Trying to learn CEM

[dburne]

Man oh man,

 

So after finishing the Stalingrad Campaign, and starting the new Blazing Steppe Scripted Campaign, thought I would go ahead and learn to manage my engine rather than having it all done automatically. So I am flying the campaign in custom mode so I have set to manage my own settings.

 

Flying the Yak-1 obviously, and I had read it was one of the easier ones as far as CEM but boy am I struggling.

 

First of the guide I have gotten from here somewhere, says to fly with mixture set full rich. Well if I move the mixture to full rich, which according to the pic is full forward, and the engine just sputters and dies, so I have to pull the mixture lever nearly full back which according to the diagram is lean.

 

I have water and oil rads set full open for takeoff, and just close them slightly after reaching cruise.

But every time I get into combat my engine will start smoking and soon after die. Sometimes black soot on the windscreen. Now maybe bullets are hitting it just right each time and smoking my engine, I really don't know. 

 

I am into the second mission of Blazing Steppe and this has happened to me three times now I have tried that mission.

 

As far as rpm, I set it to full for takeoff and then ease it back around 2500-2600 or so.

 

Lemme tell ya, any tips at all would certainly be appreciated! 

Edited July 7, 2017 by dburne

[LLv24_Zami]

That`s pretty strange. I normally just set mixture full rich, open radiators, full rpm and full throttle and take off. When traveling usually decrease rpm and throttle to 90% or so. Full power in combat, just adjust the radiators when taking heat. And change supercharger gear to 2 when above 2300 meters. It`s pretty simple, Yak can sustain full power very long in combat without damage.

 

Maybe you are taking hits, take a recording next time and you`ll see.

Edited July 7, 2017 by Zami

[dburne]

Ya I think it is hits, just tried a fourth time and shortly after taking a round my engine smoked like crazy and dies shortly after. How the heck they are able to take my engine out from behind me on my six with just a few short bursts is amazing.

 

Not sure I will ever even get past mission #2 lol.

 

Regarding CEM in the Yak, is the lever fully forward supposed to be full rich? That is what the pic of the Yak cockpit I have shows, but if I move it full forward it just sputters and dies. Have to have it pulled back.

[Willy__]

As long as you take care of the temperature, you can run 100% throttle and prop pitch all day long. Running the engine on 2550 rpm (85% prop pitch) will also help with the heat and let you run with rads closed (around 40%) for longer.

[LLv24_Zami]

Ya I think it is hits, just tried a fourth time and shortly after taking a round my engine smoked like crazy and dies shortly after. How the heck they are able to take my engine out from behind me on my six with just a few short bursts is amazing.

 

Not sure I will ever even get past mission #2 lol.

 

Regarding CEM in the Yak, is the lever fully forward supposed to be full rich? That is what the pic of the Yak cockpit I have shows, but if I move it full forward it just sputters and dies. Have to have it pulled back.

Lever fully back is full rich.

[unreasonable]

If you were looking at one of the early cockpit guides, it is incorrect: the mixture control is full rich when fully back.  Only needs a little forwards when above 4000m.

 

Personally I recall getting smoking engines after running at full rpm and power continuously even after being very careful to keep the temps down - then I switched to the usage as described above of running at about 90% until I really needed it and had no problems, so I am not sure if the game Yak really can be run at full tilt all the time.

[dburne]

Lever fully back is full rich.

 

OK that makes sense then, obviously the diagram I had saved from here somewhere is incorrect on that one.

 

Thanks,

If you were looking at one of the early cockpit guides, it is incorrect: the mixture control is full rich when fully back.  Only needs a little forwards when above 4000m.

 

Personally I recall getting smoking engines after running at full rpm and power continuously even after being very careful to keep the temps down - then I switched to the usage as described above of running at about 90% until I really needed it and had no problems, so I am not sure if the game Yak really can be run at full tilt all the time.

 

Yes , that was it thanks.

 

No have not been running full rpm and power constantly, so pretty sure at this point it is just the enemy getting some mighty lucky shots on my engine in this particular mission. Going to keep trying - perseverance and all lol.

[unreasonable]

Stick at it - it does get easier, but it is much more "immersive" and satisfying having something like the full pilot workload, especially if you are getting into the RP a bit in a campaign.  Then you forget your temps for a while .... aargh!  Just like actual pilots did all too often.

[Finkeren]

The Yak-1 is a good plane to start learning CEM in. No time limits to worry about, so you can focus mainly on fuel economy and keeping the right temperature.

[Mmaruda]

Here are some tips to get you started, not optimal for any plane, but if you follow these as a rule of thumb, you should be fine in maintaining your engine in every plane:

 

- prop pitch - 100% on take off, 75% in all other condition except intense dogfight situations (hard climbing, intense turning at low speeds, emergency escapes), when reducing pitch, make a habit of reducing throttle first then prop pitch.

- mixture - 80% except when taking off (100 for most planes) and on the Mig-3 50% for normal operations and 100% to get full boost (don't use on take off!)

- supercharger - switch to gear 2 when above 2500m (when your pilot is using the oxygen mask it's a good queue to switch)

- radiators - there are 4 in the game: oil, water and inlet and outlet cowl flaps for radial engines, at most you will have to manage 3 in the La-5 - inlet, outlet and oil. Keep them at 50% on take offs and during normal flight, close to 30% when in a fight, close altogether when doing and emergency escape and open fully when your engine is overheating. Once you get this down, you can adjust each one separately as needed depending on what temperature the dials in the cockpit show.

 

Use tech chat as it show you the percentages of all them things and warns you when the engine is getting hot.

 

As I said, these are just a sort of rule of thumb settings to give you and idea what to set for what situations, once you get this down to a habit, you can try to figure out optimal values on your own for every flight conditions, however sticking to these rules will ensure that you won't blow you engine. At least it works for me.

[Aap]

No need to lean mixture, if you are flying under 5k, unless you are trying to save fuel. I16 and Mig (50%) have auto mixture, so no need to lean at any altitude, unless trying to save fuel.

[dburne]

Awesome, many thanks for the great tips gang!  I am sure will be a big help!

 

Ok so 5th time was a charm in Mission 2 of Blazing Steppe for me, managed to succesfully complete the mission returning to my airbase notching up two heavy plane victories in the process. Engine did fine - helps not to get shot lol.

 

Thanks again!

 

Hey have I have not assigned inlet and outlet cowl flaps yet - does the Yak-1 use those? I hooked up my CH Throttle Qaudrant to compiment my Warthog setup so have plenty of axis now. I have the oil and water rad assigned to my first two axis on the CH Quadrant. Mixture  and RPM are assigned to my Warhog second throttle and gray slider axis.

[=SqSq=Sulaco]

No inlet/outlet cowl flaps in the Yak.

Good tip with the Yak, if you're trying to pull lead, drop your flaps, she'll turn on a dime.

[dburne]

No inlet/outlet cowl flaps in the Yak.

Good tip with the Yak, if you're trying to pull lead, drop your flaps, she'll turn on a dime.

 

Ah, thanks for the tip I will have to try that!

[Finkeren]

Cowl flaps are for air cooled radial engines. In the sim they work like this:

 

I-16: Has inlet cowl flaps only.

 

Fw 190A5: Has outlet cowl flaps only

 

La-5: Has both inlet- and outlet cowl flaps.

 

The La-5 and I-16 also have oil radiators that work the same way as on other planes.

[dburne]

Oh yeah I am cooking with grease now, getting this CEM down. Just completed Mission 3 of Blazing Steppe with resounding success lol.

 

Many thanks again for all the help gang!