Spark Plug Fouling

[fantom]

I running eight massive Champions with ~ 400 hours on them and nary an issue or out-of-limits resistance check. Plus I have four more in my spare equipment box. They are all about five years old.

 

Could of had four slightly used Tempest wine wires, but Byron stiffed me.

[fantom]

 After I verify that I will try swapping the injectors around.

 

Sounds like a good thing that I was  

[jetdriven]

You snooze you loose, Gary. Thanks again, Byron! Although I can report that my GAMI spread went from .7 GPH with the two year old Champion massives to 1.1 GPH with the Tempest fine wires. I haven't done the GAMI induction leak test yet, but I have no reason to suspect sudden leak(s). After I verify that I will try swapping the injectors around. If memory serves number 1 is the richest and number 4 is the leanest by quite a bit.

Jim

 

Hmm that would be strange, the GAMI spread getting worse with new plugs. 

[tomn]

I just read this in Aviation Safety this evening. Seems this issue keeps showing up.

[aaronk25]

Champion way behind and refuses to design new products. Way to go Tempest. I'll keep rewarding them with my business.

[Wistarmo]

^{Have flown another four hours.  Pulled all four lower plugs and they are clean.  (The problem cylinder, #3, has new fine wire Champion plugs.)  Will keep flying and checking and keep everyone posted.}

[PTK]

For what it's worth. I've been running the same Champions for about 400 hours now. They get serviced and rotated at every annual. GAMI spreads range between 0.1 to 0.4 gph. Lean mag checks at altitude have been perfect. If I didn't know I was running on one mag I wouldn't hardly notice it.

No trouble whatsoever. Never had any reason to check resistance but next annual I'll do it out of curiosity.

[jetdriven]

We flew on one mag for a couple hours and didnt notice it either. Except for the 1600 EGT on final, there were no symptoms.

[Hondo]

Cirrus SB2X-74-01 concerning fine wire plugs   

http://servicecenters.cirrusdesign.com/techpubs/pdf/SB/SR2XBulletins/SB2X-74-01/SB2X-74-01.pdf

 

According to Champion, their fine wire insulator cracking problem is related to LOP operation.

As far as I know, the Tempest fine wire plugs do not have this problem.

 

Have about 800 hours on my Champion fine wires with no apparent problem, but I run LOP and don't want 

to risk a cracked insulator and possible preignition, so I probably should replace them.  

[carusoam]

"Cirrus is aware of a limited number of damaged ceramic insulators on normally aspirated aircraft with fine wire spark plugs, but has not received any reports of damage on the SR20 or SR22T. Out of an abundance of cautiousness, Cirrus recommends fine wire spark plugs be replaced with massive-style on all Cirrus models per this Service Bulletin."

What engines are they using in NA Cirri? IO360 and IO550 like Mooney?

Best regards,

-a-

[Hondo]

The Cirrus SR20 uses the Continental IO-360-ES and the SR22 uses the Continental IO-550-N.

 

Here is the mandatory service bulletin from Tornado  Alley 

http://www.taturbo.com/TATSR22-SB11-05%20fine%20wire%20spark%20plugs%20initial%20release%20sept%2023%202011.pdf

 

Here is Champion's latest response on this issue

http://www.championaerospace.com/assets/Report-to-Champion-on-Spark-Plug-Insulator-Cracking-2012-04-16-final.pdf

 

Some interesting comments from the Platinum Aviation blog  http://www.flyplatinum.com/blog/?p=768

[KSMooniac]

Excellent finds there, Hondo!  

 

I have suffered some premature failure of Champion massives within a few hundred hours, and last year ditched them for Tempest Fine Wires after hearing enough anecdotal evidence to indicate the Champion's quality has declined in recent years.  Their failures are probably due to similar behavior that has plagued Lycoming and Continental and who knows how many other manufacturers in this era of bean-counting rule and outsourcing to low bidders.