Turboplus installation complete on my M20K

[hubcap]

Just finished up the installation of the Turboplus intercooler on my M20K. We took this project on during our "Annual". Flew this morning. Would like to hear from other's who have this installation on their M20K model to compare notes. I want to make sure that my temps and fuel flows are similar to what others are seeing with this install. I flew up to 16,000' this morning. Have not gone higher than that.

[carusoam]

hub,

when requesting data….

Consider providing some data…

The more effort you put into the first post, the better the results can be…

 

There are plenty of notes around here about the TurboPlus system…

Jeff Shapiro has done a great job of building the system and making it available… with great attention to detail… and customer support…

https://mooneyspace.com/search/?q=Turboplus&quick=1

Best regards,

-a-

[231LV]

Agree with Carusoam regarding data and info provided. I have the TurboPlus intercooler on my K. With it, over boosting can become a very real risk so watch your boost pressure carefully. 

[hubcap]

I have only made the one flight. I am flying to KOUN tomorrow which should be a little over 2 hrs. Due to winds I probably won't go above 8,000' but I can report after the flight. 

I am curious about the over-boosting as part of the initial testing is done at 40" MP.  How much MP and for how long does it take before "over boosting" becomes an issue?

[231LV]

16 hours ago, hubcap said:

I have only made the one flight. I am flying to KOUN tomorrow which should be a little over 2 hrs. Due to winds I probably won't go above 8,000' but I can report after the flight. 

I am curious about the over-boosting as part of the initial testing is done at 40" MP.  How much MP and for how long does it take before "over boosting" becomes an issue?

There is a hefty margin built into the boost margin BUT that doesn't mean you should routinely run a high boost. The intercooler calls for a reduction of 1 inch of boost for every ten degrees of temperature reduction. Typically, I see a 30 degree reduction in intercooler temp which translates into 3 inches reduction or no more than 37 inches of total boost. As I understand it, the boost can actually be run up to 50 inches in a test environment but my log book has an early entry of a "head separation" presumably due to an overboost so I take overboosting seriously.

[carusoam]

Seeing if @Jeff Shapiro is coming by…

Jeff has been helpful sharing tech details about operations in the past…

 

As far as cylinder head separation and MP goes… 100% power is pretty much a safe zone with most Mooneys…

It is also a more expensive place to operate… aka flaming dragon mode….

Where trouble comes in… when you accidentally exceed 100% power…. Is when you misread a chart, or had the wrong temperature….

Some NA M20Cs have broken a cylinder head by using full power at low altitudes on really cold days…. Thus providing a big negative DA situation…

 

Sooo… know your MP, and the temperature entering your engine… using the STC charts provided for the intercooler…  it’s all in there somewhere…

Best regards,

-a-

[Ricky_231]

On 10/9/2021 at 9:38 PM, hubcap said:

I have only made the one flight. I am flying to KOUN tomorrow which should be a little over 2 hrs. Due to winds I probably won't go above 8,000' but I can report after the flight. 

I am curious about the over-boosting as part of the initial testing is done at 40" MP.  How much MP and for how long does it take before "over boosting" becomes an issue?

My rule of thumb is whatever the original continental -LB1 manual said minus 2-3".  So I "limit" my engine to 38" (original redline is 40"). The manual also says that less than 10 seconds at up to 43.5", or continuous stabilized operation at 41" is OK and won't harm the engine. I translate that to < 10s at up to 41" and continuous stabilized at 39".

In reality, I take off with 38"/max RPM, gear up, >500fpm, flaps up, CLIMB POWER = 33"/2600 RPM. So the engine is only at full throttle for the duration of the takeoff roll plus a couple of seconds really.

Where you need to be really careful is on go-arounds - I get to full power and there's still probably 3-4 inches left to push on the throttle, so none of that push it all the way in nonsense we learnt in the 172 :-)

[hubcap]

Flew yesterday. There are some issues that we need to resolve. I spoke with @Jeff Shapiro regarding those issues and he is unsure what the cause. 

My typical takeoff settings are 36" of MP and 2700 RPM. I have only on 2 occasions intentionally gone above the 36".

Symptoms - at 10,000' running at 77% power according to the JPI (MP 28" RPM 2500 @ 12.1 gal/hr) with cowl flaps closed the CHT's were 357, 361, 359, 355, 352 & 339...........so it seems the intercooler is doing its job. Unfortunately the TIT is running at 1550 with mixture at FULL RICH. On our first flight the TIT was red-lining at 1650 degrees. The mechanic increased the fuel flow after that flight just so we could keep the TIT down below the red line. 

When we did the test flight up to 16,000' we were only able to generate a little over 26" of MP. Prior to the installation the engine would generate MP above 30" all the way into the flight levels with no struggling.

Before the installation I would typically see TIT's in around 1400-1425 during climb. Now it is running over 1500 in climb with my normal climb numbers of 33" and 2600 RPM and that is climbing at around 500 FPM.

A couple of variables that may or may not be contributing - 

1. Installation was completed during annual so many other things were worked on.

2. Prop was overhauled and new blades were installed during overhaul.

3. Mags had 500 hour inspection and repairs made. 

I do not know how to proceed. I am not a mechanic. The aircraft is not "right". 

[carusoam]

Hub,

I know a pretty good mechanic… he might be able to stop by here for a minute….  @M20Doc…

Do you know what the max fuel flow is supposed to be for your engine?

My IO550 on T/O is showing about 29gph…

Setting up the fuel system in an M20K is about as complex as it gets in Mooney aircraft…

Its OK to not know all things mechanical…

But it sure helps if you can share all the data with somebody that does…

Do you have an engine monitor?

Can you get data out of it?

Can you send it to savvy?

Can you share it?

Can you post the link here?

 

Time to get as technical as you can be, over the shortest time possible… 

PP thoughts only, not a mechanic…

Best regards,

-a-