Gyrobob wrote on 09/11/12 at 08:45:28:Curiously, a common trick in extremely cold climates is to put some gasoline in the crankcase just before shutting down an aircraft engine. Then, the next morning, the oil will be thin enough to allow the starter to crank the engine over, and, after warm up, will just evaporate off as the oil gets hot.
I have heard of doing this, too, but had forgotten about it until you brought it up. Seems to me while most of the gasoline will evaporate out, it will leave behind such additives as lead. Older AVGAS had more lead than modern 100LL, but it is still there. Perhaps fairly frequent oil changes help. Wouldn't surprise me to find some cars and trucks get the same treatment.
Another helpful thing with airplane engines is the practice of hand propping them over a few times before start attempts. It "limbers" them up, and also as a fringe benefit makes sure there isn't a hydrostatic lock.
Some airplane operators were known to drain engine oil into a suitable bucket, and leave that bucket on or near the stove so it stayed warm. Then the warm oil was poured back into the engine for the next day's start. Bringing the battery inside wouldn't hurt, either.
All of which comments are completely off the topic of the cure for a slipping clutch.