No matter how many examples pilots can say how they have not had any problems with carb icing, my question is: 1. Why take the risk? and 2. Do you really know what it is when it happens? I have iced 3 times here in Florida, at low altitudes below 2000 feet, and in all 3 cases it came on with symptoms akin to bad plugs, wires etc.... just like some KR builders have talked about when testing! My Zenith Carb iced at 1500 feet at nearly wide open throttle, so no wives tails about how that can't happen either. The Cessna 172R I flew just yesterday has fuel injection, NO alternate air (my correction there) throttle body unit located on bottom of engine for radiant heat, and still has the intake plumbed through the oil pan for further warming. None of these details are any KR builders using on carb or fuel injection.
Fact is it can happen any where at any time when conditions are right. High humidity, correct temperature, and cooling fuel thru the carb and bingo, carb ice. Visible moisture makes it worse, but is not necessary. Not having carb heat, OR insufficient carb heat will lead to an unplanned landing! No venturi does NOT mean that you cannot get carb icing. The slider still causes a pressure drop in order for fuel to flow, and with the cooling effect of the fuel added to the intake air, you have carb ice. A quick check of most modern cars will show as Virgil pointed out that coolant is circulated in an area at or very near the throttlebody of all fuel injected cars and trucks. Ford is BSing you. Get the truck fixed. It has nothing to do with California. It has to do with them being lazy, and not wanting to do a repair that they can only bill Ford for 75% of customer pay! Builders do what you want, but a short study of accidents where an engine was lost for no apparent reason, and all the testaments here of its necessity, and do yourself a favor and install and maintain carb/intake heat. Colin Rainey brokerpilot9...@earthlink.net EarthLink Revolves Around You.
