IO-360 Vapor Lock

[Highflight]

It took about 6 attempts to start my 82 201J.that sat fopr about a half hour. There are a couple of different starting procedures, which one is the best?

 

Nicholas Gravino

nicholasgravino@att.net

 

[bnicolette]

The one that works for me and it starts right up ALWAYS is:

 

When I shut down I leave the throttle just off of idle (something that would produce 800 - 1000 RPM) and pull the mixture.  When I go to start back up I don't move anything.  Master on and turn the key.  

[laytonl]

To add to Bnicolette's response,it may take several "blades" before it starts, but don't stop cranking (don't exceed the start crank time though). Lee

[aaronk25]

I suspect your flooded not vapor locked. The fuel leaks into the cylinders after engine shut off so if you primed it or moved the mixture from idle cut off position and cranked it your just pumping more fuel in flooding it even more.

Leave mixture at idle cut off move throttle to 1/4-1/2 or so or more if you think it really flooded, and attempt to start. After it fires slide mixture in to where your "taxi lean" mixture setting is at.

[takair]

30 minutes seems to be the worst time for restart. Typically just enough for fueling. I agree with Bricolette. To add a little, when the engine starts to fire, keep holding the starter on and push the mixture rich. You will develope a feel for when to release the key. I also turn on the boost pump for starts and it seems to help. However, this assumes you have a solid mixture cut-off, otherwise you will flood. If the engine does not start, get the mixture out quick...you may now need to do a hot and flooded start. Other things I discovered over the years, you need a really good battery and if you have shower of sparks, be sure the contacts are good.

[201er]

What seems to work pretty well for me is boost pump on for a second, then off. Mixture says idle cutoff. I start cranking, advance throttle to full for a couple settings until activity starts to occur, then bring it back to around the 1000-1200RPM area, then take my hand off throttle and wait on mixture to advance. Seems that going to full throttle for a little while expedites the fuel clear out and helps reduce a bit of cranking, but bringing it back before start, allows me to be prepared on the mixture and not keep fiddling the throttle.

[N601RX]

I've always pushed the throttle all the way in just as the engine starts to die from the mixture being pulled on shutdown. It makes the shutdown smoother and the engine don't jump around as bad. Before doing this I make a mental note of the throttle position that gives me about 1000rpm idle and put it back there after the engine stops.

If you continue to have problems with hot starts after using the procedures others mentioned above, then it is time to have your ignition looked at. That made a huge difference for me.

[FlyDave]

My hot start procedure has worked for me every time:
 

1. Throttle/Mixture/Prop full forward
2. Boost pump for 1 second
3. Throttle to 1,000 RPM (for me that is just back from the click of the gear warning switch)
4. Mixture full lean
5. Crank - usually take 8-10 blades and it starts
6. Advance the mixture to appropriate idle setting (I lean very aggressively on the ground)

Let us know how it works out.

[OR75]

this is what has worked or not worked for me:

just crank leaving the levers exactly where they were at shutdown. ( at shutdown, i cut the mixture while the rpm is at 1200)

the engine starts 3 times out of 4.

if it does not come alive ... then ... i know it will be painfull !

[Bob_Belville]

Cold starting the IO-360 in the M20E

 

 

·         Master switch on

 

 

 

 

 

 

·         Throttle, prop and mixture controls full forward

 

 

 

 

·         Boost pump on 5 seconds

 

 

 

 

 

·         Mixture to idle cutoff

 

 

 

 

 

 

·         Throttle reduced to the approximate position for a 1000-1100 idle speed

 

·         Engage starter

 

 

 

 

 

 

·         When the engine fires, release starter key and firmly (but not rapidly) move mixture control to full rich

·         After engine is running, lean mixture control out for smooth idle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recommended Engine Shutdown Procedure in the M20E

·         Idle the engine at 1000-1100 RPM

 

 

 

 

 

·         Pull the mixture control to idle /cutoff from this idle speed

 

 

·         DON”T TOUCH THE THROTTLE. Leave it at the setting it was at for the 1000-1100 RPM idle speed used to shut down

·         Ignition switch off after the engine spools down

 

 

 

·         Master switch off

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hot Start procedure for the IO-360 in the M20E

·         Master switch on

 

 

 

 

 

 

·         DON’T TOUCH THE THROTTLE, PROP OR MIXTURE CONTROLS. The throttle should be in the 1000-1100 RPM Position from the previous shutdown, the mixture should be in idle/cutoff and the prop should be full forward

·         Engage the starter

 

 

 

 

 

 

·         Expect about 15-20 blades before the engine fires

 

 

 

·         When the engine fires, smooth (not rapidly) move the mixture control to full rich

 

·         After idling, lean the mixture for smooth operation on the ground and during taxi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flood engine start procedure for the IO-360 in the M20E

·         Master switch on

 

 

 

 

 

 

·         Throttle, prop and mixture full forward

 

 

 

 

·         Boost pump on 3 seconds, then off

 

 

 

 

 

·         Mixture to idle/cutoff

 

 

 

 

 

 

·         Throttle full open

 

 

 

 

 

 

·         Engage the starter

 

 

 

 

 

 

·         Slowly pull the throttle back towards idle as the engine is turning over with the starter engaged

·         When the throttled is reduced to about ½ to ¾ towards the idle position, the engine should fire after the throttle hits the position for the perfect fuel/air mixture for starting

·         When the engine fires, smoothly increase the mixture to full rich

 

 

·         Bring the throttle back to the normal idle speed (1000-1100RPM)

 

 

·         After idling awhile, lean the mixture for smooth operation on the ground and during taxi

[Bob_Belville]

(Sorry for the crude format, I cut and pasted from Excel.) With these procedures I don't worry about starting, ever. No more asking passengers to enter or leave with engine running to avoid hot starting!

[scottfromiowa]

Do not touch anything. Just crank it and enrichen mixture when it fires. It works...

[FloridaMan]

I have the slickstart system on my IO360. Starts within a couple blades every time, except when I lost one of the mags, then it sucked. 

 

Also, when I turn my engine off, I am at between 1000 and 1200 RPM and am usually already pretty lean. 

[aaronk25]

Do not touch anything. Just crank it and enrichen mixture when it fires. It works...

Holly smokes there is some common sense! All the damn engine cares about is the right fuel to air mixture to start. I've got no idea why people are hitting the boost pump for a sec with a warm engine. All that happend is after you shut down the 25psi of fuel leaked past into the cylinders making a over rich condition. And scott your simplistic method of restarting makes it easy.

[bd32322]

Someone on this forum on another thread, suggested opening the oil filler door after landing to cool down fuel lines etc quickly to prevent vapor locks

[jetdriven]

Holly smokes there is some common sense! All the damn engine cares about is the right fuel to air mixture to start. I've got no idea why people are hitting the boost pump for a sec with a warm engine. All that happend is after you shut down the 25psi of fuel leaked past into the cylinders making a over rich condition. And scott your simplistic method of restarting makes it easy.

Our fuel pressure will not stay in the green band on a hot start without the boost pump.  It will start and die. After 5-8 seconds, its alright without it.