| Winter Kit |
The standard cabin heat set up in my previous M-4 and M-5 provided no comfort for winter
operations. I had some heat transfer studs placed in the heat exchange area. That worked wonders
on creating more heat but the standard heat duct up in the top right of the firewall doesn't put heat
over to the pilots feet. If your back seat heat comes through the left bottom firewall you can
disconnect and direct the heat to the pilot's feet. I still wanted heat to the back seat so I had another
heat muff with studs made for the left tailpipe. Then I put another heat valve in the firewall so it
comes out right between the pilots feet. Now even taxiing out the first thing on a cold morning I can
feel warm air.
For the winter of 09-10 I have used a combination of the baffles shown in the pictures. Early in the
year I installed the front cylinder baffles. They help keep the CHTs up in below O weather. I have
had them on at +40F and the CHTs run in the 350 - 360 range. Most of the winter I have run with
the front inlet taped of and the air tunnel to the oil cooler and carb removed. This helps keep the oil
temperature up and supplies warmer air for the carb which supports better fuel atomization. At +40
the oil temps will get to 210F. At O degrees F the temps run around 170F at 65% power. If I'm going
to be flying in temps below 0 I install the baffle shown above. At -20F the oil runs at 165F and the
CHTs around 300F. The one problem I do have is when I fly into a layer of warm air. The temps will
raise high enough that I have to throttle back or even land to remove the plate to keep from over
heating CHTs and oil temps. It would really be nice to have a movable cowl flap.
year I installed the front cylinder baffles. They help keep the CHTs up in below O weather. I have
had them on at +40F and the CHTs run in the 350 - 360 range. Most of the winter I have run with
the front inlet taped of and the air tunnel to the oil cooler and carb removed. This helps keep the oil
temperature up and supplies warmer air for the carb which supports better fuel atomization. At +40
the oil temps will get to 210F. At O degrees F the temps run around 170F at 65% power. If I'm going
to be flying in temps below 0 I install the baffle shown above. At -20F the oil runs at 165F and the
CHTs around 300F. The one problem I do have is when I fly into a layer of warm air. The temps will
raise high enough that I have to throttle back or even land to remove the plate to keep from over
heating CHTs and oil temps. It would really be nice to have a movable cowl flap.
Nov. 2010 Update I have been out this year at -5F without the front cylinder baffles on, the bottom blocking
plate on, and the air tunnel removed. The front cylinders ran around 300F. The oil temp would only get to
150F so I taped off most of the cooler and the temperature went up to 185F. The blocking plate seems to
force more air through the heat muffs.
plate on, and the air tunnel removed. The front cylinders ran around 300F. The oil temp would only get to
150F so I taped off most of the cooler and the temperature went up to 185F. The blocking plate seems to
force more air through the heat muffs.