Mailing List lml@lancaironline.net Message #58277
From: Colyn Case <colyncase@earthlink.net>
Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [LML] Fuel restriction or air?
Date: Sun, 15 May 2011 20:48:46 -0400
To: <lml@lancaironline.net>
Did you verify the fuel vents are working properly?   ....and that the check valves on the vents are oriented correctly?

Also - what were the ambient temperatures?

Another more far out issue:   Is there a heat source in the engine compartment aimed at any fuel lines?   e.g. on my IV-P if the joints on the transfer tube leak, the gascolator and associated plumbing get the heat.  (Although I now have wrapped them in heat resistant covering).

On May 15, 2011, at 8:04 AM, Berni wrote:

> I have been trying to chase down the cause of a fuel issue in my normally aspirated Lancair IV engine.  During a cross country flight my fuel flow indicator began to show fluctuations which I mistakenly believed to be false readings.  Shortly thereafter during the same flight the engine began surging, slightly at first but increasingly worse in short time.  So much so that I began to plan for an emergency landing as I was looking to find the cause and to introduce a remedy.  I turned on my electric (back up) fuel pump and the engine immediately began to run strong and the fluctuation readings stabilized.  
>
> After gaining altitude I turned off the electric pump and the unstable fuel flow readings as well as the engine surge returned.
>
> My initial take was that my problem was caused by a failing engine driven fuel pump.  Even with that belief (once back on the ground) I checked as much of the fuel system as possible looking for potential restrictions.  I looked at and cleaned the screens at the wing root connections as well as the inlet on the GAMI injectors.  I found no restrictions so I removed and exchanged my engine driven pump for a rebuilt unit.
>
> After installing the rebuilt pump the engine tested fine on the ground and fine in the air on a subsequent cross country trip.  Approximately 2.1 hours of flying time later the exact same symptoms returned...erratic fuel flow readings followed closely by engine surge.
>
> I am now at a loss as to what I should now look for.  Could my problem be due to air somehow being introduced into my fuel flow?  Should I be looking at my fuel selector as a possible culprit?  If so how would I test that possibility?
>
> Any and all suggestions would be most appreciated.
>
> Sent from my iPad
> Berni Breen
> Bbreen@cableone.net
> --
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