Starting the P-51 ngine

[Vinny002]

Hi, guys!

 

I don't understand. Yesterday, I let the engine run for a little while (about an hour or so) the engine stops running. When I try to start the engine the 2nd time after shutting down the engine after the 1st run, the engine won't start anymore. Any solutions? I followed the procedures correctly! Thanks!

 

Cheers,

Vincent

[dooom]

try starting it with your throttle all the way back - dont put it forward at all... also is your mixture knob back up to the cutoff position>

[Vinny002]

Hi, dooom!

 

Yes, I got the throttle all the way back and the mixture to cutoff, the engine still won't start the 2nd time. What now? Thanks!

 

Cheers,

Vincent

[dooom]

Is it on left main tank?

How long are you priming it for?

Magnetos on?

[saburo_cz]

Did you switch fuel tank? after hour should be empty

it is not clear from your description

[4H_Ccrashh]

Next time you try to start up and fail save the replay and sent it to me via PM or email and I'll load it on my end. A second set of eyes might see something you didn't.

[flashben]

Please don't tell me you ran the engine idle for a hour?

I don't know if they modelled it, but i've read somewhere that dcs models spark plug fouling.

[Captain Orso]

The engine and water and oil cooling systems are designed to operate optimally in flight at 200 MPH and greater with a lot of air flowing through the radiators. If you let the engine run, even at a low idle, for any length of time greater than a few minutes you are risking the engine overheating, and I'm guessing, lubrication not working as designed, because the prop-wash and even taxiing does not provide enough airflow to cool the engine and the low RPM's do not allow for proper lubrication. Eventually the engine will simply burn itself out.

 

If there is fuel in the selected fuel tank--below the front corners of the seat on the floor, left and right--then your issue is probably engine damage. Call the mechanics and try to get into the air quicker this time :smilewink:

[HeadHunter52]

Don't know if you are flying for an hour and landing, or just running on the ground.

 

Air and landing. Check you temps when you shut down. If they're too high, you could try:

- letting it cool down

- start with throttle closed and cycling through the fuel mixture settings one cycle per second

- ground power?

Was the generator running while flying? Not sure if DCS models battery drain, but it's a thought.

- Fuel tank on vapors?? Try the other tank and be sure the booster wasn't accidentally shut off.

 

If it shut down on the ground (why would a pilot idle on the ground an hour?), you likely overheated it and damaged it.

[Vinny002]

Hi, guys!

 

I think you are right! I might have damaged the engine by running it in idle on the ground for an hour or so. DCS:P-51 is just keep getting better and better!

 

Cheers,

Vincent

[SnowTiger]

Like d0o0m, my throttle is all the way back/off and my RPM control is all the way forward and the Fuel Mixture control set to Idle Cutoff.

 

All necessary switches on (fuel, power, magneto's etc etc) I hold the Primer for about 4 or 5 seconds then release it and start cranking the engine over.

The first revolution of the Prop is pretty slow, however it's second and successive revolutions are much faster. As soon as the Prop Revs pick up and while still cranking the engine, I then press and hold the Primer Switch again until the engine fires and Starts.

I immediately move the Fuel Mixture knob to RUN and THEN move my Throttles ahead and Inch or so ..... and voila ... ready to go.

 

PS> I don't know if it's normal or natural or not, but if you warm up your engine with a higher Manifold Pressure , do NOT pull the throttle all the way back too quickly to start moving. Instead SLOWLY move the throttle back.

I have noticed on several occasions where moving the throttle back to a lower Manifold Pressure too quickly in order to release brakes and start moving, that the Engine actually Stalls and is now very difficult to restart. Furthermore, the backfires we now experience (engine/manifold "popping") may damage the engine.