snowwave83

Any tips on how to start your engine (.46 2 stroke) in the cold, step by step....? Ive been having troubles starting my engine in the cold which causes me to flood it sometimes. What are your tips for starting, emptying a flooding engine and what might be causing some problems.

steve

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

1 Start your car

2 Set your plane so the car's exhaust is blowing directly on the engine

3 wait 5 minutes

Works every time

Stick Jammer

If it's real cold out, try letting you car exhaust warm it up a bit before starting.

Minn beat me to the punch on that one!

rider_89

LOL....I guess that would actually work when I think of it, I am noob and that is the first time I seen something like that, it is hilarious though!

N1EDM

My Feedback: (2)

The guys at my field toss a few drops of lighter fluid down the intake. It works for me! This seems to work down around the freezing mark. I haven't tried it in the 'single digit' temps yet.. Perhaps a combination of warming up the engine under the exhaust and (if that doesn't work on its own) a few drops down the intake might help you out...

Any comments, guys?

Bob

ZimboRaider

Well, I suppose if you really want a warm engine we could always try some nitro glycerine down there Couldn't guarantee the engine running after that, though you should be the one doing the running!!
Come to think of that I could just try it out on my sister's car though 1st. You know, start off big??

randy41

First of all let me state that all i use is four stroke engines.
That being said all i do is start the darn engine(I have no problem
starting my engines in single digit weather using 15% sinthetic
four stroke fuel. The saito engines even fire up better in the
winter than the summer. The OS engines do take a little more
cranking. The YS engines of mine will fire right up. Iam glad
i dont have any problems.

DBCherry

My Feedback: (4)

I've found that setting the High Speed Needle about a half turn richer will help a lot.
Dennis-

TerrellFlyer

Most of my glow engines are OS,running 15% Sig fuel,on top of the line OS glow plugs,in the winter I change the high speed needle valve setting a tad,I've only flew down to 27 F and I can't tell much difference on starting or running the engines,have a couple of norvel engines that can waste a trip to the flying field if everything isn't just perfect.

Hossfly

I lived for some 17 years in Chicago-land, '68 -- 85. We flew regularly in the winter. I chickened out at below 20*F. Some flew in the single digits.

There are two easy methods to get a Glow engine to fire in COLD wx.

1. Use a prime of a couple drops of propylene oxide. I do not really like this as prop. is hard to contain and a drop too much will flood the engine.

#2 and the easy one. Get a small plastic bottle with a squirt top. Fill 1/2 (not critical) with your glow fuel and the other 1/2 with plain ol' regular gasoline. Open Carb about 40-50%. Choke the engine to bring fuel to the carb. Squirt several drops of the prime fuel in the carb. Flip it a couple flips, and proceed to start in normal fashion. If it starts and dies, you have it warmed a bit and it may restart normally, if not repeat the procedure.
Gasoline having a much lower flash point (temp. where it can be vaporized for combustion, -- NOT where it flashes!!) than methanol, will start much faster than methanol, yet the added glow fuel will provide some lube for the initial cold start.
It works.

snowwave83

Hossfly, I will try that tip tomm. if I can get a little gasoline, and Ideas for possible subsititues? How cold has this procedure worked....I wont try to fly below high 20's. Thanks for your tips again, their all very useful ! !

00000000000000

Wouldn't Coleman fuel work great for priming? That guy that flew the RC across the Atlantic this summer used Coleman fuel (white gas). Maybe it would be too hot? 2 weekends ago I was at the field with my instructor and he was trying to fire my trainer up. It was about 23 outside. I recall him asking someone "Got any ligher fluid?". So I imagine the ligher fluid trick is a good one! The plane fired right up, after a new glow plug. Go EVO .46 TPS! - Joe

FLYBOY

My Feedback: (11)

I tend to just put the glow ingniter on it and let it sit for a minute or two and then start it. Usually fires right up.

Phi3l

WD40 makes a good "starting fluid. Just squirt a little into the carb. The engine will run long enough on the solvent part of the WD40 to warm the engine so by the time the glow fuel gets there it keeps running. Plus the WD40 provides the oil so you aren't starting "dry".

Phil in MN[8D]

raptor5900

My Feedback: (4)

wd 40 will also blow plugs out alot.