netsurfr
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- Jun 15, 2014
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So went up for a flight today before my plane goes in later this week for some avionics & a new prop. I was flying at 5500' at 65% HP (21/2200 on the Dakota) and leaned to JUST rich of engine roughness, which puts my O-540 at LOP. TAS at LOP was 122 knots & going to 100F ROP TAS was 128 knots so pretty much what the POH performance tables would predict. After testing the LOP vs ROP TAS vs POH I settled back to LOP. Now here's my question... I turned on Carb Heat during flight and got a NOTICEABLE increase in engine performance not the roughness you would expect should ice be accumulating nor the loss of MP typically experienced with carb heat running.
So my question is why? I realize that carb heat enrichens the mixture. Is this why I felt the increase in performance? I also understand that running partial carb heat in carbureted engines can help LOP operation by better atomizing the fuel. So what exactly did I experience today that made my engine run better w/ CH on? I didn't leave it there but wondering.
So my question is why? I realize that carb heat enrichens the mixture. Is this why I felt the increase in performance? I also understand that running partial carb heat in carbureted engines can help LOP operation by better atomizing the fuel. So what exactly did I experience today that made my engine run better w/ CH on? I didn't leave it there but wondering.
