Cold Starting Piper Arrow II w/Lycoming IO-360-C1C Engine
I have a 1976 Piper Arrow II with Lycoming IO-360-C1C engine. I'm aware that the hot starting issues with this fuel-injected engine type are well documented but I have issues with cold starting and thought I'd go to the experts here. I live in Houston so the ambient temps are generally not a factor.
When starting the Arrow according to the procedure in the POH, I end up over revving the engine in order to keep it from dying. According to the POH, you run the electric fuel pump, take the mixture to full rich until the fuel flow indicates on the fuel flow gauge, mixture back to idle and then crank. Upon firing, the mixture is returned to full rich. This is when I have to open the throttle up (over revving) to keep the engine from dying-sometimes backfiring during the process.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. I'm concerned that I'm overrevving the engine to keep it running with cold oil not distributed in the cylinders.
Michael
Comments
HI Michael,
Perhaps also explain this to the A&P/IA who does your annual inspections to get their opinion too? The cause could be many things including fuel lines, injectors, idle mix, how fast you enrichen the mixture on startup, etc. They can actually get in the airplane with you and start it to observe the problem.
In the meantime, if any of our members have a suggestion, please chime in...
Regards,
Mike
Thanks Mike. Great advice and suggestion!
Michael
Just curious, what does over revving mean? 1,200 RPM? 1,500 RPM? 2,000 RPM? 5,000 RPM?
Related, if the RPMs are truly in the "too high" territory during a cold start and the sump has straight weight oil, might consider multi weight oil.