Pilot's Discretion Podcast, episode 82
Operating a piston engine lean of peak can save fuel and reduce engine temperatures, but the topic is shrouded in mystery and even controversy. Flight instructor and YouTube pilot Martin Pauly breaks it all down in this episode, including what the tradeoffs are, why engine monitors matter, and when to watch CHT. Martin is also an expert on modern autopilots like the Garmin GFC 600, so he shares tips for getting the most out of these impressive avionics. In the Ready to Copy segment, Martin talks about what American pilots take for granted, how to make better aviation videos, and what it was like to fly in a B-29.
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Quotes:
- Why run lean of peak: “The main goal that people try to achieve with lean of peak is twofold: to run the engine cooler… and to save fuel.”
- When to run rich: “Whenever you want the best power, for example on takeoff or climb, you can run rich of peak… when you want the best miles per gallon, the best economy, then you lean back to a mixture setting on the lean side of peak.”
- Differences between airplanes: “In carbureted engines, there’s a lot of variability from cylinder to cylinder, and that can make it difficult to run lean of peak.”
- The value of engine monitors: “A digital engine monitor that has CHT and EGT for each cylinder individually is a really, really good investment—whether you fly rich of peak or lean of peak.”
- Why CHT is important to monitor: “CHT is a good proxy for yet another parameter for which we don’t have a gauge in the cockpit, even with the most advanced engine monitors, and that is the internal pressure that builds up inside the cylinder.”
- Why new autopilots are different: “The complexity therefore, is not just in the autopilot panel… but in all the other things that the autopilot interacts with to do its job.”
- Different levels of automation: “Many of these new autopilots have a tool which I find is highly underutilized and that’s a flight director.”
- How to succeed on YouTube: “The key is to not see it as a competition, but to find what it is that you’re passionate about and then make videos about those things.”
- Staying humble on camera: “I think it would be unrealistic to show a flight that has zero mistakes and zero room for improvement.”
- Why the Bonanza remains popular: “I think it’s the perfect compromise.”
- Flying in a B-29: “It was awe-inspiring to see the complexity of the flight engineer station.”
- What flying gliders teaches: “I think the number one thing is, I know what the rudder is for.”
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