I agree! I'm new to aircraft ownership (REALLY new considering mine isn't even completed yet). But, one thing that has really caught my attention since joining this forum is how "unreliable" these darned engines are. Now before you jump all over me, I don't mean these engine are failing left and right and I know there are some poor automotive engine designs out there especially in recent years as makers have chased CAFE fuel standards.We dont have a dog in this hunt, but surely seems like its time for a new design engine.
It's just the fact that every other piston engine I've owned for the last 50 years has been bulletproof. That includes owning a lot of high mileage junkers in my youth. No stuck or burnt valves. No pitting on the cams. No concerns about not starting the engine every two weeks or else! No dilemma about which oils to use or avoid. No strict guidelines on breaking in the engine to prevent glazing or else!
The sad part is the Lycoming engine as FAR more simple than non-aviation engines. It should be absolutely foolproof. I can understand using more oil because of looser tolerances due to the air cooled design. But, there should never be any other issues because there are FAR fewer parts and FAR less complexity than automotive engines.
I have a new 390 on order and to be honest, I'm a bit paranoid about getting a stuck valve - and glazing during break in - and cam pitting due to low use during the winter. An $80,000 engine with a high likelihood of stuck valves after a couple years???? That's just crazy and yet we have no alternative so we keep buying these prehistoric engines and do all kinds of crazy dances to limp to TBO.
If Honda made a big enough air cooled lawnmower engine for my airplane, I'd install it so fast it would make your head spin. Flame on!!!!









