Hi there!
I live at 5,000 ft and I'm now flying at sea level (airports) for the first time in my 200 hours of flying, I'm doing a long, multi day trip across the country in my Piper Dakota.
Usually, I prime 6 times and it starts up after a few blade turns.
This morning, at 500' elevation, it was difficult to start.
First try:
6 primes (with fuel pump on) and no start. I wait for a bit. Throttle cracked 1/4", and full rich.
Second try:
2 more primes and no start. I wait for a bit.
Third try:
I pull out the primer plunger and turn it over....it doesn't start but while it's cranking I push the plunger in. No start. I wait for a bit.
Fourth try:
I crank and when it doesn't immediately start, I go full throttle and full mixture cut off (basically to clear a flooded engine). No start. I wait for a bit.
Fifth try:
I do a trick I learned from my mechanic. Full throttle, mixture cut off, two primes and then turn the key. It starts right up.
Here is my question - if I'm doing 6 primes for a cold start at 5,000', should I do the same, more or less when starting cold at sea level?
Do you think I had flooded it?
Please don't forget, 6 primes for a cold start at 5,000 and it would start right up. Do I need more than that?
Thank you!
Ken
I live at 5,000 ft and I'm now flying at sea level (airports) for the first time in my 200 hours of flying, I'm doing a long, multi day trip across the country in my Piper Dakota.
Usually, I prime 6 times and it starts up after a few blade turns.
This morning, at 500' elevation, it was difficult to start.
First try:
6 primes (with fuel pump on) and no start. I wait for a bit. Throttle cracked 1/4", and full rich.
Second try:
2 more primes and no start. I wait for a bit.
Third try:
I pull out the primer plunger and turn it over....it doesn't start but while it's cranking I push the plunger in. No start. I wait for a bit.
Fourth try:
I crank and when it doesn't immediately start, I go full throttle and full mixture cut off (basically to clear a flooded engine). No start. I wait for a bit.
Fifth try:
I do a trick I learned from my mechanic. Full throttle, mixture cut off, two primes and then turn the key. It starts right up.
Here is my question - if I'm doing 6 primes for a cold start at 5,000', should I do the same, more or less when starting cold at sea level?
Do you think I had flooded it?
Please don't forget, 6 primes for a cold start at 5,000 and it would start right up. Do I need more than that?
Thank you!
Ken
