The Art of the Airplane Warmup

Do it wrong, and you could be looking at an expensive repair bill or excessive wear and tear on the engine.

Meg Godlewski

Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 11:45 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Kimberly Johnson

Cold temperatures cause aircraft oil to congeal and sap battery strength, which can lead to overworking and potential damage of the starter and engine.[Credit: Jason McDowell]

Key Takeaways:

Winter flying poses significant challenges to aircraft engines, as cold temperatures cause oil to congeal, reduce battery strength, and lead to damaging metal contraction, necessitating specialized starting techniques.
To prevent engine wear and damage, it's crucial to use temperature-appropriate (seasonal) oil and preheat the engine, with preheating often required below 10°F (-12°C).
Various engine preheating solutions exist, from installed systems and portable units to DIY methods, all aiming to warm the engine and oil before starting.
Pilots must strictly follow the aircraft's Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) for cold weather operations, including guidelines on preheat duration, avoiding over-cranking, monitoring oil pressure, and allowing sufficient warm-up time before flight.

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One of the biggest challenges of winter flying is starting the engine. Do it wrong, and you could be looking at an expensive repair bill, or at the very least, excessive wear and tear on the engine.

Cold temperatures cause oil to congeal and sap battery strength, which can lead to overworking and potential damage of the starter and engine. For this reason, many aircraft manuals, pilot’s operating handbooks (POHs), and engine manufacturers advocate specialized cold weather starting techniques, which include preheating the engine and making sure the aircraft is using temperature appropriate oil.