0-320 Operation

Dan208B

Dan208B

Well-Known Member
Anyone on here own an airplane with an O-320 or have lots of experience flying them recently? I have probably 500+ hours in 172s and Cardinals but it's been 5+ years since I've done it a lot. Purchased a Piper Pacer a year ago with a 160hp O-320 conversion. I just installed an EGT gauge and I'm looking for a few pieces of information.

-Is there a recommended max EGT for the O-320?

-What about optimal? I'd like to operate rich of peak. I've been not leaning below 3000ft, but on longer trips I'd like to start using EGT to lean. My carb is set up so ground leaning and leaning below 3000 isn't necessary and it never loads up.

-As far as this goes, what power setting to use with it, I typically cruise at 2300rpm which seems to give a good speed vs. fuel burn.

-Cold weather ops and startup - I preheat with an space heater ducted into the cowling and a blanket to keep in the heat. Upon startup, should the engine be idled at 700ish RPM for a couple minutes or 1000 right away? There seems to be different thoughts on this.

Thanks for any info anyone can provide!
 
Hop in and turn the key mang, there isn't much you can do to an O-320 :) What series is it? Spin on filter or screen?

Preheating is a good idea for any engine if you live where it's really really cold, though I've flown 172's in some fairly cold weather and as long as you use multigrade oil and let it warm up to about 80 degrees before you do your runup or anything like that it'll make TBO handily.

Even the airplanes at the flight school that have been run at "full rental speed" and used for flight training their entire lives typically make TBO if they were broken in right in the first place.

for the spin on filter, 6 months or 50 hours between oil changes, if it's the screen 6 months or 25 hours. If you have the screen I highly recommend a spin on conversion, but there's nothing really wrong with the screen, spin on is just better. Either way if it's been 6 months change your oil.

You wont be able to run a carbureted O-320 lean of peak so there's no question there. The book probably says 50 rich of peak and for the O-320 that's probably okay but I usually do 75 rich, the difference in fuel flow is minimal.
 
Thanks for the info. It's an aftermarket screen conversion (I didn't do it.) Bigger screen, set up like a filter. Don't understand the point. Either way I do 25 hour changes. The pacer manual was written for the 125hp engine so no operation info and the STC came with a lot of paperwork but no operational info. I live in NW WA state and its pretty good 90% of the year but this week its been under 30 every day so I preheat. Thanks again!
 
There is a manual published by Lycoming about operating the engine, in the absence of anything in the airframe book I'd acquire and use that.


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It's a bulletproof dinosaur that your O-320. I bought my brand new the cheapest model (was $19,750 in 2009) solid crank bolted a wood prop on it and couldn't be happier. Properly broke in myself, have an EGT on hottest cylinder (3rd). Put 1K hours within 2.5 years and was using red know heavily since hour 21. No priming system, no built-in preheat just push the button and go. I don't give much theory to leaning to be honest. Lean till it starts cursing then feed a bit. You will feel it. Enjoy the ride, change lubricating oil frequently and keep your typical cruise RPM. Will last you long time. Just fly don't let it sit...


 
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