F4U Corsair Cold Start - Engine Dies When Advancing Mixture Control

[Pepper211]

I’ve been trying to master the cold start procedure for the F4U Corsair, but I’ve run into a recurring issue and could use some help.

 

Every time I go through the cold start—whether in the “Cold Start” training mission or the “Instant Action Cold Start”—the engine seems to start just fine initially. However, as soon as I push the mixture control forward (toward full rich), the engine dies almost immediately.

 

I’m clearly doing something wrong in the procedure, but I can’t quite figure out what it is. I’ve reviewed the steps multiple times and tried varying the timing and order, but the result is always the same: mixture forward = engine quits.

 

Has anyone experienced this before or does anyone have any idea what I might be missing?

 

Any help, tips, or tricks would be greatly appreciated!

[razo+r]

4 minutes ago, Pepper211 said:

I’ve been trying to master the cold start procedure for the F4U Corsair, but I’ve run into a recurring issue and could use some help.

 

Every time I go through the cold start—whether in the “Cold Start” training mission or the “Instant Action Cold Start”—the engine seems to start just fine initially. However, as soon as I push the mixture control forward (toward full rich), the engine dies almost immediately.

 

I’m clearly doing something wrong in the procedure, but I can’t quite figure out what it is. I’ve reviewed the steps multiple times and tried varying the timing and order, but the result is always the same: mixture forward = engine quits.

 

Has anyone experienced this before or does anyone have any idea what I might be missing?

 

Any help, tips, or tricks would be greatly appreciated!

Well, the engine start is simple and has only a few steps, yet it is obvious you are missing something.

Can you list what you are doing step by step?

Have you also checked that you don't have any unwanted keybindings, that would conflict your inputs? Like having mixture set to key buttons and an axis for example?

[Rotor_Vibes]

3 hours ago, Pepper211 said:

I’ve been trying to master the cold start procedure for the F4U Corsair, but I’ve run into a recurring issue and could use some help.

 

Every time I go through the cold start—whether in the “Cold Start” training mission or the “Instant Action Cold Start”—the engine seems to start just fine initially. However, as soon as I push the mixture control forward (toward full rich), the engine dies almost immediately.

 

I’m clearly doing something wrong in the procedure, but I can’t quite figure out what it is. I’ve reviewed the steps multiple times and tried varying the timing and order, but the result is always the same: mixture forward = engine quits.

 

Has anyone experienced this before or does anyone have any idea what I might be missing?

 

Any help, tips, or tricks would be greatly appreciated!

You have to open the throttle to at least 750 rpm after engine start.

[Ghostrider 147]

3 hours ago, Pepper211 said:

However, as soon as I push the mixture control forward (toward full rich), the engine dies almost immediately.

Make sure to let go of the starter switch right after selecting auto-rich mixture. I was having the same issue, but this solved it for me!

[Rufuz64]

At 500 RPM release the Starter, give Mix and increase to 750 RPM

[Mr_sukebe]

Put the mixture in the middle position worked for me, as it how Casmo was using it.

[Pepper211]

Thanks for all the replies.

I guess it had something to do with my RPM setting. Getting it around 750 helped, and no issues now. Would be nice to have axis bindings for the wheel brakes. 

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

4 minutes ago, Pepper211 said:

Would be nice to have axis bindings for the wheel brakes. 

We have them

[Qcumber]

According to Reflected's overview of the cockpit, auto-rich should be used for starting and auto-lean for most other situations. Full back is "off". That was the mistake I kept making too. 

 

 

[Pepper211]

2 hours ago, Raven (Elysian Angel) said:

We have them

I completely overlooked them. I was looking for wheel brakes instead of gear brakes. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Edited Saturday at 08:48 AM by Pepper211

[Lee Dove]

I had to let the engine temp get really high. I got airborne before I could go Autorich or turn off the starter. I warmed up on the ground for several minutes with no luck. This does not seem to be modelled quite right. I worked on smaller radials and never had this starting behaviour. Model need a bit of a tweek I think.

