VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 28 Air Filter

Dumb question: What is the reason for pre-heating the air on intake? I thought in general cooler air gives better power.

-R

RF, somewhere I read that heated air helped to atomize the fuel better, and prevents the carb from iceing? specially when the engine is cool, maybe an early form of a heat rizer? I would think it was necessary on a updraft carb mounted on the other side of the engine from the exhaust manifold. I know small airplanes all have a way to apply heated air to the carb intake, to prevent the venturi effect from iceing up the carb.