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:

Cold temperatures significantly challenge aircraft engine starting by congealing oil, weakening batteries, and causing metal contraction, leading to increased wear and potential damage.
To prevent engine damage, pilots must use temperature-appropriate seasonal oil and preheat the engine, especially when temperatures fall below specific thresholds (e.g., +10°F or -12°C).
Always follow the aircraft's Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH)/Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) and engine manufacturer's guidance for cold weather operations, ensuring proper preheat duration, avoiding over-cranking, and allowing for sufficient warm-up 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.