Update: I can get it to start if I get the revs over 1000 before releasing the starter or increasing mixture.

Edited Saturday at 12:51 PM by Lee Dove

[Qcumber]

2 hours ago, Lee Dove said:

I had to let the engine temp get really high. I got airborne before I could go Autorich or turn off the starter. I warmed up on the ground for several minutes with no luck. This does not seem to be modelled quite right. I worked on smaller radials and never had this starting behaviour. Model need a bit of a tweek I think.

Update: I can get it to start if I get the revs over 1000 before releasing the starter or increasing mixture.

Yes. It appears you have to keep the revs up or the engine dies. 

[71st_Mastiff]

Yes, you need to ride the starter switch while moving the mixture at the same time and then it’ll kick on.

[Motorpool]

Funny, on the first day, in the tutorial with default controls it started fine. Clicking on the mixture control, etc.

Mapped the mixture to the pinky switch on my warthog and primer+starter to a switch on the throttle base.  The model did NOT like the starter as a DX button, and once I eliminated that I *still* was getting timing wrong of the mixture advance and the starter release.

I'm still questioning the advice to advance the mixture 'slowly'.  If the controls are button-command-enabled that doesn't make sense.

[Qcumber]

1 hour ago, Motorpool said:

I'm still questioning the advice to advance the mixture 'slowly'.  If the controls are button-command-enabled that doesn't make sense.

There are only three settings so there is no difference using an analog lever. It looks like an error!?

[Steel Jaw]

The issue APPEARS to be that the mixture axis cannot be gradually adjusted, but rather jumps to the 3 settings, andso on start up, it floods the engine...?

[Nealius]

I started her up more-or-less the same way as I did the P-47 and had no issues:

1. Cowl flaps open
2. Fuel selector on main tank
3. Prop pitch full fine (aft)
4. Throttle cracked open about 2cm/1in
5. Battery on
6. Fuel pump on
7. Primer 5 seconds
8. Mags to both (full port)
9. Hold starter, after the prop made 3 or 4 full revolutions I set mixture to auto-rich (middle position)

And she was purring after that.

 

Edited Sunday at 01:56 AM by Nealius

[Motorpool]

On 6/21/2025 at 4:37 AM, Pepper211 said:

I completely overlooked them. I was looking for wheel brakes instead of gear brakes. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Warthog throttle has two "Engine Op" toggles which are 3-pole.  Forward is spring loaded and you have to hold it in place.  I made that the primer switch, middle is gear brakes 'on' and back is 'off'.  Can't prime the engine without the gear brakes set

[Motorpool]

Based on everyone's experience, it seems that the best advice is to avoid taking your finger off the starter button until well after you've passed through auto-lean on your way to auto rich, and it's more susceptible to a stall/shutdown the lower the RPM.   No longer having any problems here, thanks.

 

I'll give you a new one, though.  Instant Action-->Cold Start-->Nevada.  I have been leaving my mags off for 5-6 blades of rotation then switching to 'both' to fire up.  As I was troubleshooting my previous startup issues, I put the ignition in 'both' before attempting to start up in order to remove the ignition button as a root cause.  Prop started to turn, but *painfully* slowly, with no chance to get it started.  After more than a few failed attempts, always on this map, I tried cycling the ignition a few clicks while the starter was still held down and it sped up to the normal rotation speed.

[Hamilton]

On 6/21/2025 at 10:55 PM, Nealius said:

9. Hold starter, after the prop made 3 or 4 full revolutions I set mixture to auto-rich (middle position)

Just a small correction, item 9, Auto-Rich is not middle position, it's the one further forward. 
 

[Pappy_Gunn]

Easy.  Set yourself up, crack throttle 1 in (or to about 1000 rpm equivalent), prime 8-10 seconds.  Engage starter.  Keep on the starter until you hear the engine cough and run.  Run.  Yes, you gotta hear it run before you engage mixture, it's a bit different from the Jug.  THEN engage mixture and let go of starter.  I have starter and mixture mapped on 2 different buttons for this aircraft.  Works like a charm.