mixed analogies
Liquid cooling is far less of a factor...car/aircraft engines are otherwise identical in principle technology....car engines are merely more refined......as you said, a piston freight dog will run "forever".... 100,000 miles out of a 1955/65/75/85 Chevy is TBO
cars change oil at 50 - 100 hours, too (appx 3000 - 7500 miles)
technically there's no reason why 3000 TBO is out of reach with FADEC....even though I agree 100% it's moot for 95% of GA from a practical standpoint[/quote]You make so many points and some are not related or mixed analogies. Cars fell apart because the suspension, body, transmissions fell apart as much or more than the engines. Yes materials and tolerances where not as good. Improvements in oil, water-cooling are HUGE factors in engine life. Cooling in the valves and valve guides is the biggest challenge in a Lycoming, water cooling would eliminate. They have after market water cooled cylinders/heads for Lycomings called ?Cool Jugs?. Now you have to deal with radiators and pumps and hoses.
Old cars ran forever, but the dark years of the 80's was in part the car just fell apart and not really a case for better fuel distribution and timing. Most of the benefit for cars was gas mileage not life. Why do my Acuras go 220,000 miles and still feel tight. Yes design, materials are all factors. The fact is a Lycoming is still a lycoming and I just don't see 3000 hours happening. In fact with blow by (from air-cooled engine tolerance) you get oil contamination and sludge build up, so even if an engine is still running well at 2,200-2,500 hours I would consider taking it apart. I guess we can agree to disagree. I still think FADEC is nice, cool technology for those who want it and can afford it. I do see the advantage in saving engine damage from pilot error, but I don't think the bottom end of a Lycoming and cam is good for 3,000 hours. However the new roller cam may go the distance? G
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