Oil is everywhere this time, with consumption and temperatures problems for three of our owners. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Mark has a Twin Comanche and is loving his new electronic ignition. He has an issue where oil temperature and CHTs are slightly different on one engine than the other. His oil temperature also spiked on one climbout on a hot day, and he’s wondering what’s wrong. He’s...
Jul 01, 2025•1 hr 1 min
A Cirrus with fluctuating fuel flow, de-injecting an engine, and fear of overhaul are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Joe has a Maule with a 540 engine in it. The company has a mod to turn the engine to a carbureted version and he’s wondering about the legality of something like that. Paul said it happens in the 210 market. Whether it’s a good idea is another issue, th...
Jun 15, 2025•1 hr 3 min
An owner wants to fly his engine after it sat for 7 years. Plus, prop strike at the shop, lean of peak, and break-in trouble. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below: Rupert is having trouble breaking in his new cylinders. They have five hours and the temperatures are still trying to go above 420 degrees on departure. They’ve checked fuel flow and baffling. In a twist of irony he is causing his ...
Jun 01, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Valves are sticking all over as the hosts give advice on how to avoid pulling cylinders. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Rick has a 182 with a new Pponk engine and he’s burning lots of exhaust valves. He’s wondering what he should change operationally. Paul said to borescope more frequently to find the asymmetric burn patterns before they need to be replaced, and if they start ...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 12 min
It's all engines all the time this episode. Rusty ones, sticky ones, and one that doesn't burn oil. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below: Ralph had to throw away his relatively new engine. His flying club has a 1968 Cherokee 180. They overhauled their engine, and the first annual looked good. On the second annual and after only 100 hours of flying, they had a stuck valve. Digging in they foun...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 79
Chris is trying to make sense of his logbooks. He has a Cessna 172 RG and he and his partners had a few electrical issues recently. Some of the logbook entries went in the airframe book and some went in the engine logbook, and he’s wondering about the decision-making process involved in picking the proper logbook. Mike said there’s no requirements around which entry to put in which logbook, and in fact, there’s no requirement to have a logbook in the first place. It’s easier and retains the valu...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 78
John is a maintenance officer in a club, and he is wondering about tire ply ratings. The manual calls for 4 ply, but they often install 6 ply and he’s wondering if that’s ok. The hosts all agree that they have subbed in higher ply ratings when supply dictates. Paul’s rule of thumb is that he always allows a higher ply, but not lower. That’s because the ply rating relates to the weight of the aircraft. Heavier aircraft need higher ply ratings. They get into a discussion on retreads, which can cau...
Apr 01, 2025•55 min•Season 1Ep. 77
Should you trade your aging airplane in anticipation of higher repair costs on your current bird? Mike, Paul, and Colleen have a strong opinion on this. Plus, sticky valves, taking good care of turbos, and engine monitor set-up frustrations. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Scott has a Tecnam P2010 with a Lycoming IO-390. He’s had a few instances where cylinders dropped off, the engine ran rough...
Mar 15, 2025•58 min•Season 1Ep. 76
Ever wonder how the flap system in a Cessna works? This episode Mike, Paul, and Colleen take a deep dive on the system, plus engine vibrations, leaning for high altitude takeoffs and go arounds, and getting bees out of a restoration. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Ken is experiencing vibrations in his Cherokee at certain throttle settings. After installing an engine monitor he discovered that ...
Mar 01, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 75
Can one high oil pressure reading forever alter your engine? Mike, Paul, and Colleen answer this question, plus the quirks of the O-470, compression test redemption, and repairman certificates. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Everett is wondering if his oil pressure is forever altered. He has a Piper Colt with an O-235. The pressure used to be 75 psi, and on a flight the oil temp spiked and the...
Feb 15, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 74
Should you overhaul an engine based on oil analysis? The hosts answer this question, plus fuel pumps, valve grinding, and a pesky hot cylinder. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: David is worried about the relatively new IO-470 in his Bonanza. His oil analysis history shows a lot of aluminum, and recently, high on all metals. The narrative said to check for crankcase fretting. Paul said he would c...
Feb 01, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 73
A 182 mysteriously losses power and the hosts struggle to explain why. Plus, basic engine temperature theory, confusing ADs, and why it's so hard to find good help these days. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Andrey was flying low and slow on autopilot for a mission when he noticed the airspeed dropping. He saw a drop in rpm, and an increase in manifold pressure. He also saw very low oil pressu...
Jan 15, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 72
Can you have a prop strike without a prop? This is one of the more unusual questions the hosts have faced. They also track down a carbon monoxide leak, advise on Continental rpm settings, and help an owner who likely had a pre-ignition event. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Robert is an A&P who is trying to help a flight school track down a carbon monoxide leak in a Cherokee. An instructor ...
Jan 01, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 71
How to identify CamGuard in an oil analysis, erratic idles, how to check the oil, and what the wrong prop does to an engine are on tap for the latest episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Tan has a 1968 Piper Arrow 180. He has an erratic idle as the engine warms. Mike and Paul said it sounds like maybe sticky valves. He and his mechanic haven’t done the wobble test. It almost can’t be a spar...
Dec 15, 2024•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 70
Clogged injectors, how to care for an engine while training, avoiding costly altimeter checks, and engine design considerations are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join AOPA to become a member of the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Marko’s engine had a strong revving sound on takeoff. He saw that he had an EGT above 1,800 degrees and one that was below baseline. A run-up after landing made it seem like it one ...
