P-40E-1 engine management help please (maybe?)

[BCI-Nazgul]

So, I can't seem to get the P-40 to go much above 200 mph without blowing the engine in expert mode.  If I get the engine to where it's "happy" I can barely keep it at altitude.  It seems that in "Normal" difficulty the computer doesn't have much of a problem maintaining an OK, if not super fast, speed and climbing.   What am I missing?.  I've tried monkeying with the prop pitch and mixture and neither seems to help much.   In the old IL2 the P-40 seemed to be a much better plane even if not the fastest thing around.

[ACG_KaiLae]

You need to include more information than what you posted. What engine settings are you using exactly?

[dolki]

hello ! mixture 60-66%  prop pitch 70-75% power 80-90%. I am not sure that is perfect but I do not break the engine.We can stay in combat mode long enough without problems to take the height. Check the dials in the cockpit and avoid the emergency mode. The aircraft is particularly slow just after takeoff, take speed before climbing And do not put a lot of gasoline.I use it with a bomb of 500 kg, it is difficult to take speed but after that goes.

[LukeFF]

You have a Specification tab in the game (accessed with the O key) that will tell you what the engine's operating limits are. 

Edited December 7, 2016 by LukeFF

[Farky]

Engine modes ( specifications from game) with my notes.

 

Nominal ( unlimited time): 2600 rpm, 37.2"Hg ( 1000hp/10 800ft ).

Maintain Manifold pressure at 39.5"Hg and you are ok, 40"Hg triggers Combat power mode.

 

Combat power ( up to 5 minutes) :  3000 rpm, 42"Hg (1150hp/12 000ft ).

Maintain Manifold pressure at 43.5"Hg, 44"Hg triggers Emergency power mode.

 

Take off power ( up to 2 minutes) : 3000 rpm, 45.5"Hg (1150hp/S.L.).

Time limit is actually some 3 minutes +, not 2 minutes. There is no real reason use this engine mode.

 

Maximum possible power ( prohibited by flight manual ) : 3000 rpm, 56.0"Hg (1470hp/S.L.).

Emergency mode, which should be used carefully.

 

Fuel mixture on AUTO RICH (follow marks on throttle quadrant).

Radiator for most of the time on NEUTRAL or even more closed. Difference in speed between fully closed and NEUTRAL radiator is almost negligible (few mph).

 

 

 

[BCI-Nazgul]

I put the mix at 66% and prop pitch on "auto".  See, I did read the specs.  I must be missing something basic....hmm....

[ACG_KaiLae]

Auto means that the constant speed propellor unit is enabled. It can be disabled in case of an electrical failure, in which case the plane starts flying like a Bf-109 E1. Meaning, that you're directly controlling pitch, and not telling it what engine RPM you want and the system moves the pitch to obtain it. Difference is that if you have it on and dive with the engine at 3000 RPM, nothing will happen, but with it off, the airflow going past the prop will speed up the prop and you'll overspeed and blow the engine.

 

Auto does not mean that the RPM is automatically controlled as it is on some german and italian planes.

[BCI-Nazgul]

It turns out that I wasn't opening the cowls and I needed to run about 70-80% prop pitch.