Tips on starting in cold weather?

A Living Legend
new reply
User avatar
robains
Staff Sergeant
Posts: 280
Joined: 12 Sep 2013, 20:25
Location: Hillsboro, OR

Tips on starting in cold weather?

Post by robains »

I seem unable to keep the thumpers going when it's cold out. Tried the following:

1. Auto Start (via Shift 3 window)
2. 3 helpings of Prime
3. Overhauled
4. 100 and 91 fuel
5. All three oil types
6. Cowl flaps closed (retain some heat)

Engine fires up, but will not stay running.

P3D V5.1 HF1 at FlyTampa CYUL (Montreal) ... it wasn't super cold, about 28 F (-2 C). On warmer locations, no problem starting.

Any tips/thoughts?

Cheers, Rob.
Image

User avatar
Masterius
Senior Airman
Posts: 216
Joined: 30 May 2019, 14:36

Re: Tips on starting in cold weather?

Post by Masterius »

Try using 8 primer pumps before starting, then priming during meshing. As soon as the engine starts turning over and starting, throttle up to keep it around 1,500RPM until it stops stuttering and begins running smoother, and then throttle back down to around 1,100-1,200RPM.
Image

AviationAtWar
Technical Sergeant
Posts: 899
Joined: 30 Nov 2014, 19:07
Location: US
Contact:

Re: Tips on starting in cold weather?

Post by AviationAtWar »

If it does start ok but slows and dies after some time then you can use the turbos for carb heat and they will likely stay running.

alan CXA651
Senior Master Sergeant
Posts: 2438
Joined: 15 Mar 2016, 08:23

Re: Tips on starting in cold weather?

Post by alan CXA651 »

Hi Rob.
Did you fly into CYUL on the previous flight or just spawn into that airport with those temps.
Reason i ask , is if you flew into that airport , then the proceedure prior to sutdown , is the use the dilute oil for two mins then shut down , this helps the next startup , because it thins the oil with fuel , this fuel burns off as the engine warms up .
Do not over prime or you will flood the engine and fowl the plugs i would not use more the 4 pumps off primer , onother thing if you spwn direct to the airport in those conditions , try changing the oil just prior to starting , and keep the RPM between 1200 - 1800 till engines start to run smoothe and monitor temps closely.
regards alan.
Image
Image
Image
Image

User avatar
robains
Staff Sergeant
Posts: 280
Joined: 12 Sep 2013, 20:25
Location: Hillsboro, OR

Re: Tips on starting in cold weather?

Post by robains »

This is my very first flight attempt from CYUL.

I don't think I over prime as the engine does start up but after about 15-30 seconds it will shutdown even when I have RPM set to 1500 and tried to modulate to keep it running, but no success.

I'll check into using the Turbo's ... I think I tried them and still wouldn't keep running, but will double check.

I am using HiFi weather engine with P3D V5.1 HF1 EA enabled ... but I have no problems starting in warmer locations.

Cheers, Rob.
Image

User avatar
WB_FlashOver
Technical Sergeant
Posts: 946
Joined: 10 Jun 2012, 18:23
Location: (S05) U.S.A.
Contact:

Re: Tips on starting in cold weather?

Post by WB_FlashOver »

Sounds just like the trouble I'm having over here.
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=71895
If the weather is cold and damp I change the weather to warmer, start the engines, then set back to actual weather. I have verified this several times. I can re-create it any time I wish. My flight buddies can verify it as well. The carbs are freezing as soon as you spawn in.

Cheers
Roger
-- Fly Well, Be Nice, Have Fun ! ! !

Z390 FTW | i9 9900K @ 5.2 | 32GB 3333 CL14 | 3080 Ti FE
970 Pro 512GB (OS)| 970 Evo 1TB | 850 Evo 500GBx2 Raid0
3TB HDD | Define S2 | EKWB Dual Loop


P51civ - T6 - P40 - B17 - B377 - L049 - Comanche - Spit - Bonanza

User avatar
robains
Staff Sergeant
Posts: 280
Joined: 12 Sep 2013, 20:25
Location: Hillsboro, OR

Re: Tips on starting in cold weather?

Post by robains »

I had no luck with the Turbos ... I'll test out temp ranges and report back ... maybe A2A need to add some "Herman Nelson" heaters ala ICE PILOTS :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0mArUyxPbA

Cheers, Rob.
Image

User avatar
FireRescue85
Senior Airman
Posts: 181
Joined: 28 Jul 2016, 14:56
Location: New York

Re: Tips on starting in cold weather?

