ASI Safety Tip: Hot Starts

Do you struggle with hot starting an airplane? You’re not alone.
In this video, we help demystify hot start procedures, and give you a peek at what’s happening under the hood – in your airplane’s fuel delivery system.

[disconova]

I just want to give a big thumbs up for this video. Not only for the topic, but for its simple clarity and high production value. So many GA video lessons out there are dated, stuffy, and done cheaply. This was so refreshing to watch!

[keithpienaar]

At the start of my flying career, I flew in the african bush (most days averaging 40-45C 104-113F), with about 8-14 flights a day, and turn arounds all between 15-45 minutes. I flew a Gippsland Airvan, Cessna 206, Cessna 210, Beechcraft Baron 58, and Piper Navajo, (I flew a few turbines as well but obviously they are not relevant here). The engines were Lycoming io-540, Continental io-520, Continental io-550, and Lycoming tsio-540. The continentals were all relatively easy to hot start, as they had published procedures (in fact I think the same exact procedure) as you had on the bonanza at the start of the video, I would say that procedure had a 9/10 success rate for a first attempt hot start. The Lycoming engines on the other hand, were an absolute nightmare. I cannot recall the exact published procedure for them, but I do remember it having a 1/10 success rate for the first attempt start. Most times for the Lycoming engines we ended up having to flood the engine on purpose and then attempt the flooded start procedure. I thought I would share my experience here as it seems like you have covered all of these techniques in great detail! Great video as usual from ASI

[vendter]

With a fuel injected Lyc, before shutting down the engine, run it up to 1200 RPM, and then pull the mixture. After the engine stops, DON'T TOUCH the engine controls. When you go to start the engine, DON'T TOUCH the engine controls. Just crank the engine and when it starts, advance the mixture. I have never had a hot start problem in 30+ years.

[thomashurley]

The video was spot on. However he neglected to mention the incantations you chant and the chicken foot you throw over your right shoulder while cranking.

[AviationNut]

I dealt with that non stop when I did bush flying in Botswana, Africa. I would land in a little village to unload the people and cargo and if I didn't do it quick enough I had to deal with a hot start. We had one pilot that was so fed up with hot starts that he would leave the engine running while unloading the plane and a village kid got killed when he walked into the propeller. I actually thought he was gone to jail for that but the pilot paid the family $300 dollars and he never got charged with anything, it's mind blowing how things work in Africa that a kid's life is worth $300 dollars.

[johnopalko]

Nicely done. Hot starts can be one of life's most frustrating things. On really hot days where I'm shutting down just long enough to top off the tanks, I'll open the cowling to allow some heat to escape. I don't know if it helps but it sure doesn't hurt. And, since I need to open it to check the oil anyway, why not?

[zappuppy]

I have never had an issue with hot starting my injected io360. But I was shown the correct technique from the first check flight. I did not even know it was an issue until recently. Lack of understanding/trainning is what is causing hot start problems.

You guy's are doing great work with your video's thanks.

[flyingdog]

Airplanes still use 1940 technology thanks to FAA regulations. My lawnmower engine has more advance the technology than my airplane engine. Hot starts are further complicated by 1910 era Magneto ignitions.

[GrinsGiftsnThings]

Thorough, simple, informative and easy to understand. I searched everywhere for an explanation combining procedures, systems and scenarios regarding fuel-related startup troubleshooting like this and my brain was relieved to finally find it. Thanks so much!

[Bartonovich]

Excellent presentation and spot on! I always struggled with the “three hand” starts but realized that you can push the mixture in first and then bring the throttle back since the engine is already warm.

I also always used the purge method on the Cessna 206 and Cessna 337 TCM engines. Worked like a charm... you could hear the change in the fuel pump sounds as the vapour was purged.. then just a very light prime on a normal start.

[zachariesegaoula]

Thanks a lot for all the work you are doing and providing free access guys. You keep us pilots up to date and aware of the difficulties and dangers that our activity could imply to keep us in the air safely! Merci 👌👍

[azamatk]

Not flying yet, but didn't think there was a separate procedure for it. Thanks for the guidance!

[stevenrandall]

This was just the video I was looking for. Now I understand what is going on behind the checklist. Thanks!

[Metalgearmadness]

Sometimes you gotta develop your own technique, sometimes planes just don't like the normal procedure and you have to find something that works for you reliably.

[PUKYPAK]

Finally some easy to understand explanation about hot starts!

[wheeldrifting]

Super good video! Quick, clear, to the point. You guys should make a video about literally everything!

[Mike-]

Vapor lock was resolved 30 years ago in vehicles with fuel return systems circulate the fuel from the tank and back again. Not sure why aircraft still use these old designs I guess because it was approved by the FAA.

[Bryan-fcdv]

The quality of your videos have really improved and that are extremely good! Nice job

[peterg]

I have a Lycoming IO 540. Cold start is 10 seconds prime, mixture off, throttle set 1000rpm. Starts between 1st and 2nd second. Hot start is 7 seconds prime with mixture on and throttle wide open. Close mixture, leave throttle wide open. Start and be ready to bring throttle back, open mixture and turn pump on or engine will starve of fuel after starting. Hot starts between 3rd and 4th second. If prime hot motor for 10 seconds engine turns over longer before starting. If prime too little, engine very unlikely to start at all. I would give it another 5 seconds prime and try again. Technically the engine is flooded and with full throttle it finds the best fuel air mixture quickly.

[endwood]

With my Lyc IO360 for a hot start I run the elect fuel pump ICO for 20 secs or so then whilst still running I advance the mixture for 3 secs then ICO again. Full throttle, hit starter advance mixture when it fires reduce throttle to a high idle, works for me every time:-)