La5fn Engine damage on takeoff

[TheWarsimmer]

Sometimes when I start from a parked position and take off in the fn, the engine will become damaged as I take off and die. Is this because it's possibly too cold? It sounds weird for an engine to be too cold, but it's all I can think of. The little cold indicator pops up at times.

 

When I take off: 

-cowl inlet 100%

-cowl outlet 0% (the heat is way below the 2 mark, usually the 1)

-oil radiator 100%

-RPM at full and slowly build up the throttle on takeoff

[-SF-Disarray]

When does the damage occur during takeoff? Also are you starting with a cold start or a preheated engine? It sounds a lot like cold engine damage, especially if the engine over cooled indicator is popping up. The way it goes, as I understand it, is the moving parts of the engine are designed to have so much space between them and when the engine is cold things that shouldn't touch start touching each other and that can lead to damage. The lubricant oils being too cold an also cause increased friction that can lead to damage.

[Frenchy56]

Well, he literally stated that the cold indicator pops up.

 

You need to warm up your engine. Just like any engine, really. You can press on the brakes and put the throttle higher.

Edited May 10, 2018 by Frenchy56

[-SF-Disarray]

Dropping the fuel/air mix will help warm it faster too along with closing up the cooling systems.

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

Wow, now that's some Killer Advice. In that IRL that's a Real Engine Killer. 

 

The Problem with a Cold Engine is the Oil Flow. 

 

Your Engine has a Pressurized Oil System in which an Oil Pump forces Oil all around the Engine and into all Bearing Surfaces. This normally happens at 2.5 to 5.5 bar depending on your Engine. The faster the Pump Spins the more Oil it moves and Pressure it creates. 

 

The Problem is in the Oil. It's Voscosity changes enormously with Temperature. Imagine a Syringe filled with Oil at -20, 40 and 100°C. If you enact a certain, constant Pressure on the Tap the 100°C Oil will take about 1/10th the Time to empty than the 40°C and roughly 1/100th the time than the Oil at -20°C.

 

So while applying the same Pressure the Warm Engine can flow a lot more Oil than the Cold one. And when the Engine is Dead Cold and you start giving it a lot of Load, the Oil may not even reach the desired Lubrication Points, or just in such small amounts not to make a Difference, and as many of your Engine Bearings REQUIRE Oil to run properly, they are damaged if under Lubricated. 

Also: Cold Oil, especially back then, had roughly the same Lubrication Value as Water, if it didn't freeze into a Solid Block. 

 

The same is true for all Engines and the Reason you should let your Engine Warm Up, in your Car, Bike, Boat, Plane etc. 

 

[Requiem]

Other than the obvious overcooling problem, also bear in mind that full throttle is not required for the La5FN as doing that kicks it into boost which isn't necessary and better saved for combat. If max RPM is set then setting your manifold pressure to about 700mmHg (ie- where 7 would be) is plenty for takeoff.

[TheWarsimmer]

20 hours ago, SYN_Requiem said:

Other than the obvious overcooling problem, also bear in mind that full throttle is not required for the La5FN as doing that kicks it into boost which isn't necessary and better saved for combat. If max RPM is set then setting your manifold pressure to about 700mmHg (ie- where 7 would be) is plenty for takeoff.

Thanks for the advice. Do you have any for taking off and landing efficiently? Absolutely love this plane, but takeoff is a pain. Landing more so. I start with a bit of right rudder, go to 1/3 throttle, half and then full. Landing, I try to not use any break or rudder if possible, because it tends to send her into a spin.

 

Thanks for the info everyone. I've been warming up the engine before takeoff and it works.

[Requiem]

14 minutes ago, baylor703 said:

Thanks for the advice. Do you have any for taking off and landing efficiently? Absolutely love this plane, but takeoff is a pain. Landing more so. I start with a bit of right rudder, go to 1/3 throttle, half and then full. Landing, I try to not use any break or rudder if possible, because it tends to send her into a spin.

 

Thanks for the info everyone. I've been warming up the engine before takeoff and it works.

It's pretty straightforward in the FN. Just do what I described above (ie - 700mmHg on takeoff to avoid boost), use rudder to keep straight and you're golden. When landing use an approach speed of 200 km/hr and land three point just like you would anything else. The gear suspension seems a bit "spongy" in the FN so don't be concerned if it rocks side to side a little bit when landing on an uneven surface. You can land with full application of brakes to a full stop while using rudder to keep straight no problem at all though. My video on it will be out in a couple of days.

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

There are Gamers and there are Simmers. 

[TheWarsimmer]

46 minutes ago, SYN_Requiem said:

It's pretty straightforward in the FN. Just do what I described above (ie - 700mmHg on takeoff to avoid boost), use rudder to keep straight and you're golden. When landing use an approach speed of 200 km/hr and land three point just like you would anything else. The gear suspension seems a bit "spongy" in the FN so don't be concerned if it rocks side to side a little bit when landing on an uneven surface. You can land with full application of brakes to a full stop while using rudder to keep straight no problem at all though. My video on it will be out in a couple of days.

 thanks man, can't wait. My only other qurstion would be why you recommend holding back on the boost? I know the la5 has issues if it runs for too long, but I had heard the FN can run it pretty much continuously. Is that not the case?

 

Maybe I'm just rusty from flying the yak lately. She's so forgiving in takeoff and landing it's like cheating!

Edited May 12, 2018 by baylor703

[Requiem]

35 minutes ago, baylor703 said:

 thanks man, can't wait. My only other qurstion would be why you recommend holding back on the boost? I know the la5 has issues if it runs for too long, but I had heard the FN can run it pretty much continuously. Is that not the case?

 

Maybe I'm just rusty from flying the yak lately. She's so forgiving in takeoff and landing it's like cheating!

It's just the pilot in me that says "why overstress an engine when you don't need to, especially in the takeoff phase" (yes I know random failures aren't modeled :P). It also gives an added benefit of having smaller turning tendencies on takeoff which makes it easier to manage. I believe the FN has a 15 minute limit on it's boost at maximum but I could be wrong, so I'd rather save it for combat than waste it on takeoff where it's not needed unless you want to show off

[seafireliv]

I love these realistic cold engine starts, just wish it was available in Career, but I guess in reality the flight crew will have already started the engine for you- or was that just in the Battle of Britain?

 

p.s. I`d love random failures too.

Edited May 16, 2018 by seafireliv

[RedKestrel]

2 hours ago, seafireliv said:

I love these realistic cold engine starts, just wish it was available in Career, but I guess in reality the flight crew will have already started the engine for you- or was that just in the Battle of Britain?

 

p.s. I`d love random failures too.

I think the Ai has trouble taxiing so that is why you start on the runway rather than taxiing.