Hot TITs in my 231

[Jrob]

Hi all,

First, yes I couldn't resist on the title of my topic but actually that's truly the issue. I am the proud new owner of "Jewels" (231J) and we'll I am head over heels in love. She has the LB engine with Merlyn and intercooler with 1300 hrs SMOH and has had 2 cylinders replaced in the past. Compressions are all low 70s and Dugosh did the prebuy. Today I tried LOP ops. At 10,500 (OAT 8), cowls in trail and FF at 13.7 on my Hoskins, I leaned on my JPI 700 to FF of 9.8. CHTs were great with #2 being hottest at 360 but the TIT was 1670. I further leaned to 8.5 gph and the CHTs continued to fall but TIT remained at 1650-1675. The factory TIT never reached 1650 during this time. MP the entire time was about 27-29. After about 5 minutes, I chickened out and returned to ROP.

Any of you experienced, 231ers that fly LOP, I'd love to hear what you think.

Oh, and in case you forgot, damn these planes are cool!!!!

Judge

[RocketAviator]

Congratulations on your new Mooney. I have a 231 Rocket while not exactly the same bird I run LOP and TIT is my limiting factor. Factory TIT always runs as much as 35 F lower than my G4 TIT indicated temp.

GAMI told me some information I won't start a slam with but basically high TIT was not necessarily a bad issue.... I still keep mine below Rocket max continuous which in my case 1650

I burn just under 17 gph at 200 TAS at 16k @ at 12k 185 TAS 45 LOP

[RocketAviator]

Bring that new bird over to 5T6 for the first Annual WesTex Mooney Formation Flight Clinic December 5th - 7th!

Great group of pilots and there are a couple 231 that will be here!

I get up to Amarillo fairly frequently, just there last weekend have kids and grandkids there. I get to Lubbock from time to time as well.

[Danb]

I'm not familiar with the proposed temps of the 231 which BTWYours looks sweet, but I'm very conservative with temps which I believe are vital and directly proportional to engine life, that being said I try not to go over 1600-1625 on my Bravo...I would rather be a little on the safe side of TIT rather than being hot..like I noted thou I fly a Lycoming Turbo....good luck and safe flying with your new baby..

[Parker_Woodruff]

The TIT of my M20K decreased about 30 degrees (maybe more?) when I switched to Tempest Fine Wire spark plugs.

LOP in an M20K is definitely a good thing.

[N201MKTurbo]

You need to go leaner until your temps drop. 1650 is too hot. I try not to get it above 1600. You will melt your turbine wheel. Just saying.

[schule]

In our 231 LB engine, 17K' with LOP at approx 10 gph, I see around 1625 TIT and 380 CHTs. I have a Merlyn and GAMIs, but no intercooler. Turbo speed seems to make a big difference as CDT goes up. Low altitude around 12K' the TIT, CDT, and CHTs are down 10% with similar FF and LOP settings. I am looking forward to cooler temps up high as the available power/speed goes up without busting the 1650 TIT limit or 280 CDT limit.

[231LV]

I have the old, hot-running GB in my 231....I have always run LOP with Gami's...10 gph, 2500 rpm, hottest CHT is 380 with TiT around 1600...intercooled with fixed waste gate...great airplane...congratulations

[Jrob]

Thanks for all the input. Besides changing to tempest fine wire plugs, any reason the TIT would be over 1650 even pulling back to 8.5 gph? My FF seems pretty accurate based on filling the tanks. Thanks for all the input

[Hank]

I love your thread title too. Wish I could see some hot TITs in my Mooney!

[FlyDave]

When I got a turbocharged airplane I thought about getting a shirt made up that said

 

Turbocharged pilots like smaller TIT's

 

It would be one of those "if you're not a pilot you won't get it" kind of things and, even though I explained it to her, my wife said she would not be seen with me wearing that shirt. I didn't fight that battle.

[LANCECASPER]

When I had a 231 I dialed in the mixture and didn't mind burning an extra gallon an hour to keep the temps cool.That kept the CHT's below 400 and the TIT around 1600. $5 hr now can save an early top end later.

[RocketAviator]

I love your thread title too. Wish I could see some hot TITs in my Mooney!

[PTK]

Calm your TITS!

[Hank]

HEY Hey hey now Hank why not West Texas?

PS it's actually in NM but just barely. ..lol

Nothing but fuel. A tank plus each way. Nothing against W. Texas, it's just a long haul from here.

[manoflamancha]

Pics we need to see the hot tits on your 231 sorry was too hard to resist!