Dec 01, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 69
Mike, Paul, and Colleen sludge through oil pumps that lose prime, skipping an oil filter change, and using the right oil in this Texas tea-themed episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org Full notes below: Mike has a Cessna Bird Dog with an oil pump that isn’t cooperating. When he lets the airplane sit for a month or more, he doesn’t have oil pressure on the first start up. He’s conceived a workaround of pumping oil ...
Nov 15, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 68
Lean of peak is causing odd vibrations in a Commander, and the hosts discuss proper troubleshooting. Plus carb heat on the ground, dehydrators, and parts no longer manufactured. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Full notes below. Chip said his mechanic is concerned about lean of peak because we don’t know the actual temperature at the valve, as the temperature is taken downstream. Colleen makes the point that EGT temperatures are fine because it’s well below the valve limi...
Nov 01, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 67
Rough idle, electronic ignition basics, airplanes to avoid (or not), and the difference between detonation and pre-ignition are on tap for this episode. Email us at podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Stephen wants to get the engine on his Cessna 206 purring. At idle the engine stumbles down to 600 rpm. It never quits, but doesn’t run smoothly either. Mike asks if they’ve done an rpm rise test at 600 rp...
Oct 15, 2024•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 66
How do you know when to replace certain parts? They begin to talk to you. Find out what, why, how, and when when Mike, Paul, and Colleen tackle this and other questions. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: John is part of a club that owns a Cessna 172. Another member told him he shouldn’t move the rudder by hand when he preflights. Mike said to make sure he pushes it at a rivet line to ensure he do...
Oct 01, 2024•58 min•Season 1Ep. 65
Metal in the filter, starting problems, and mechanics who don't understand the definition of installed are on tap this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below: Roger has a Mooney M20J that has developed an odd starting problem. Over the past few years he’s had to increase the time the boost pump runs before the engine will start, and even then it sometimes doesn’t fully catch. Paul sugg...
Sep 15, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 64
An airplane that hasn't flown in 8 years quits when going to full power. A turbocharged Mooney meters out less fuel as it climbs. Mike, Paul, and Colleen tackle these questions and many more in this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below Eric is having trouble with his Aero Commander. The engine has only 150 hours but sat for 8 years. After an extensive annual, they test flew it. One of the e...
Sep 01, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 63
Live from Airventure 2024, we present the first of two sessions. Listen as the audience tries to stump Mike, Paul, and Colleen with its toughest maintenance questions. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join
Aug 15, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 62
An owner wants his engine perfect for flying around the world, how to start an airplane with electronic ignition, when to fire your mechanic, and defining approved data are on tap for this episode. Submit your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full show notes below: Ethan is flying a 182 around the world, and he is worried about a CHT imbalance. He’s added an electronic ignition, changed some baffling, chan...
Aug 01, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 61
An owner wants to know if he should tear down his engine after harvesting some corn with his prop. Plus, the benefits of flying oversquare, why you should use the boost pump at higher altitudes, and pre-flight procedures. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: John wants to know if he can manipulate the rudder on his club’s 172 during a preflight. Another club member told him he would...
Jul 15, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 60
Lots of leaks this episode, as Mike, Paul, and Colleen diagnose a leaky strut, a defroster that's not working, a leaking brake system, and more. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Greg has a Cherokee with a leaky strut. His mechanic suggested pressurizing it with shop air instead of nitrogen. He asks about Granville Strut Seal. Mike said he has a big success rate with Granville, ...
Jul 01, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 59
This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen cover the basics. An owner wants to know if he should pull the throttle or propeller first in a climb, another wonders what the ideal power setting is for the run-up. Plus, mis-fueling and tired turbos. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full show notes below: John has a 210 and wants the definitive answer on whether to pull back the power or prop first. Paul said he has a 5-minut...
Jun 15, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 58
This episode Mike, Paul, and Colleen tell a flight school owner not to throw away a perfectly good engine. Plus, the origins of the annual inspection, safety wire, and poor engine monitor guidance. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Mike has a Cessna 150 with a bunch of advanced avionics, including a Garmin GI275 as primary engine instrumentation. The oil temperature setting frustrates him becaus...
Jun 01, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 57
This episode a perspective owner wonders about the cost of tying down outside. Plus fuel pump problems, major versus minor, and more. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Steve’s primer in his Saratoga sat for a long time and was pumping air when he came back to fly it. He had to track a fitting to get it to pump fuel again. Paul thought that since the pump is lower than the level of the fuel tank, ...
May 15, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 56
Is there a limit to how much oil consumption is too much? This episode, Mike, Paul, and Colleen answer this important question. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Jim has a Cardinal with 3,000 hours on the engine. Everything looks good, except that the oil consumption has increased substantially. They tried the ring flush procedure, and saw the fluid coming out of the carb intake and exhaust mani...
May 01, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Can you fly a turbocharged airplane lean of peak? Absolutely! This episode, Mike, Paul, and Colleen describe how to do it. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below. Mike flies a turbo 206 and a 421 and is trying to fly lean of peak but the airplanes are running a bit rough. He wonders if there are tricks on turbocharged engines. The GAMI spread is half a gallon, so that’s not an issue. Paul said to star...
Apr 15, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 54
