I'll try that out and see. What symptoms of being too rich would I see? For future reference.

Maybe, i believe that CompHeat can be better heat insulator than foil

CompHeater is my next buy. I bought the ProTek one without realizing it was battery powered, now I have no use for it as I have no 3S 5000C lipos laying around

Surely a lipo is cheaper than a new Comp Heat?...

IMO preheating is overrated.. Yeah it's probably a good idea for the first several tanks, or when the temps outside are cold, but after break-in in normal temps I just put the heater on unconnected to let it warm up faster.. That preheating is some kind of must-do necessity is the RC equivalent of an urban myth afaic.. Alu foil and an old sock or beer cozie over that is probably perfectly fine... The preheaters are nice because that have that little flap in the middle for starting.. But is it worth a 100 bucks?....

It is a must do for me. I believe it allows me to get longer life out of my engines. But you do what works for you.

I honestly don't believe there is any objective evidence out there at all that preheating extends engine life. I think people think the idea of preheating sounds good so they just go with it. I seriously doubt there's any substance to it at all.

That is why I said do what works for you. I know for a fact it increases life for me and my friends. We have been using one long before they hit the market.

Pre heat during break in period is crucial, imo is a must. U need the sleeve to expand before starting engine.

For normal use, i believe pre heat to make it up to running temp n have the power when it hit running temp.

As for longer engine life, i agreed, especially for crank pin / conrod

Increases life or not.... I like being able to toss the car on the track and be at race temp in 1-2 laps instead of 3-4 minutes ( average lap times are about 30 seconds around here).... With the way temps and humidity plays its stupid little games here, I'd rather be ready to go than have to wait to make an adjustment if I have to...

Luck favors the prepaired

There is still no absolutely clear proof that preheating unequivocally prolongs engine life. People just like the idea because it sounds logical. Doesn't mean the idea corresponds to reality though. And honestly, it's probably faster to get up to temps by just starting the engine with the head covered and blooping back and forth a few times or doing a slow lap than waiting for the preheater to do its thing. Not to mention the hassle of charging and lugging around batteries, etc...

i´m in here, but today i do use a pre-heater as well :/

2005 i broke in a RB WS7 II, i had no clue about break in methods, just started it at 10° C outside temp and it idled, then i started turning laps and slowly race tuned it. no pre-heat, nothing.
this engine turned heads everywhere i raced, it lasted 50!!!! litres with just changing bearings. it was 50 litres of starting, screaming, idling and stopping.
just perfect.

i think it´s more of what herrsavage said, believing you´re doin something good to your engine with pre-heating.

RB is nova based, so it´s not totally off-topic lol...

Exactly. And yours isn't the only example. Lots of people used to not preheat and their engines still ran great and lasted long. Now people have these ideas in their heads - wrist pin this, sleeve expansion that - and are convinced that spending a bunch of money and time preheating makes a difference.., just because it seems like it should.

To be fair I do buy into it and try to preheat during break-in, but I don't only run at tracks with electricity, so it's a PIA to do it every time. So I do it when I can. And honestly I'm not even sure it's worth it. I just do it to hedge by bets. But my bet is pretty much that it makes no damn difference..

Engine heater's are like any other tool in your tool box. They aren't 500$ like Herr makes them out to be, Nor are they a "hassle" to lug around (110 or 12v)

As Jerm stated, to be able to drop the car on Pit row and have it Up to temp and ready to race in 1/4 the time it would take from a Cold start is the main benefit imo.

Exactly. I love to hit the track at near race temp and drop race laps times from the get go. Not roll around waiting for then tune to come in from temps. Plus I feel a heck of a lot more confident in early needle changes in a Qual from having a race temp engine to one who might still be warming up.

Engine heaters are worth their weight in gold in my books.

I think this subject is depends on worth it or not. But we all know when engine is up to temp it will produce more power/faster response.

Is just an optional like kits optional parts to make it better, have is a +, no but have nothing to lose.

Heat gun is wat i prefer for break in only