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PIREP - Reiff Preheat Systems
I recently decided to install an electric engine Preheater in my 1967
Cherokee 140. After reviewing the systems from EZ Start Heat, Inc., Tanis Aircraft Systems and Reiff Preheat Systems, I chose the Reiff standard system. Three items made the Reiff system compelling: 1. The system is modular - I initially thought I would start with a sump heater and add the cylinder heaters later if needed. The Tanis heater is sold only as a complete unit, and EZ Start does not offer cylinder heaters. As it turned out, I bought both parts of the Reiff system, but the modular approach is a nice touch for those of us in regions where the need for a full system may be somewhat debatable. 2. No need for dual probes - For those of us with CHT probes (used with cylinder head gauges or engine analyzers) the Reiff system makes the installation of the cylinder heaters very simple and significantly less expensive than the Tanis system. Reiff cylinder heaters are based on a placing a band around the base of each cylinder, and therefore do not need to share space with the CHT thermocoupler (probe). The special Tanis dual probes cost $150-$170 apiece, which is over and above the cost of their base system. 3. Cost/Value - The Reiff system was not inexpensive, but I believe it represented the most value. The total cost for my application for their standard system (sump and cylinder heaters) and was $349. The components bought separately would have totaled $448 ($289 for the cylinder heaters, and $159 for the sump heater). I believe the Tanis system would have cost about $595 (although the pricing seems a bit complicated or confusing) for and installation without CHT probes. With the probes the cost increased to somewhere above $1000 and below $1405 depending the type of probes and the application (again, the pricing chart is a bit confusing). The EZ Start system (which is a sump heater only) was priced at $159. The one significant debate between the Reiff and Tanis cylinder heaters is which one does a better job of heating the cylinders. The Tanis elements are probes that are inserted in the top portion of the cylinder head, while Reiff elements are incorporated in a metal band that is clamped (much like a large, heavy hose clamp) around the base of the cylinders. I am far from being an engineer, but it seems the debate is without merit since both are warming the cylinders. In actuality they are within inches of each other. Installation: Having chose the Reiff system I placed the order via phone and the kit was received within a couple of days via UPS ground. The instructions were very straightforward, easy to follow and complete. I reviewed then in advance, and then called the company for any additional tips or hints before starting the installation. Bob Reiff (company founder and owner) answered the phone on a Saturday morning. He took the time to review the process and offered a couple of tips to make the process go smoothly. Within 4 hours (which included removing and re-installing the top and bottom cowlings, I also worked alone and was not in a hurry) after I started the unit was installed and plugged-in curing the epoxy that holds the sump heater in place. All components looked to be of high quality and the design fit my application without any modifications. The biggest challenge, based on the instructions, would have been to fabricate a piece of lumber to hold the sump heater in place during the curing process. The company actually simplified this about the time I bought my unit. They now ship a piece of metal tape with each sump unit. The metal tape holds the unit in place during the epoxy curing process. Summary: Bob Reiff has designed and built a "better mousetrap" in the engine preheating market. His systems are competitively priced, made of high quality materials and are well designed. The two-year warranty and 30-day money back offer are nice touches. It is a pleasure doing business with someone that believed in a concept and took the initiative to bring a product to the aviation marketplace at an affordable price. bty...I am not affiliated with the Reiff company in any way, just a pleased customer. Joe Young '67 P28A-140 / K34 |
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