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IO-540 C4D5D (TB20) Fuel Pressure.

I have hit an interesting snag with my POH and Lyco Manual.

As part of a major Avionics upgrade we are fitting a new Engine Analyser, the CGR-30P by Electronics International.

In my TB20 POH, it says that the Fuel Pressure is 0.1 minimum to 8 psi maximum. (Page 2.6 Power Plant Limitations). It is not specified where these values are taken from on the engine. These are the values set in the new Engine Analyser.

On running the engine I get a Fuel Pressure alarm all the time, with the pressure being too high. With the engine running the fuel pressure varies from 22psi to 27psi and switching on the electric fuel pump adds 2psi to those numbers. The pressure transducer is taking the pressure at the fuel servo.

The Lycoming Operators Manual (Operating Conditions, Section 3-12) states that fuel pressure should be either a minimum of -2psi to maximum 35psi at the inlet to the fuel pump, or min 14psi to max 45psi at the inlet to the fuel injector, on an IO-540 C4D5D.

Interestingly on the very same page of the Lyco manual the numbers are quoted for the 0-540 series engine of min 0.5 to max 8psi.

Me thinks the TB20 POH has taken the wrong numbers.

However this now creates an interesting problem as the aircraft is Certified. Electronics International are being quite helpful so we will hopefully find a solution to get the unit reprogrammed for the correct pressure values.

EGLK, United Kingdom

I cannot see how a spec for the min fuel pressure of say 0.1psi o 0.5psi could apply to after the engine driven fuel pump. There is no way IMHO the engine driven fuel pump could produce such low numbers. The fuel servo would not work at all. Let me ask somebody in that business…

But that raises the Q is what is the point of monitoring this at all. The only point in the fuel system where you will see a useful data point will be somewhere after the engine driven fuel pump. Before it there is just the head of the fuel in the tanks, possibly elevated by the electric fuel pump. I guess that monitoring it would tell you if the engine driven fuel pump has failed.

Just because something is certified doesn’t mean nobody made a cockup somewhere The FAA or DGAC or EASA etc doesn’t check the stuff submitted for approval. The data is assumed to be valid, because it is submitted from an approved organisation. That is why there have been forgeries in e.g. flight testing (some Czech designs, IIRC).

Administrator
Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

I got this reply from a very reputable fuel servo specialist in the USA:

Administrator
Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

Carbureted engines run just fine with nature’s fuel pump, gravity only

It’s interesting that they messed up the AFM in that way, but not uncommon. The maintenance manual for my plane is riddled with errors, for example specifying valve cover removal and clearance adjustments at every annual inspection, for an aircraft that after the initial prototype was never produced without hydraulic valves.

Last Edited by Silvaire at 20 Sep 13:52

How does that work in a low wing plane? You have to prime the fuel system before the pump somehow.

Administrator
Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

Having no fuel pump at all doesn’t work in a low wing plane, which is one reason that high wing planes exist!

On a low wing plane, a low pressure mechanical pump is used, similar or identical to that installed on carburated cars, plus a low pressure backup electrical pump. Those typically operate at around 3 psi, but you actually only need enough pressure to overcome the pressure drop in the line.

What are the markings on your existing fuel pressure gauge?

YPJT, United Arab Emirates

The aircraft is not fitted with a fuel pressure gauge as standard.
The new engine analyser is producing the fuel pressure data.

Electronics International have come up with a fix for the problem, basically resetting the values in the system, using the Lycoming data and not the TB20 POH.

The O-540 engine has never been fitted to the TB20 AFAIN. Only the IO-540 has been fitted.

EGLK, United Kingdom

On the TB20, the fuel flow gauge is just a pressure gauge

It takes a feed from the fuel distribution unit on top of the engine. I think this is normal for injected Lyco engines.

Where do EI recommend sampling the fuel pressure?

I have no idea what the spec is for that fuel “flow” gauge but presumably it is out there somewhere since as I say this is a very common arrangement.

Administrator
Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

Agreed Peter.

I have removed the gauge as part of an Avionics overhaul and put in a Certified CGR-30P. Fuel pressure is now measured at the servo rather than at the flow divider.
I have also removed the Tacho as it’s no longer required and to give extra panel spacece for a Golze 110B.

EGLK, United Kingdom
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