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New RV-4 Engine RUNS!!

July 5, 2023

The new Lycoming O-360 on my RV-4 finally sprung to life!!

This is the first engine start!

She started and ran very nicely!

I performed a couple of ground runs, resolved a couple minor squawks, and then it was time to fly. Aircraft engines have to ‘break-in’ or more appropriately ‘wear in’ and we are advised to limit ground runs with a newly overhauled engine and instead to get it in the air and run it as hard as possible for the first couple of hours. So, that’s what I did!

My friend Mike followed me around in his airplane for the first 30 minutes to ensure that nothing unusual was happening (like smoke and/or flames). It is VERY comforting to know that someone has eyes on the outside of the airplane during tests like this. Thanks Mike!!

There were a couple squawks from this flight but nothing significant and both were quickly resolved.

The oil cooler duct that I previously mentioned, printed from PLA, did suffer a bit in the heat.  I ended up printing a version of it from PA6-GF30 filament (30% glass fiber reinforced Nylon 6 Copolymer) which has a much higher temperature tolerance.  That version is holding up very nicely.  This filament is the best I can print with my equipment (due to temperature limitations).  Maybe Santa will deliver a more capabable printer later this year?!?!

I’ve painted the cowling and have 15 flight hours on the Lycoming O-360. It is running VERY well and the additional performance of the more powerful engine is very nice to have. That said, I’m still in the break-in period so I’m managing engine temperatures since the air temperature here this time of year is very hot!! Ideally, one would not break-in an engine over the high desert during the summer but sitting around staring at it for 3-4 months didn’t strike me as a good option. 😜

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Comments

  1. Robert E. Finley says

    July 5, 2023 at 7:43 pm

    Nice sounding engine! Beautiful Plane. Your airplane engine sounded real good. The ABBA performers of the 1970s on your musical clip brought back memories; apparently for you as well.

    Reply
    • JD says

      July 7, 2023 at 8:30 am

      Thanks Dad! It now has 15 flight hours and is running great!!

      Reply
  2. Geoff Winter says

    July 6, 2023 at 11:07 pm

    Hi JD, my name is Geoff, from NSW Australia. I’ve just stumbled upon your youtube videos & website – fantastic! Seems we have a bit in common – I have the great privilege of flying my own RV4 (got a couple of videos here https://youtube.com/@geoffwinter), love MTB’ing & sea kayaking & am hoping to start building a Petrel Play kayak in the near future.

    Anyow, I see you’ve mounted your camera on an extension pole under your RV4 wing. Are you able to give me some details, or do a post, describing how you went about that.

    Really enjoying browsing through all your great material – kind regards, Geoff

    Reply
  3. Ricky says

    December 31, 2024 at 11:00 am

    Hello, Im taking delivery of my new to me -4 on the 2nd. I noticed it has two oil coolers on it. The owner states the high oil temp issue has been resolved. I was curious, if you fixed you temp problem with your mods you did? Thanks, Ricky

    Reply
    • JD says

      January 2, 2025 at 9:27 am

      Hi Ricky, My previous O-320 always ran hot (oil). The O-360 does not run hot (with new oil cooler, ducting, hoses, etc.). I don’t have proof but am suspicous that that my previous oil cooler was not working very well (inspite of cleaning it) and the ducting was probably not great.

      Reply

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Sometimes I wish people would think for themselves. Then they do. Then I wish they wouldn’t do it anymore.

— JD Finley

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