it's below freezing, the problem is to fly wearing gloves...
Funny thing, language... Sorry, couldn't resist.
[&o] [
] George
01-19-2009, 09:39 AM
#9
RE: Pracical Unaided Starting Temperatures
Ooops, sorry about that...
I guess/hope blowtorch would have been a better word to describe it, i.e. a low heat flame like a butane/propane flame set to low heat.
I guess/hope blowtorch would have been a better word to describe it, i.e. a low heat flame like a butane/propane flame set to low heat.
01-19-2009, 02:40 PM
#10
RE: Pracical Unaided Starting Temperatures
ORIGINAL: Mr Cox
Ooops, sorry about that...
I guess/hope blowtorch would have been a better word to describe it, i.e. a low heat flame like a butane/propane flame set to low heat.
Ooops, sorry about that...
I guess/hope blowtorch would have been a better word to describe it, i.e. a low heat flame like a butane/propane flame set to low heat.
A bunch of us were winter flying CL one time when it started to snow very hard just after we launched one of the guys. He could not see his plane, only could follow the lines out so far. When the engine quit he made a successful but bouncey landing. We gave up for the rest of the day.
...sigh! Things you do when you are young.
George
01-19-2009, 02:47 PM
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RE: Pracical Unaided Starting Temperatures
ORIGINAL: gcb
Then again, some Brits are probably wondering how you can preheat an engine with a flashlight.
Then again, some Brits are probably wondering how you can preheat an engine with a flashlight.
Trust me, it's possible!
- Tim
01-22-2009, 09:34 PM
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RE: Pracical Unaided Starting Temperatures
When my dad was flying control line in the late '40s there was one kid who flew well totally blind. He just felt where the plane was with his arm!!!
Treven
Treven
01-23-2009, 12:40 PM
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RE: Pracical Unaided Starting Temperatures
Hi John,
When we developed our diesel conversions they had to start by hand in 32F and did. The problem was setting the needle in the wind chill of the prop wash. Over cooling in the air also had to be solved with a piece of foam around the cylinder.
Bob Davis
Davis Diesel Diesel
When we developed our diesel conversions they had to start by hand in 32F and did. The problem was setting the needle in the wind chill of the prop wash. Over cooling in the air also had to be solved with a piece of foam around the cylinder.
Bob Davis
Davis Diesel Diesel
01-23-2009, 01:53 PM
#14
Thread Starter
RE: Pracical Unaided Starting Temperatures
Thank you, Bob. That gets me calibrated as to the art of the pratical, which is what I was looking for, not that I'll try at 32F !
Got the Frog 2.5 ready to go now with a needle valve from the UK.
Weather is looking better for next week, and AARP TAx Aide tax school is over, so maybe I'll work on my diesel flip for the PAW 1.5 as well.
John C
!Got the Frog 2.5 ready to go now with a needle valve from the UK.
Weather is looking better for next week, and AARP TAx Aide tax school is over, so maybe I'll work on my diesel flip for the PAW 1.5 as well
.John C
