I doubt Dennis is doing anything wrong.  We have identified a consistent
casting issue with the ECI cylinders that results in them running hot.  It is
not the cylinder coating or wall type.  It is possible that the hot running is
glazing it and not allowing it to break in.  I could be mistaken on the cause
of his inability to get them broken in, but we are confident that we
understand why they run hot.

Walter,

 

Verrrrry Interrrrrresting!

 

I have ECI Titan Cermi-Nil cylinders on my 320 with about 200 hours on them.  Even though I have good baffling, diffusers, hi pressure difference and have carefully directed cooling air I still see temperatures higher than others.  I know, I know .... Spark advance will heat up the cylinders also.  The little testing I have been able to do so far with the current LSE system that actually retards the spark a bit at full power still results in the same hot cylinders (1,2,3 about 390-400, 4 about 400-410).

 

If break in is measured by stabilized oil consumption, then I am broken in even though I stabilized at a quart every 4 or 5 hours.  I have measured crankcase pressure at zero with respect to "ambient", thus I don't think it is blow by.  Cylinder compression is very good but cylinder #4 top plug always indicates a bit of oil (blackened rather that brown-gray). Hmmmm, oil thru valve guides?  I know that oil in the fuel/air mixture changes the combustion event.

 

Do the 320 cylinders have the same casting issues?  What are they and can anything be done to overcome them?

 

Any suggestions are always welcome.