My recommendation to all that have been burned by this individual is to contact the FAA and complain about the unairworthy product put out by Performance. You might make a difference and save someone's life. start with the FSDO in your area or his.

Jeff Edwards

Sent from my iPad

On Oct 6, 2010, at 4:37 AM, Mark Davis <marksdavis@cox.net> wrote:

> The recent posts regarding Performance Engines "issues" caused me to again look at my own experiences with them.  These posts proved to be the last straw that have now resulted in my losing complete confidence in the Performance Engines Lycoming IO-540 installed in my Legacy.  I am now in the process of having the engine overhauled, despite the fact that it runs very well, with just over 100 hours time on it.  I can no longer accept the potential but unknown risks that I must unfortunately  admit I've been rationalizing as minor issues for those 100 hours.
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> I originally chose to buy my engine from Performance based on positive recommendations and a personal visit to their shop (quite impressive).  My first inkling of problems was while flow checking the fuel injection system prior to first start.  The fuel side seal of the Romec engine fuel pump (listed as overhauled on my purchase invoice) flowed fuel thru the seal vent at least as fast as thru the injectors when using the electric fuel pump.  I contacted Performance considering it a warranty item to which they agreed.  I was told to remove and return the pump and they would replace it within about a week.  Researching the fuel pump I'd removed found that there was a recurrent AD on the model installed on the engine that requiring re torquing the screws on the cover at first 25 hours and then 50 hour intervals.  Given the location on the engine and the significant hassle of complying with the AD, I first asked Performance why I had not been provided a modified AD free pump and was told that what I had was considered serviceable and met our purchase contract agreement for all parts to be new or overhauled.  I offered to pay the cost difference between the AD pump and am AD free modified one.  This was verbally agreed to by phone and I was told that I could expect to receive a replacement pump shortly.  That was the next to last telephone contact I had with them.  I was then faced with no further phone contact despite numerous calls which were either not answered or not returned over a several week period (apparently similar to recent post experience).  I then made a phone call using a friend's phone which was answered right away.  After a short unproductive discussion about when I might receive a replacement pump, I asked to have my original pump returned and that I would deal with the problem myself.  The pump was returned within about 2 days and I sent it to a well known repair facility in OK.  As part of part of my return of the original pump for the core charge, I was informed that, in their opinion, the original pump had not, in fact, been overhauled and was not serviceable.  This whole process cost me nearly $2K which I felt should have been covered under warranty.
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> Since first startup the engine has leaked oil from all 6 cylinder bases (heavier from cylinders 1 and 2 and weeping from the other 4).  In addition there has been a case seam (parting line) leak forward of the sump which is enough that after an oil change without running the engine, a small amount of oil appears on the floor or cowling within about a day under that area of the parting line.  I have tried some sealing efforts on these leaks on the advice of several A&P's with little success.  I have not contacted Performance as I will no longer attempt to do any business with them.
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> After installing the newly overhauled fuel pump from OK noted above, shortly after engine start, I found a few drops of fluid from the same fuel pump seal vent line which, in this case, proved to be oil vice 100LL.  The seal from the accessory case drive to fuel pump continues to have a small weep of oil.
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> My Legacy is now down for engine teardown and any necessary repair.
>
> Mark Davis
> Legacy N422MD
> San Diego, CA
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