Leaning on Taxi?
 

When I first started flying C310's the bloke who did my ICUS time told me to lean it back to No 2 on the Mixture Quadrant for Taxi and after landing.

Now I happened to fly a reasonably experienced C414/c340 Operator/LAME/Private Pilot recently and reckons he's never seen it before?

In the dim dark past I remember someone saying they got told to lean c206's for TAXI?

Now while the POH/check-List doesnt mention anything about leaning for the taxi and Ive never noticed a change in fuel flow when Ive done this. Has anyone out there got a good reason to continue a procedure which isnt mentioned in the POH? :confused: :confused:

[ 08 September 2001: Message edited by: scramjet ]

prevents fouling of the plugs due to over rich at low power.

Good question, I think we may need some techo advice about this subject.
Although I have done it for years to prevent fouling plugs in many aircraft, I have never known the technicalities of doing so.

Gaunty time for your guidance and wisdom, that is unless you are out slaying some spanish whatevers.

For sure .... depends on what sort of engines are up the front/side. I know that the C206 that i have been flying, if you dont lean the mixture whilst on Taxi, there is a good chance that you could have fouled plugs.

I will always lean the mixture, even if only slightly at an aerodrome where there is quite a bit of taxiing involved. It can get kinda annoying that you may have to clean the plugs each time prior to T/O :(

Hope this helps .... ;)

was tought to lean while taxiing in a Baron for the same reason.

Never taxiied full rich to see what happened, but never had a plug problem either. :)

scramjet,

You may not see a change in fuel flow but you should most certainly hear a change in engine noise, especially in a 310!

It's our company policy to lean in taxi. It does make a big difference, especially at bigger airports with a longer taxi.

Just don't forget to enrichen the mixtures prior to takeoff :)

:)

Could it be something to do with being up North with higher temperatures/ thinner air- therefore the mixture richer than would normally occur in the cooler climates? :rolleyes:

I used to lean the mixture while taxiing PA-31's. You could hear the increase in rpm, and the engines would run smoother.

It also depends on the mixture set-up, some other ones would run better at full rich while others you would need to bring it back about 2/3rds.

Check out Avweb.com columns by John Deakin for all you need to know. Continentals also benefit from leaning on the ground coz they often run rough as .. due rich idle mixtures inherent to the continuous flow injection system.

t303, John Deakin is certainly an interesting character! For those of you that couldn't be bothered actually searching for the article in question, click here or do a search using his name from the main page.

He has a few very unconventional ideas, but all interesting reading (like running tanks dry on commercial charters and unusual leaning techniques). He also spent time flying with 'Air America' too (link 1 & 2). A good read!

Edit: Spelling

[ 09 September 2001: Message edited by: Turbine ]

Does indeed make some interesting reading, However I couldnt imagine anyone ever putting his ideas into practice in anything but the private sector!

Can you imagine someone writing in the Ops manual that the planes should be run Lean Of peak against the manafacturer's instructions. In the event of the unfortunate the Lawyers would have a field day!

:p

It's a very good idea to lean on the ground anywhere there is a high density altitude, e.g. the high velt in South Africa. In Zim we had the mixtures almost in ICO for taxi. The OAT was up to 44 Celsius and 2000ft AMSL - you work the density alt out!!!