Engine Cleaning
05-04-2003 | 10:13 PM
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From: Mesa, AZ
Engine Cleaning
No. In fact little in the way of cleaning the engine is necessary, inside or out. I usually wipe down the easy to get to parts when I wipe down the rest of the helicopter after a flight. Every now and then when a glow plug dies on me I clean out all the heat sink fins while I have it off. This is pretty easy in the kitchen sink with a little dish soap and a sprayer.
As far as the inside parts go, I would recommend running all of the fuel out of the engine at the end of your flying day. Not only will this prevent fuel/oil from dripping out of the engine while it sits on your bench or shelf, but it will also make starting a lot easier next time around. The methanol in the fuel will pull moisture out of the air in a matter of minutes. When the methanol has two much water in it, it is much more difficult to burn and causes all sorts of starting problems. Other than that the fuel will leave a thin oil residue on all of the engine parts which does wonders for their preservation. I wouldn’t recommend trying too hard to remove that.
For what it is worth,
Jeff
As far as the inside parts go, I would recommend running all of the fuel out of the engine at the end of your flying day. Not only will this prevent fuel/oil from dripping out of the engine while it sits on your bench or shelf, but it will also make starting a lot easier next time around. The methanol in the fuel will pull moisture out of the air in a matter of minutes. When the methanol has two much water in it, it is much more difficult to burn and causes all sorts of starting problems. Other than that the fuel will leave a thin oil residue on all of the engine parts which does wonders for their preservation. I wouldn’t recommend trying too hard to remove that.
For what it is worth,
Jeff
