Cold Starts
One mans cold start is another's normal start so there is no one fix fits all.
As we are primarily thinking about our UK conditions (and whats more the average facilities) what is needed is a simple application that actually works.
On the basis that most UK airfields and clubs do not have facilities for preheat this leaves it to the owner to organise (what is possible) within the limitations of what the Airfield operator/Hangar owner will allow.
This will NOT include draining and refilling oil outside of a maintenance organisation or wandering around the Hangar/Parking lot with pails of warm oil.
This leaves it down to having the best oil available to cope with the conditions prevailing and if you can get some "safe" heat around the engine beforehand so much the better.
We are not talking about "heatsoaking" the block rather than taking the bite out of the "cold oil" and giving the induction system some help in starting the engine.
If this preparation can be done inside so much the better,if not you may have to make up some simple cowl cover that lets the available heat do some work before it escapes.
If an engine has not operated for some days then it will need more preparation than one flown daily.