Advice For A Top

[Alan Maurer]

Hello Mooney People, I have six brand new cylinders on my Ovation and understand  these cylinders have to be broken in properly. I will plan some good long flights when the airplane is ready and question is which power settings and for how long. I can fly from KVNC (Venice FL) to Harrisburg PA and go non stop for a starter. Flights should be about five hours. 

And then land and then  plan a non stop flight back. I think that should be good for starters. Can I have some advice from my fellow Mooniacs  as to what power settings to use 

and a good choice of altitude ?? And if the power settings shoud be varied  for some time intervals?? Or just set 24" and 2500 RPM and leave it there??? Thanks Everyone!!

Alan

[Brandt]

51 minutes ago, Alan Maurer said:

Hello Mooney People, I have six brand new cylinders on my Ovation and understand  these cylinders have to be broken in properly. I will plan some good long flights when the airplane is ready and question is which power settings and for how long. I can fly from KVNC (Venice FL) to Harrisburg PA and go non stop for a starter. Flights should be about five hours. 

And then land and then  plan a non stop flight back. I think that should be good for starters. Can I have some advice from my fellow Mooniacs  as to what power settings to use 

and a good choice of altitude ?? And if the power settings shoud be varied  for some time intervals?? Or just set 24" and 2500 RPM and leave it there??? Thanks Everyone!!

Alan

This would be a really bad idea.  I’m sure many others will weigh in, so I’ll be relatively brief. Fill the crank case with break in oil, start the engine and idle for as short a time as possible, get the airplane in the air at full power, cruise climb over the airport somewhere between five and 8000 feet, and since you’re in congested airspace in Florida, I would do VFR circles over the airport varying between 75 and 100% power until the cylinder head temperatures show a significant drop. I’d say 20-30°. Mine usually take a little over two hours. I know some say it takes them longer. You don’t want to be out of gliding distance of an airport. Change the oil to your usual, cut open the filter and look for metal,  and then think about your long flight when you’ve got another 20 hours on the airplane.

 

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2019/january/pilot/savvy-maintenance-breaking-good

[anthonydesmet]

Read this.

The Expert’s Advice for Engine Break-In – Pacific Continental Engines.pdf

[GeeBee]

First I agree with Brandt. Fly it at least 5 hours locally with airports always in gliding distance before going long distance. 

Comply with Continental Service Instruction M-0. A nice summary is provided by Air Power here

https://www.airpowerinc.com/continental-aerospace-technologies-engine-break-in-instructions?srsltid=AfmBOooRMI88tV42hz--Qr2PM7Vz_Yodr65Yo8dFcCiyRGdibBPN8F4Y

[dkkim73]

Last two times I did this, the shop QA mechanic was right seat. Inexpensive extra brainpower, can guide you through it. 

Definitely I agree with Brandt that it's a bad time to try that adventure flight over no-radio alligator country. 

 

[Hank]

13 hours ago, dkkim73 said:

Definitely I agree with Brandt that it's a bad time to try that adventure flight over no-radio alligator country. 

While I agree that initial shorter flights per the shop's recommended power settings and changes would be smart, the "no radio alligator country" is between Palm Beach and Miami, right where Palm Beach had me descend to 4000' and head over the Everglades, then Ft. Lauderdale dropped me to 2000' and sent me 4 nm out to sea before turning back in to land.

[exM20K]

@Alan Maurer expect high CHT’s until the cylinders are broken in.  Given the high temps in Florida (heck, anywhere east of the Rockies today into next week) I’d get the flying done early. Once around the pattern, keep the power up with gear and speed brakes, land, decowl, look for drips, dangles, and disconnects, then I’d orbit above pattern altitude for a bit.
 

Mine was topped in January in northern Illinois, and there was a tedious fuel pump troubleshooting and setup exercise that entailed a lot of ground runs, but obviously head wasn’t an issue.  70 hours later, no issues.

-dan

[N201MKTurbo]

1 hour ago, exM20K said:

@Alan Maurer expect high CHT’s until the cylinders are broken in.  Given the high temps in Florida (heck, anywhere east of the Rockies today into next week) I’d get the flying done early. Once around the pattern, keep the power up with gear and speed brakes, land, decowl, look for drips, dangles, and disconnects, then I’d orbit above pattern altitude for a bit.
 

Mine was topped in January in northern Illinois, and there was a tedious fuel pump troubleshooting and setup exercise that entailed a lot of ground runs, but obviously head wasn’t an issue.  70 hours later, no issues.

-dan

East of the Rockies? How about AZ? I did my flight review this morning. It wasn’t too bad about 105 when we were done. It should get to 110 or so today. A bit of a cooling trend.