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Jack and George --

A fascinating discussion on engine combustion and lifetime.  I did my doctoral work in a related area but left that world a long time ago, so I followed your points with a lot of "Gee, I remember that!" and similar comments.

Now to MY real world....

Like many guys on this list, I have an LNC2 with a Lycoming IO-360 engine.  More accurately, I have a half-built kit with the IO-360 still in the box in my garage.  I'm interested in the smoothest, most reliable operation I can get, with maximum power a secondary objective to smoothness and reliability.

The exhaust system is fixed (I bought it from Lancair) and the induction system isn't really under my control, either.  The only thing I can do to achieve my goals is operate it properly (whatever THAT means).  I intend to balance my prop, and early in the flight test phase measure the cylinder-to-cylinder variability of air/fuel ratio by determining the overall fuel flow rate at which the individual cylinders come to peak EGT.  If the variation is more than, say, 0.4 GPH from lowest to highest, then I write out a big check for a set of GAMIjectors.  To put things in a practical perspective for this overwhelmed 360-drive-wannabe, what else can I do to get a smooth, reliable engine?

- Rob Wolf

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