Lycoming actually does not know which cylinder runs the hottest on any particular engine installation. This is always defined by the airframe manufacturer from the various tests they conduct during the certification of the aircraft.
Ask Paul
Ask Paul: What are these aluminum specks?
Q: I lost the left mag on my O-540. When I took it apart, I found four aluminum specks in the top oil screen. I pulled the rear housing off and found the aluminum gear still in the engine. I sent it off for repairs to Tulsa, where they installed a new oil pump, shaft, […]
Ask Paul: What’s the best engine for my Pacer?
Q: I plan to install an 0-360 with a constant speed prop in my Pacer, replacing my 0-320-A1A. I have a couple of engine choices under STCs, including the 0-360-C1A. I am looking for the lightest engine. Was this made as a narrow deck engine? If so, what serial numbers were narrow decks? Also, I […]
Ask Paul: What to do about oil-fouled plugs?
Q: My partner, Lou, and I just had our Piper PA 28 235 overhauled and are having problems with the lower plugs getting oil fouled. The plugs have been cleaned a couple of times but she runs rough and they foul again. The mechanics are talking about putting a thin wire plug in. My concern […]
Ask Paul: What’s going on with my spark plugs?
Q: I have a 1962 Piper Cherokee 160 with the O-320-D2A engine. The engine had a complete overhaul in 1992 and only 500 SMOH. In addition, 20 hours ago the engine had an annual in which an oil change was done, new plugs, and compressions in the 78/80 range. What I have noticed is when […]
How to break-in your engine
I recently received a letter asking about engine break-in following overhaul. This is a subject that should be of interest to everyone, even though you may never actually have the opportunity to break-in an engine during your flying years. It makes no difference whether it is a factory new, factory rebuilt, factory overhaul, or an […]
The importance of keeping current
Q: I have a Glasair with a Lycoming IO-360-B1E engine. After reading your article in the May 11 issue, I tried to get a copy of Lycoming’s SI1325A to see if I should change the timing from 25 to 20 degrees BTDC, but was not able to find that instruction. Can you help? RON WALTERS, […]
Ask Paul: Too much information about our engines?
Q: I have a factory reman Lycoming O-540 E4B5 with 300 hours and 2.5 years on it. At idle (1,000 rpm), my JPI is showing alarms on the #1 EGT for having a large differential — #1 EGT is only 600° while the rest are 1,200-1,300°. Above 1,500 rpm and higher everything seems fine with […]
The marriage between piston rings and cylinder wall
Getting back to the main point, if you don’t remove the piston from the cylinder, then you don’t have to worry about disturbing the marriage I spoke of, and honing and installing new rings is not required.