Question for Paul McBride, the General Aviation News engines expert: Here in Ontario, winters can get very cold. After flying all summer and fall, an aircraft might be parked for the winter.
As we prepare to park the airplane for the winter, we let the engine cool and then perhaps start it and run it for about 15 seconds or so until the oil pressure comes up.
Then we shut down the engine and plug the muffler and/or exhaust pipes. Tennis or other balls are useful here. We can also put desiccant plugs in to replace the spark plugs…and then monitor them for possible color changes.
The short running of the engine pumps heavier oil throughout the engine. Better corrosion protection is the theory. What is your opinion?
Garth Elliot, Bracebridge, Ontario
Paul’s Answer: Garth, I find no fault with the procedures you use to prepare your aircraft engine for the winter and can only assume that this approach has proven successful for you.
My only recommendation for those confronted with what to do in regard to this subject is to review and consider compliance with Lycoming Service Letter L180B. This publication offers some valuable information on the subject and I feel it’s important to give it some serious consideration.
Of course, I recommend changing the engine oil and filter so that we don’t have used contaminated oil in the engine. If the oil is not changed, the by-products of combustion, moisture, and acids that are in the oil can cause internal corrosion in a very short period of time.
Another very important thing once the oil has been changed is to tape a sign to the propeller stating “Do Not Turn Prop.” We don’t want to rotate the propeller, which would wipe the existing oil off of the cylinder walls and the camshaft and tappet face.
As an ex professional drag racer, we turned the engine over once a month during storage to avoid having some valves fully open and weakening the springs, somewhat theoretical of course.
I do the same every time in know I won’t be flying for a few weeks.
My reasoning is that the oil is cold therefore it clings longer to the internal parts of the engine, inhibiting corrosion…at least for a while…
The engine is fine. Fog it and domloke.it says in the manual. The other parts of your plane are not as easy. Let’s say inside of you rudder, or in a somewhat enclosed metal space. The issues have to do with temps swinging back and forth between 0% humidity, and anywhere up to 100. (Namely in the fall) If you notice, fall.isnhard on cars because the swings in temperature And in humidity. Park at night when it’s below freezing, and if you wake up and water in the air turns to condensation later on in enclosed spaces, that’s setting you up for corrosion. fall is where the machines i see struggle. It’s usually due to temperature changes and passing dew point and freezing.