X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 11:27:46 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from vms173005pub.verizon.net ([206.46.173.5] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 6.0.9e) with ESMTP id 7060243 for lml@lancaironline.net; Sat, 02 Aug 2014 09:13:03 -0400 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=206.46.173.5; envelope-from=n5zq@verizon.net Received: from BillHP ([unknown] [173.72.169.218]) by vms173005.mailsrvcs.net (Sun Java(tm) System Messaging Server 7u2-7.02 32bit (built Apr 16 2009)) with ESMTPA id <0N9O00ENGKOQTQ70@vms173005.mailsrvcs.net> for lml@lancaironline.net; Sat, 02 Aug 2014 08:12:28 -0500 (CDT) X-Original-Message-id: From: "Bill Harrelson" X-Original-To: "Lancair Mailing List" References: In-reply-to: Subject: Re: [LML] piston used by Performance Engines in TSIO-550? X-Original-Date: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 09:12:19 -0400 MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00E6_01CFAE31.DCB84C90" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-priority: Normal Importance: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Windows Live Mail 16.4.3528.331 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V16.4.3528.331 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00E6_01CFAE31.DCB84C90 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Mark, You have received some good advice on this problem here on the LML. I = can only encourage you to act on that advice. Finding the manufacturer = of the pistons should not be your goal. You do not want them in your = engine. It is unlikely that you will get any help or support from = Performance in this matter. There are a few, and just a few, extremely competent engine shops in the = country. Amazingly, Performance was in this esteemed category several = years ago. I have heard a few theories as to what caused the precipitous = downfall of this once respected shop but I don=E2=80=99t really know. =20 I too have been burned by Performance. Because I had no confidence in = their engine, I had Barrett overhaul it before it had ever even been = started. They found serious problems such as an improperly repaired oil = pump housing that would probably have seized within the first few hours. = In addition there are the questionable pistons. It was rather unpleasant = paying for my engine twice, but it was the decision to do so that now = gives me the confidence to fly the engine in some fairly unforgiving = situations.=20 Contact Barrett or one of the top shops that have been recommended to = you or consider trading in for a remanufactured engine from Continental = (probably the quickest solution). It will be painful, inconvenient and = expensive but in the long run, you=E2=80=99ll be glad that you did.=20 Best of luck with this. Let us know what you decide to do. Bill Harrelson N6ZQ IV 600 hrs. =20 From: Mark Finkelstein=20 Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2014 8:04 AM To: Lancair Mailing List=20 Subject: [LML] piston used by Performance Engines in TSIO-550? I recently experienced high temps in one cylinder in my ES-P. During = the last hour of a four-hour flight, oil pressure went from 41 down to = 17. On landing I found that I had lost 7 quarts of oil, with four = remaining. When cylinder was removed and inspected, it was determined = that one of the piston rings was worn and another one was stuck which = would account for high crankcase pressure and hence the oil loss. It = was also noticed that the piston is non-TCM, and oddly has only three = rings, whereas apparently all modern pistons have four rings. =20 We are having trouble determining the manufacturer of the piston. Is = there anyone out there who has run into a similar situation with = Performance Engine pistons and might have information as to the = manufacturer of the pistons they used in TSIO 550s? Also, we need to be = certain of the compression ratio. Understood that standard ratio in = turbo 500 series is 7:5:1 but wondering if Performance Engines might = have done something to alter that.=20 Many thanks, Mark Finkelstein Pecan Plantation, TX N36YZ ------=_NextPart_000_00E6_01CFAE31.DCB84C90 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Mark,
 
You have received some good advice on = this=20 problem here on the LML. I can only encourage you to act on that advice. = Finding=20 the manufacturer of the pistons should not be your goal. You do not want = them in=20 your engine. It is unlikely that you = will get any=20 help or support from Performance in this matter.
 
There are a few, and just a few, = extremely=20 competent engine shops in the country. Amazingly, Performance was in = this=20 esteemed category several years ago. I have heard a few theories as to = what=20 caused the precipitous downfall of this once respected shop but I = don=E2=80=99t really=20 know. 
 
I too have=20 been burned by Performance. Because I had no confidence in their=20 engine, I had Barrett overhaul it = before it had=20 ever even been started. They found serious problems such as an = improperly=20 repaired oil pump housing that would probably have seized within the = first few=20 hours. In addition there are the questionable pistons. It was rather = unpleasant=20 paying for my engine twice, but it was the decision to do so that now = gives me=20 the confidence to fly the engine in some fairly unforgiving situations.=20
 
Contact Barrett or one of the top shops = that have=20 been recommended to you or consider trading in for a remanufactured = engine from=20 Continental (probably the quickest solution). It will be painful, = inconvenient=20 and expensive but in the long run, you=E2=80=99ll be glad that you did. =
 
Best of luck with this. Let us know = what you=20 decide to do.
 
Bill Harrelson
N6ZQ    IV   600 hrs.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2014 8:04 AM
Subject: [LML] piston used by Performance Engines in=20 TSIO-550?
 
I recently experienced high temps in one cylinder in my = ES-P. =20 During the last hour of a four-hour flight, oil pressure went from 41 = down to=20 17.  On landing I found that I had lost 7 quarts of oil, with four=20 remaining. When cylinder was removed and inspected, it was determined = that one=20 of the piston rings was worn and another one was stuck which would = account for=20 high crankcase pressure and hence the oil loss.  It was also = noticed that=20 the piston is non-TCM, and oddly has only three rings, whereas = apparently all=20 modern pistons have four rings.  =20
 
We are having trouble determining the manufacturer of the piston. = Is there=20 anyone out there who has run into a similar situation with Performance = Engine=20 pistons and might have information as to the manufacturer of the pistons = they=20 used in TSIO 550s?  Also, we need to be certain of the compression=20 ratio.  Understood that standard ratio in turbo 500 series is 7:5:1 = but=20 wondering if Performance Engines might have done something to alter = that.=20
 
Many thanks,

Mark Finkelstein
Pecan Plantation, TX
N36YZ
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