Post by FireRescue85 »

Hi Rob,

I fly in the Northeast, so we have a history of long cold winters. After studying WWII B-17 training films, and doing a little experimentation, I've found that the following works best for me:

Fuel pumps on, cowl flaps open, selected engine oil dilution on, turbo set to 4, prime selected engine 4x while starting, hit mesh and keep priming. One it’s running make sure the inter coolers are set to warm and make sure your carb temp is rising. Turbo to 4 should get them to about 12C.

The issue your having sounds like a sudden build up of carb ice. I’ve had that happen too.

Next:

Warm up the engines on the ground, I mean really warm. Idle 10-15 min until your cylinder head temp is over 180 and Oil temp is over 50.

Make sure your carb filters are on and keep your turbo set to about 4, this will heat up your carbs and stop them from icing over.

Close cowls to 50% before takeoff, and then as needed for climb. When I power back I’m usually around 5% to keep CHT around 200.

If your carbs are warmed up on the ground enough, I've found that there is only a small drop in temp when you turn the filters off. Make sure you're also reducing MAP to about 34" and keep the turbos at 8. Those settings have kept my carb temp in the mid 20's while OAT was -45.

Hope this helps,
-Scott
Fire Marshall, Firefighter/Emergency Medical Tech.

B-17G
B377
L-049

User avatar
robains
Staff Sergeant
Posts: 280
Joined: 12 Sep 2013, 20:25
Location: Hillsboro, OR

Re: Tips on starting in cold weather?

Post by robains »

Thanks Scott,

I'll give that a go as I'm not having much success in sub zero.

Cheers, Rob.
Image

User avatar
Lewis - A2A
A2A Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 33284
Joined: 06 Nov 2004, 23:22
Location: Norfolk UK
Contact:

Re: Tips on starting in cold weather?

Post by Lewis - A2A »

Hey Rob,

out of interest can the engines auto start with the crew doing it?

thanks,
Lewis
A2A Facebook for news live to your social media newsfeed
A2A Youtube because a video can say a thousand screenshots,..
A2A Simulations Twitter for news live to your social media newsfeed
A2A Simulations Community Discord for voice/text chat

User avatar
WB_FlashOver
Technical Sergeant
Posts: 946
Joined: 10 Jun 2012, 18:23
Location: (S05) U.S.A.
Contact:

Re: Tips on starting in cold weather?

Post by WB_FlashOver »

robains wrote: 12 Jan 2021, 17:40 Thanks Scott,

I'll give that a go as I'm not having much success in sub zero.

Cheers, Rob.
Hello Rob,
Have you tried to start with mixtures in the Rich position? I found that works pretty well requiring only a few pumps on the primer.
Lewis - A2A wrote: 13 Jan 2021, 10:39 Hey Rob,

out of interest can the engines auto start with the crew doing it?

thanks,
Lewis
Hey Lewis, when I try Auto Start in subzero weather the crew starts engine one and then nothing else. If I run the intercoolers to warm and crank the turbos up engine one carburetor will eventually thaw and the crew will continue with startup of other engines. I didn't do this but a couple of times once I figured out a better start procedure for cold weather.

Roger
-- Fly Well, Be Nice, Have Fun ! ! !

Z390 FTW | i9 9900K @ 5.2 | 32GB 3333 CL14 | 3080 Ti FE
970 Pro 512GB (OS)| 970 Evo 1TB | 850 Evo 500GBx2 Raid0
3TB HDD | Define S2 | EKWB Dual Loop


P51civ - T6 - P40 - B17 - B377 - L049 - Comanche - Spit - Bonanza

User avatar
Lewis - A2A
A2A Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 33284
Joined: 06 Nov 2004, 23:22
Location: Norfolk UK
Contact:

Re: Tips on starting in cold weather?

Post by Lewis - A2A »

thanks Ill have a ganders see how I can see reproduce.

cheers,
Lewis
A2A Facebook for news live to your social media newsfeed
A2A Youtube because a video can say a thousand screenshots,..
A2A Simulations Twitter for news live to your social media newsfeed
A2A Simulations Community Discord for voice/text chat

new reply

Return to “B-17 Flying Fortress”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests