Heater Operation Between Piper Seminole and Cessna 172

R

Revolutionist

New Member
Can someone explain the differences to how the Piper Seminole and Cessna 172's heaters work? I've always have had a hard time understanding the two.
 
The Seminole's heater burns gas and uses the heat from that to heat up air that enters the cabin.

The 172s heater uses heat from the exhaust gas manifold to heat up air which enters the cabin.

-mini
 
By reading the POH you'll find that both systems are fundamentally different. Way different. You question is akin to asking what is the difference between the engines on a PA-28 and a King Air 200.

What questions did you specifically have regarding either systems?
 
Even simpler-

Cessna 172 - holding your hands on the warm hood of your car after the engine's been running

Seminole - Those propane patio heaters at the restaurant.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong (been a while since I've flown the Seminole), but it's a Janitrol heater like you guys described above, and it burns .5 gal/hr from the left tank.
 
Crism said:
Correct me if I'm wrong (been a while since I've flown the Seminole), but it's a Janitrol heater like you guys described above, and it burns .5 gal/hr from the left tank.
Click to expand...

...and the schematic drawn in the poh has the source coming from after the selectors instead of directly from the tank...oh the slowmenole.
 
Adler said:
...and the schematic drawn in the poh has the source coming from after the selectors instead of directly from the tank...oh the slowmenole.
Click to expand...
No kiddin? I did not know that.

johnny-carson.jpg


-mini
 
If I remember correctly, the Seminole's heater burns .5 gallons per hour -- downstream of the left fuel selector/fuel filter.
 
Wm226 said:
If I remember correctly, the Seminole's heater burns .5 gallons per hour -- downstream of the left fuel selector/fuel filter.
Click to expand...

But if it was after the fuel selector, then it wouldn't be burning off the left all the time.
 
Adler said:
But if it was after the fuel selector, then it wouldn't be burning off the left all the time.
Click to expand...

Checked my seminole information manual and the heater feed is indeed after the selector valve. However it does feed from the left tank all the time- unless you select crossfeed on the left valve. No real practical reason to run the heater off the right tank, imo
 
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