I recently received an e-mail from a gentleman who has an O-235 Lycoming and was experiencing a slight miss under some load conditions. He went on to describe all of the work he had done on the engine and yet the engine continued to miss under the same conditions. I gave the owner some suggestions […]
Visser's Voice
What have you been smoking? What’s the best smoke oil for aerobatics?
I recently received an email from Gordon Bowers concerning smoke oil for aerobatic aircraft. He was wondering what kind of oil to use and where to get it. I recently received an email from Gordon Bowers concerning smoke oil for aerobatic aircraft. He was wondering what kind of oil to use and where to get […]
Misguided public opinion could end avgas
In my column in the March 23 issue, “”And then there were 10: As oil refineries stop producing avgas, what’s the future hold for us?””, I expressed my opinion of the future of aviation gasoline, noting “”there is concern that once the government starts imposing new regulations, it will go after anything that even sounds […]
Can I mix oils in my Jabiru engine? And what about fuel?
James Missler of Bellevue, Ohio, is in the process of breaking in a Jabiru 2200 engine in his Kitfox. But he has a problem. James Missler of Bellevue, Ohio, is in the process of breaking in a Jabiru 2200 engine in his Kitfox. But he has a problem. “”For initial break-in at average temperature right […]
And then there were 10…As oil refineries stop producing avgas, what’s the future hold for us?
As oil refineries stopproducing avgas, what’sthe future hold for us? As oil refineries stopproducing avgas, what’sthe future hold for us? Adrian Lineberger, like many aircraft owners, is worried. “”I fly a turbocharged Cessna 206,”” he wrote recently in an email. “”I was just wondering if you had any new thoughts on the fuel situation over […]
Are multi-grade oils bad?
In my last column, “”Multi-grade vs. single-grade oils: The debate continues”” (Feb. 16 issue), I recommend single-grade engine oil over multi-grade oils for use in large radial engines (over 1,800 cubic inches displacement). I am hoping that you all did not read that and conclude that if multi-grades are not as good in large radials, […]
Multi-grade vs. single-grade oils: the debate continues
n recent months I have had several conversations with the people at Precision Engines in Everett, Wash., about the use of multi-grade oils in large radial engines. n recent months I have had several conversations with the people at Precision Engines in Everett, Wash., about the use of multi-grade oils in large radial engines. Multi-grade […]
Should you use fuel that’s been stored for years? A lawyer would say no. What does our expert say?
I received a note from Gerd Wengler who flies a Turbo Skylane with a Lycoming TIO-540 engine. He and his wife plan to fly up to the Arctic this summer and were concerned about the fuel supply. I received a note from Gerd Wengler who flies a Turbo Skylane with a Lycoming TIO-540 engine. He […]
Another alternative for long-term storage: Try aerosol corrosion inhibitors
There is another alternative for long-term engine storage. There is another alternative for long-term engine storage. That’s the word from Rhamy Nipper of Graham Aircraft Engines, LLC, who wrote after reading my Nov. 17, 2006, column “”What oil is best for winter?”” “”MotorStor VCI is an aerosol corrosion inhibitor that you can spray directly into […]