To all that need a good engine rebuilder,  I had my Glasair engine rebuilt by LyCom in Vasilia, CA...When it was rebuilt and installed, thats when I was glad they did the rebuild...Ran so smooth and with increased power, same amount of gallons per hour and increase in speed...From 183kts to 191 kts...I was very happy, they delivered what they promised...That's my 2 cents

Michael Giardino

n7sz  L-IV  98% 

John,

 

I have a Performance Engine. With zero time on it, I sent it to Barrett Precision Engines http://www.bpaengines.com/site.html in Tulsa for complete teardown and overhaul due to the problems that many others have had with Performance. Even if no metal was showing up, you’ll never have any confidence in your engine. I believe that everyone on the list who has dealt with Barrett will give them a strong recommendation. Bite the bullet and send it to Barrett (maybe you’ll get a family discount? :-) 

 

Bill Harrelson

N5ZQ 320 2,050 hrs.

N6ZQ  IV under construction

http://www.mykitlog.com/harrelson/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From: John Barrett

Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2012 8:56 AM

To: lml@lancaironline.net

Subject: [LML] Performance Engine TSIO 550

 

Hello all,

 

I have a quandary with this engine and am hoping to get some help in solving it.

 

I have about 60 hours on the engine now and it runs quite well.  Due to the worries related to Fred Moreno’s problem with his engine and various others I was highly concerned about the safety of operating my L-IVP with this power plant.  To that end I’ve been monitoring it closely and have been doing frequent oil changes to look for developing problems. 

 

All parameters have been good except there was silicone early on in the oil (first change was at 5 hours then at about 15, then at 35 hours and another later on.) and a slight elevation in aluminum.  Second oil change still have the silicon and aluminum was much higher.  Also there was a bit of metal flakes in the filter element – non magnetic.  Last oil change was even higher aluminum and silicon still elevated.  The oil filter element looked like it had glitter applied to it.  Blackstone has been doing the oil analysis.  I sent the last filter element to Howard Fenton (2^nd oilpinion in Oklahoma) and he expressed concern and advised to quit flying until the problem is figured out. 

 

He says the only metal found is aluminum and he’s never seen or heard of that.  Always in his experience there would be some other metal showing up in excess as well because there isn’t a place in the engine he’s aware of the aluminum rubs against aluminum.

 

I discovered after the second oil change that the alternate air door was not closing completely and that probably explains the silicon.

 

I did compression check a couple of days ago and got normal readings – 80/75 to 77.

 

I don’t have a plan about how to trouble shoot the origin of this metal.  I notice that cylinder #5 runs hottest egt’s during warmup but other than that I can’t think of anything out of the ordinary.

 

Does anyone have a suggestion about how to  sleuth out this problem?

 

Regards,

 

John Barrett, CEO

Leading Edge Composites

PO Box 428

Port Hadlock, WA 98339

 

www.carbinge.com