Since I got my engine back in the plane two weeks ago a couple of things
have happened I thought I should report on. First, I got my medical back
(sleep apnea issue resolved with the FAA until next year). Second, it
stopped raining for a couple of days and I was actually able to go try out
the re-built engine.
Oil pressure is now about 59-60 in the 4000's RPM range. Still goes down
slightly to 54-57 after 5000RPM. But that's a lot better than it was. Am I
in the ball park now? The Haynes manual indicates that oil pressure should
be north of 60 above 3000RPM.
Now that I have reasonable oil pressure and can push the engine a little
harder I'm seeing higher oil temps. Water temp is OK no matter what because
the electric fan kicks on and keeps it under 190. But the oil temp is about
205F at 4500RPM (54F OAT) and about 215F at 4900RPM. So, I'm planning some
cowling changes to see if I can get more "suction" out of the cowl exits -
and may add another exit area where I know there is low pressure.
Still not happy about the lack of power. I know I'm still over propped for
this engine. I put the plane into a dive to get the RPM up to 5700RPM (best
HP) and then level out and it cannot maintain the 5700RPM. About 5000-5200
is the maximum I can maintain (depends on altitude). I'm going to try taking
the air filter out and see if that has any impact at all on RPM.
Exhaust noise - my wife said the plane was way quieter than a "normal"
airplane when I flew over our house yesterday at about 1500ft AGL. Of course
I was only turning 4200RPM so I could stay at about 100kts. Also a guy at
the airport said it sounded like I have a sewing machine in my airplane and
not an engine. I'm not sure whether he meant it was a loud sewing machine or
a quiet one (I was on my take-off roll and wasn't in a position to chat)!
Thanx,
Joe Hull
Cozy Mk-IV #991 (In Phase1 Flight Test - 22.4 hrs flown)
Redmond (Seattle), Washington