Available Exclusively for Sporty’s
Tired of lugging around bulky equipment on cold winter days? This preheater quickly heats engines without all the clunky equipment usually associated with the task. Built into a standard 20” tool box, the SureStart Engine Preheater takes minimal room during the summer months when not in use and easily fits into most baggage compartments for the ultimate in portability. Provides over 20,000 BTUs of heat and will preheat most engines in 45 minutes (from 10°F) to starting temperature. Plugs into a standard 110V outlet and uses less than 15 amps.
Features:
• No more propane tanks to haul around and refill
• Electric fan and heating element
• Compact design
• Lightweight and portable (16 lbs.)
• Includes five feet of hose.
One Year Guarantee
Our one-year guarantee has not changed since we introduced our first product in 1962. If for any reason you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, let us know—we will make it right. If you would like a refund or exchange, please return the product on a timely basis in the same condition in which it was received.
Price Guarantee
Sporty's guarantees competitive pricing on everything we sell. If you find a competitor offering an identical item at a lower advertised price, just mail or fax us the ad, and Sporty's will match that price.
Standard Express Shipping
We offer the fastest shipping in the business, so you won't have to wait for your important charts or a last-minute gift. Since we stock almost everything we sell, we offer same day shipping: in-stock orders placed by 5pm Eastern (weekdays), will be shipped that same day, often within minutes of ordering.
Plus, all orders arrive in just 2 business days with standard shipping.
Overnight shipping is also available on most items.
Return Policy
For over 40 years, in addition to same day shipping, Sporty's has offered same day returns and same day exchanges. Each day, we process all returns and exchanges before new orders go out. We know of no other company who does this!
Reviewed On:
January 25, 2010 Would You Recommend This Product:
No.
Overall Rating
Durability
Reliablity
Value
Usability
Expectations
Pros
It works. Takes about an hour to pre-heat my engine at 32 degrees.
Cons
Needs a thermostat so you can leave it plugged in all the time and maintain the temperature. Not convenient to come out to the airport a couple hours early to pre-heat.
General Comments
For the money, I question the value here. It is nice and portable - basically a generic tool box with a heater crammed in it. I've seen other electric heaters that come with sponges and blankets to help the process and block openings, but your have to scrounge your own with this unit.
Given the option, I would purchase a different model/brand.
Reviewed On:
January 15, 2010 Would You Recommend This Product:
No.
Overall Rating
Durability
Reliablity
Value
Usability
Expectations
Pros
No Pros Listed From This Reviewer.
Cons
Switch broke off very easily.
Doesn't put out as much heat as expected.
Disappointed not good overall.
General Comments
Too much for the product for what it does should be about 200 dollars cheaper.
Reviewed On:
January 13, 2010 Would You Recommend This Product:
Yes.
Overall Rating
Durability
Reliablity
Value
Usability
Expectations
Pros
Very simple preheat solution if you have access to 110 V electric. Much less fiddly and compact than a propane-powered heater, and significantly less hazardous to use. A very tidy package.
Cons
Significantly less heat output than a propane-powered heater, so it will take a little longer to complete pre-heating. In my particular unit, the ceramic heating element had shifted in transit in its spring mounting, and was impinging upon the squirrel-cage fan. The unit had to be completely disassembled and reassembled to correct the issue. The heating element should be more securely mounted in the heat tube, or a flange should be installed to limit rearward shifting of the element to prevent this issue. The heat ducting is short, but that is pretty much mandated by its expected mode of use.
General Comments
Although an electric heater cannot be expected to have the heat output of a propane-powered heater, the increased safety-of-use, simplicity of operation, and compactness makes it a viable option. If you have access to electricity in the hangar, this is a very attractive option. It is best utilized by blowing hot air up into the cowling from below, which is why the short heat ducting is not a problem.
Reviewed On:
December 23, 2009 Would You Recommend This Product:
Yes.
Overall Rating
Durability
Reliablity
Value
Usability
Expectations
Pros
Unit does a good job of warming the engine. Not super powerful, but certainly adequate for most temperatures. I found that throwing a sleeping bag over the cowling helps a lot.
Cons
Unit seems overpriced for what it is. Another reviewer wrote about packing peanuts ending up inside the unit...that happened to me also.
General Comments
I would buy one of these again.
Reviewed On:
January 27, 2009 Would You Recommend This Product:
Yes.
Overall Rating
Durability
Reliablity
Value
Usability
Expectations
Pros
This heater is awesome! I use it on a Mooney M20C on cold mornings. She's a 1965 and gets cranky when the temps fall below freezing at night, but with this heater I have no problem starting in the morning.
It takes me about 15-30 minutes while I am doing a thorough pre-flight to heat the engine and oil enough to be warm to the touch. The ambient temperature is about 30-35 F when I am doing that. If it were colder, it would probably take a bit longer.
Set-up is very easy. I use sponges from Home Depot to seal off the cowl. The heating element takes less than a minute to cool down so packing it up is also very quick - not more than 2-3 minutes. Product is also light enough to come with me on trips (but finding an electrical outlet may be the bigger issue here).
Cons
The reason I rated the product low in the category of "product was as expected" is because the product arrived in a box full of packing peanuts. The packing peanuts went everywhere...including inside the hole on the tool box and into the heating element. It's a very narrow tube with some wire supports. It was impossible to get it out with my hands. I spent a good 30-45 minutes coaxing the packing peanuts out with everything from a skewer to a tape measure. (I thought about leaving the packing peanuts in there but I didn't want them to melt.)
General Comments
I would definitely suggest that a buyer unpack the product, remove the packing peanuts from every nook and cranny, and test it out at home before relying on it in the field.
The product is, in fact, quite ingenious. Very simple. The parts seem to be dependable and reliable.
The heater does work well. However, the ambient temperature is usually in the 30's when I run the heater in the morning. I have a feeling, however, that if the temperature were cooler it would not be as efficient. It takes me about 15-30 minutes to get the engine and oil warm to the touch. If the ambien temperature were below 30 degrees, I would expect it to take closer to an hour.
Reviewed On:
December 26, 2008 Would You Recommend This Product:
Yes.
Overall Rating
Durability
Reliablity
Value
Usability
Expectations
Pros
Worked well on my Cessna 400. You can monitor the oil temp on the G1000 as the heater was working. The heater is light weight. Easy to carry in the cargo space so you can use it while on a trip. The old propane tanks were heavy and diffucult to travel with this heater is much superior. I have not got an electric bill as of yet to tell how expensve it is to use.
Cons
The heating tube is not very long and is diffucult to get back in the box at times.
General Comments
I am very pleased with the heater and would recommend it.
