Home made engine cover/tent?

[digits_]

Hi all,

I was wondering if any of you have a suggestion for a home made engine cover for a small single engine airplane. Something that is at least a bit fire resistant so it is safe to use with one of those buddy heaters in the cowling.

The plane would be parked in a non-heated hangar with temperatures till -40. It would only fly in temperatures of -15 and up.

Regards,
digits

[HiFlyChick]

Years ago we were on a cross country and used a sleeping bag wrapped and tied around the cowling. To keep it from getting greasy, we wrapped a tarp around it first; we also wrapped another around it afterwards to keep it dry, but our aircraft was outside, so you wouldn't need that one unless your hangar is drafty enough to allow snow to blow in.

I'm not familiar with the heater type that you mention, but if it's inside the cowl I wouldn't think there's any fire hazard....

[ahramin]

If it's for insulation only, grab some old sleeping bags and sew them into an engine cover.

[Redneck_pilot86]

A wool blanket will provide some fire resistance, but as long as the little. Iffy is in deep enough it will be fine. The heat element will fail long before it gets to lighting things on fire, unless you soak it in gas. At -5 or so you don't even need a tent.

[Jungle Jim]

I use a moving blanket with grommet rings and short bungees to hold it in place.. They are cheap at Princess Auto

Jim

[anofly]

I use an old sleeping bag, on the outside of the cowl, and a car interior warmer, with a fan, inside the cowl. You said it's in a hanger , so in the hanger I don't tie mine down, but sort of push some in the air inlets. I keep the heater way down under the oil sump. On a 172 I would push it up in the bottom of the cowl from the rear. Don't worry about the cover burning, if the heater goes wacky in the cowl, and blows sparks on all those oil drips etc under there, other things will be burning before the sleeping bag catches. Cheers , a few hours at those temps should be enough. Don't leave it on full time.

[praveen4143]

Don't leave it on full time.

Also, pre-heat only if you intend to fly. Don't heat it and then not fly the airplane, the engine will build up moisture and that's hard on the engine.

[ahramin]

Don't leave it on full time.

Also, pre-heat only if you intend to fly. Don't heat it and then not fly the airplane, the engine will build up moisture and that's hard on the engine.

How does heating build up moisture?

[digits_]

I use a moving blanket with grommet rings and short bungees to hold it in place.. They are cheap at Princess Auto

Jim

I think we have a winner, I will try it out asap!