ECI Cylinders
 

Has any one else had a **** load of trouble with ECI Cylinders ?
I have just recently had engine go u/s due to these quality pieces of American engineering. I have had trouble with them in the past but they went on the new engine this time due to a world wide lack of Continental's at the time of overhaul turns out to be a wrong and expensive move.

I think ECI had a bad patch and are good again. This is the topic of a fair bit of investigation by Aviation Consumer Magazine. You could also try searching AVWEB

Yes - we've changed around twenty ECi cylinders (all on TCM 520 engines) on multiple aircraft in the past 3 years and I know another maintenance org that has done about the same amount. They've all cracked in exactly the same spot. These cylinders were not subject to the MSB from some years back. These cylinders on normally aspirated engines are going a little longer before the cracks become evident. The Turbo'd ones have been as little as 300 hours.

PM me if you'd like more details.

ECI have had many problems over the last 5 odd years. I think they had a major recall some time ago and an AD issued i think??. IMHO they are absolute rubbish....try replacing 12 on a Chieftain!!! I only buy factory new.

Try the ECI Nickel Carbide Cylinders.

My engine is a TCM IO520F.

I have tried Millennium cylinders which went half life and required a top overhaul due excessive oil consumption. I had a greater fuel endurance than oil endurance!

I installed a set of ECI Nickel Carbide Cylinders at the next overhaul. At about half life the cylinders became subject to a 50 hourly AD for cracking due the problems experienced with the regular cast iron bore cylinders.

My cylinders never did crack and went 1800 plus hours and at overhaul showed no wear at all. Cross hatching was still visible in the bores. There was no lip at the top of the stroke and leak down tests showed 74/80 psi at the last 100 hourly prior to overhaul. The overhaul engineer said he could probably re-install the cylinders and they would do another 1800 hours.

I subsequently fitted the same cylinders at a price cheaper than Millennium or TCM. The current engine is at half life with leak downs showing 74-76/80 psi.

I would recommend them as a superior product.