Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #29550
From: Ed Anderson <eanderson@carolina.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Spark Plug Fouling
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 19:50:10 -0500
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
I thought it was interesting also.  But, it could explain why I don't seem to hear as much complaint from the Lycoming guys about lead fouling.
 
Ed
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 3:56 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Spark Plug Fouling

Ed,
That is very useful information. On our water cooled engines the only time we'll see 350° is just before the engine siezes!
Bill Jepson 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Anderson <eanderson@carolina.rr.com>
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 12:54:32 -0500
Subject: [FlyRotary] Spark Plug Fouling

I believe that most of us understood that leaded gasoline can lead to spark plug fouling.   It turns out even with the "Scavenger" compounds it apparently will still happened.  See article below:
 
I also read one report that address aircraft engine effect.  It basically said that if the CHT is not kept over 350F the scavenger effectiveness is minimal.  So this may be why aircraft sparkplugs do not seem to foul as often as the auto plugs (higher CHT). 
 
 
URL :http://www.petroleumbazaar.com/MS/msappli2.htm
 
 
During combustion TEL (Tetraethyl lead ) forms an oxide of lead which is not volatile and so should tend to deposit on the combustion chamber, valves, spark plugs, etc. with harmful effects. To counteract this. "Scavenger" compounds, such as ethylene dibromide and ethylene dichloride, are mixed with TEL so that on combustion more volatile compounds of lead are formed, resulting in most of the metal passing out with exhaust gas. The TEL together with the scavengers and a dye to indicate the poisonous nature of the compound is known as "ethyl fluid".
 
 
Despite the use of decavenger compounds, it can give rise to such difficulties as: sparkplug fouling, surface ignition, exhaust valve failure and octane requirement increase.
 
 
Ed Anderson
Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
eanderson@carolina.rr.com
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