Around here (MN) we don't usually get that much engine corrosion damage
but I have seen what I now recognize as cold start damage as being more
common.

Bingo. Those who say it's bad to leave your pre-heater plugged in often
ignore the fact that the alternative is to fly without pre-heat.

We've all done it. You get to the airport, and discover that you forgot to
plug the danged thing in last night. It's freezing in the hangar, and
you've got passengers who want to go *now*. Do you plug in your Tanis
heater and tell them to wait an hour? Nope -- you just cringe and go.

I suspect the damage done in a cold start (and I mean COLD, not 40 degrees)
is substantial. To avoid this, I leave it plugged in from (roughly)
December 15 to March 15, and fly every few days.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"