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Old 4th May 2012, 08:24
  #22 (permalink)  
Tarq57
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Wellington,NZ
Age: 66
Posts: 1,679
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Only times I've experienced carb ice was in a 172, taxiing out in cool or cold, and very humid conditions. (Dew on the ground, no wind.)

Carb heat remedied it in a few seconds.

Carb icing is more likely at a reduced throttle setting, because there is a greater resulting pressure difference between upstream and downstream of the butterfly.

Carb icing is slightly more likely if, in addition to the above, the mixture is left fully rich when it needn't be, because more gasoline is forced to evaporate, thus producing a greater cooling effect. It is not suggested that other than full rich is used on the ground when taxiing, nor during takeoff, when the enrichment also provides an important engine cooling function.

Dust/grit is the biggest enemy of piston engines. It can be too fine to see, but still get in and scratch things. Even melt on things, if silica based. avoid using carb heat on the ground any more than absolutely necessary when on a dusty surface.

Fortunately, around the parts I've usually flown, weather conditions conducive to dust blowing around are usually not those that lend themselves to carb ice.
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