|
Eureka! I found it! Lycoming Flyer Key
Reprints. "In our many years of buillding engines, the engines have benefited
during continuous operation by keeping CHT below 400F in order to achieve
best life and wear of the powerplant. In general, it would be normal during
all year operations, in climb and cruise to see head temperatures in the range
of 350F to 435F." The average of that last, BTW, is 392.5F. For some reason,
pilots seem to think that operating their engines at low CHTs is beneficial. It
isn't! When the pistons operate at lower temperatures than their design value,
the piston does not expand sufficiently to reduce clearances, thus promoting
blow by and piston slap. How many of you are at an age where you expect to see
2000 hours on your engine with 50-75 hours of operation per year. That's 27
to 40 years! Even 100 hours per year will take you 20 years. And in our
fast-glass planes, you don't accumulate a lot of time in your flying, even on
long X-country flights, unless you are using your plane for business. Run
those engines at rated rpm and temperature; it will love you for it! And don't
we all need a lot of lovin'!
|