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I thought it was cannon that starting up and warming an engine without getting it up to the higher temps when actually flying was the worst thing you could do.
FLYABLE STORAGE.
Aircraft which are not in daily flight should have the engines started
and warmed up at least once each week. In damp climates and in storage
areas where the daily temperature variation can cause condensation, the
warm-up operation should be accomplished more frequently. Warming
up the engine replaces oil which has drained from surfaces of internal
parts while standing idle. Warm-up should be accomplished at a throttle
setting necessary to produce an oil temperature within the lower green
arc range.
NOTE
Excessive ground operation is to be avoided so that
maximum cylinder head temperatures are not exceeded.
Engine warm-up also helps to eliminate excessive accumulations of I
water in the fuel system and other airspaces in the engine. Keep fuel
tanks full to minimize condensation in the tanks. Keep the battery fully
charged to prevent the electrolyte from freezing in cold weather. If the
aircraft is to be stored temporarily, or indefinitely, refer to the Service Manual
for proper storage procedures.
I thought it was cannon that starting up and warming an engine without getting it up to the higher temps when actually flying was the worst thing you could do.
FLYABLE STORAGE.
Aircraft which are not in daily flight should have the engines started
and warmed up at least once each week. In damp climates and in storage
areas where the daily temperature variation can cause condensation, the
warm-up operation should be accomplished more frequently. Warming
up the engine replaces oil which has drained from surfaces of internal
parts while standing idle. Warm-up should be accomplished at a throttle
setting necessary to produce an oil temperature within the lower green
arc range.
NOTE
Excessive ground operation is to be avoided so that
maximum cylinder head temperatures are not exceeded.
Engine warm-up also helps to eliminate excessive accumulations of I
water in the fuel system and other airspaces in the engine. Keep fuel
tanks full to minimize condensation in the tanks. Keep the battery fully
charged to prevent the electrolyte from freezing in cold weather. If the
aircraft is to be stored temporarily, or indefinitely, refer to the Service Manual
for proper storage procedures.
Dude: I'm not in hiding. Everyone knows where I am. Hell, the 'Rona is over here,
stop by NorCal for a BBQ. You can meet the dogs, we can get drunk and ride the
motorcycles and shoot pistols. Imagine visiting Hunter Thompson.
I stopped posting when I realized that people didn't want to hear what I had to
say, and that's ok. I'm a 20th Century pilot in the 21st Century - an anachronism.
Anyways. Internal corrosion is probably the #1 killer of private (and even some
commercial) aircraft engines, especially in Canada when they are often parked
for half of the year, when that white stuff is on the ground.
What to do?
After 50 years of fucking with piston aircraft engines, this is what I would recommend,
for a mythical 172 with a Lycoming with an 8 quart oil capacity.
After your last flight of the year, in the fall, after you land immediately drain out all
the old oil. If you have an oil filter (not recommended to have one) change it too.
Add 4 or 5 qts (your choice) of W120 straight grade super-thick engine oil, and one
pint of Camguard, which should give you around 10% which is what you want for a
really good preservative oil. Run it to circulate the goodness.
Park the airplane. Some people like to cover up the intake and exhaust and put
silicon dessicant in, and maybe in some extreme environments that would help,
but I don't bother.
Put a 0.75 amp Battery Tender Jr on the battery. It is a "smart" charger and does not
deliver a constant amperage (bad news) like a $10 charger - it varies the output current
with the voltage. Basically, you want to keep you lead acid/AGM battery above 12.8V
or it will sulfate.
Now, one option is to leave the aircraft like that, all winter. Don't even touch the
prop. In the spring, preheat the engine to at least 100F, then drain the W120 oil
and change the filter, and replace with normal engine oil and a new filter.
If you feel the need to ground run, remember that although it will re-circulate the oil,
it will not burn off the water inside the engine. To do that, you really need to fly it
and immediately after landing open the oil access door and get the dipstick tube/
filler cap off, to let the hot air carry the moisture out the top of the engine via convection.
For a ground run, same procedure as in the spring (above) - preheat and drain the old
oil, change the filter, but since it's going back into storage, W120 and Camguard for
the ground run, then park it. Remember to preheat the entire engine to 100F. W120
(SAE 60) is a pretty weird winter oil, but gosh, it sticks to the engine.
Pro Tip™: drain the W120 engine oil out after you ground run. I omitted this above for
the sake of simplicity, but you don't really need to leave your sump full of preservative
oil.
I hope this helps some people. If it makes other people feel bad about themselves,
I'm really sorry your life has turned out so bad that you have to attack random strangers
like some thug in New York, to make yourself feel better. Ask Rick Moranis about this.
That's fantastic! I strongly believe that more people should do it in a Citabria,
and as often as possible. I think my only night aerobatics was in a Citabria?
#needsmoarpikshurs
You are in a small minority of people who want to see more pictures from me ...
Let me see ...
I put Ohlins on the Monkey. Highly recommended for a porker like me.
Here's a pie the wife and I baked. You like the interleaving?
PS It's National Aerobatics Day™. I am not making this up. I gotta go now, it's
a moral imperative that I go pull some G. You know. Set a good example.
Ha. Last time I went out to play with the Citabria I told them I gained eight pounds and promptly got sent back to 172s. It gets weirder from there. I’m getting too old and grouchy to enjoy the games.
I don’t know what I want to do next. Kind of thinking about trying another place for renting and considering just joining KCBS and moving on in life.
Way to go on the Citabria flying.
Andrew, any comments on phillips anti rust oil? I currently have that sitting in a comanche 250 that is looking for wings.
If you dont like it I might have to buy camguard and W120 oil!!
I love the monkey bike! is that brand new?
I just got running for the first time since 1987 my 1981 Honda C 70 passport.
I am going to certifiy it and get my motorbike lic on it.
Nice Hearing from you
I am always glad to read your advice....
Hey Colonel, glad to see you on the board again. I don't know if you noticed but the other week I went back and read an old answer you wrote for me and then landed the shit out of a 172.
