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 weather starting poses a significant challenge for aircraft engines due to congealed oil, reduced battery strength, and metal contraction, leading to potential wear or damage.
Using temperature-appropriate oil with the correct viscosity is a primary step to ensure proper lubrication and prevent engine damage during cold starts.
Engine preheating is essential for safe cold weather operations (often required below +10°F/-12°C) to warm the oil for circulation, reduce wear, and manage the contraction of engine components.
Pilots must adhere to the aircraft's Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) or Flight Manual (AFM) for cold weather procedures, including proper preheat duration, avoiding over-cranking, and allowing for adequate engine warm-up.

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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.