Parker_Woodruff Posted June 29, 2012 Report Posted June 29, 2012 For those of you that fly high regularly, definitely consider Tempest Fine-Wire plugs. I'm very happy with the 12 spark plugs I had installed on the M20K (though they were pricey). I spent about 3.5 hours at FL210 today and didn't have a single misfire. Finding a reasonable LOP setting wasn't too much of a hassle, either. Tempest definitely gets a thumbs up from me. I had a headwind going eastbound. It varied from 8 to 20 knots the whole flight. Actual numbers for this flight are as follows: http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N252BH/history/20120629/1620Z/KGGG/KLAL 21,000 ft Pressure Altitude, Temps -8 to -10 Celsius, depending on location. 31.5" MP, 2525 RPM. LOP at 11.6 GPH. 191-195 KTAS. Mostly of the time it hovered right at 193 KTAS.
Kwixdraw Posted June 30, 2012 Report Posted June 30, 2012 Hard to beat that for efficiency. How many hours do you have on that engine now Parker?
Parker_Woodruff Posted June 30, 2012 Author Report Posted June 30, 2012 Engine has about 950 hours. About 100 under my ownership.
aviatoreb Posted June 30, 2012 Report Posted June 30, 2012 Quote: Parker_Woodruff For those of you that fly high regularly, definitely consider Tempest Fine-Wire plugs. I'm very happy with the 12 spark plugs I had installed on the M20K (though they were pricey). I spent about 3.5 hours at FL210 today and didn't have a single misfire. Finding a reasonable LOP setting wasn't too much of a hassle, either. Tempest definitely gets a thumbs up from me.
Parker_Woodruff Posted June 30, 2012 Author Report Posted June 30, 2012 Quote: aviatoreb Hi Parker, You mentioned no misfires with the fine wires - were you having some high altitude misfires without them? I have tempest fine wires in my lowers and I am having a set installed in my uppers next week.
skyking1 Posted June 30, 2012 Report Posted June 30, 2012 Thanks for the info! I plan on doing the rest of the engine as I had done 2 cyl with good results!
aviatoreb Posted June 30, 2012 Report Posted June 30, 2012 Quote: Parker_Woodruff Yeah every now and then at 16,000+ I'd see a bit of a misfire. No problems all the way up an down yesterday. And I can also operate farther LOP & higher settings with the Tempest Plugs. Thanks to all who recommended these. Testwest, Don Shapansky, and others.
Parker_Woodruff Posted July 1, 2012 Author Report Posted July 1, 2012 Erik, Induction is huge, especially up high. GAMIs and good ignition are also important. Looks like the Tempest Fine Wires were the last piece of the puzzle for me.
jetdriven Posted July 1, 2012 Report Posted July 1, 2012 They made a world of difference for us. I estimate they saved us 1.5 GPH for 240 hours, or $1,800. For a 200$ purchase on eBay. Best money I spent on an airplane.
aviatoreb Posted July 1, 2012 Report Posted July 1, 2012 Quote: Parker_Woodruff Erik, Induction is huge, especially up high. GAMIs and good ignition are also important. Looks like the Tempest Fine Wires were the last piece of the puzzle for me.
aviatoreb Posted July 1, 2012 Report Posted July 1, 2012 Quote: jetdriven They made a world of difference for us. I estimate they saved us 1.5 GPH for 240 hours, or $1,800. For a 200$ purchase on eBay. Best money I spent on an airplane.
jetdriven Posted July 1, 2012 Report Posted July 1, 2012 Nope. Swapping injectors was almost free. The Tempest fine wire plugs were 200$ on eBay.
Parker_Woodruff Posted July 1, 2012 Author Report Posted July 1, 2012 Quote: aviatoreb Hi Parker, Can you explain what you mean by induction is huge? Do you mean the possibiity of induction leaks? I was going to buy Gami's but the good folks at Gami talked me out of it. My Gami spread was 0.6gph but went to 0.4gph after I swaped some injectors - and that was the suggestion of Gami. Good ignition? Do you mean the mags?
aviatoreb Posted July 1, 2012 Report Posted July 1, 2012 Quote: Parker_Woodruff Induction leaks: yes. It seemed like my A&P would fix a couple induction issues (bad intake tubes, gaskets, etc.) and then another one would pop up. The spark plug is obviously where the ignition actually happens inside the cylinder. Whatever it is about the Tempest fine wire design is helping me immensely. Mags should be serviced and the timing checked as per usual. Your GAMI spread sounds fine.
Parker_Woodruff Posted July 1, 2012 Author Report Posted July 1, 2012 Quote: aviatoreb What symptoms were you having that made you want to go looking for induction leaks?
Parker_Woodruff Posted July 1, 2012 Author Report Posted July 1, 2012 Quote: jackn How did you find the induction leaks?
aviatoreb Posted July 1, 2012 Report Posted July 1, 2012 Quote: Parker_Woodruff Mainly just the fact that many times achieving LOP can be thwarted by having induction leaks. Also, what led to finding the most recent one was the engine wanted to try and cut out at low idle power settings after taxiing off the runway after landing.
jackn Posted July 2, 2012 Report Posted July 2, 2012 I think a trip to Texas is in my future. Been thinking about giving AeroComfort a call anyway. Just waiting for waterski season to end.
Parker_Woodruff Posted July 2, 2012 Author Report Posted July 2, 2012 Quote: jackn I think a trip to Texas is in my future. Been thinking about giving AeroComfort a call anyway. Just waiting for waterski season to end.
Kwixdraw Posted July 2, 2012 Report Posted July 2, 2012 If you are looking for problems you may want to check over the exhaust system too. Remember that on turboed engines a good solid exhaust system is needed to get the most out of the turbo.
aviatoreb Posted July 2, 2012 Report Posted July 2, 2012 Quote: Kwixdraw If you are looking for problems you may want to check over the exhaust system too. Remember that on turboed engines a good solid exhaust system is needed to get the most out of the turbo.
aviatoreb Posted July 2, 2012 Report Posted July 2, 2012 Quote: jackn I think a trip to Texas is in my future. Been thinking about giving AeroComfort a call anyway. Just waiting for waterski season to end.
Recommended Posts