6 WORST & 6 BEST Light Sport Aircraft Engines

We cover the 6 worst and 6 best LSA engines, and what makes them good or bad.

Updated spreadsheet with the relevant engine information can be viewed here:

Music: Epidemic Sound

Image credits:

[LetsGoAviate]

I have updated the spreadsheet to fix some inaccuracies like engine pricing and weight and I also added two Aeromomentum engines due to popular demand. Link in video description.

[itsmichael]

Almost 500 hrs on my Jabiru 3300. Nothing but oil changes and compressions averaging 79. Fuel efficiency is excellent. You're right about weight for LSA but only for the lowest weight airframes (but if your flying those you might as well pick up your motor at Harbor Freight). It has had a lot of attention from the manufacturer improving it's durability departing from the stories that haunted it years ago; a story that ALL engines have!
The key is good fuel, good oil and staying in operational limits.

[charleswesley]

The VW from Steve Bennett powered my KR2 just fine . It produced 74 hp at take off, 65 continuous and never let me down in over 800 hrs. It was cheap to work on and there were many parts sources . And at 2.9 gallons per hour burn was great for economy .

[corindikevcorindikev]

The Rotax 912 ULS is a very good engine but the weight of 149 lbs quoted is for the engine only with some components. The dry weight of the engine only is 131.6 lbs.When you add the liquid coolant & radiator, water pump, oil cooler, pipework, exhaust system, etc the weight increases to 194lbs. Then the airbox is an extra 3lbs which is required to get the 100HP (5 minutes only). So the installed weight ready to fly is close to 200lbs.

The Jabiru 3300 weight is 180lbs and that is ready to fly with only an oil cooler to add to the weight. Plus it is rated at 120HP and can be run at peak power continuously.

[OleDiaBole]

Friend of mine has Slepcev Storch STOL. He swaped normaly used Rotax 912 with Yamaha motorcycle engine. You could change gears mid air to reduce engine RPM. Result was 150hp instead of 90hp, and compared to Rotax, consumption dropped from 18 to 8 liters.

[aviatrix]

You'll want to update your information. The Rotax 912 series advertises their weights without exhaust, radiator, muffler, etc. Also, Jabiru's cost about 50% more than you were advertising. Jabiru advertises their weights ready to fly, minus the prop. In the end, the 912 series weighs very close to a Jabiru 3300.

[edwinkania]

I like this list it shows that I have been doing my homework and I agree with your analysis. Great Video.

[alastairnewman]

Lekker vid mate. Very useful. Thanks very much for making it.

[brianmuhlingBUM]

Well done, very valuable information.

[officialvalencia]

Thank you for these videos ive only rebuilt cars and motorcyles but im trying to get into this so o appreciate ths info

[ZenCH]

all great reviews, however one little side note, the ULPower weights listed are ready to run weights, fully ready to run, with oils in, wiring harness and ECU included, exhaust system mounted and installed, filters, pumps and baffling ( which is also supplied with engine!)
. Rest are dry weights listed by manufacturers without oils, water, exhaust, radiators etc installed. I have done plenty Rotax and ULPower 350 series installs and they are similar weights installed but 130 hp EFI vs 100 hp Carburetted. And then pricing is also wrong. Most of these need substantial extra costs for items not supplied with the engine and not ready to run out the box ( ULPower engines are ready to run out the box, Jab out the box but all the liquid cooled engines do not include additional items needed to be able to actually start the engine, that do NOT come with the engine - and some dont include exhaust systems either!). So alot of hidden costs and weights not included.

[QUICHENOTTES]

Thank you for this very interesting study and for your advice. Joël from France

[flyfun]

Loved the video simple and direct to the Point, the only thing I would change, is that you keep half screen as you talk about the engines so we could Look the engines as you talk about them, this would avoid pausing the video so many times and misss what you are saying.

[ITSFUNZ]

Liking the AeroMomentum
AM13 ! Water cooled FADEC engine here !
170 lbs 100, 112, and 126 HP options ! All new parts custom built ! $9, 995 100HP
$13, 995 126HP
Just my thoughts!

[cramersclassics]

Well done! The quest for reliable and affordable power has always been the Achilles heel of sport aviation. Back in 1993 I installed an NSI EA81 100 HP Subaru in my Kitfox 4. Still flying today with 650 hours. Its works well but certainly heavier than a Rotax 912. Any auto parts store can usually get me what I need which is cheap and fun. Too bad nobody does the Subaru these days in kits.

[wasitbeu]

Go the Jabiru! Love them, used to build them at the factory!

[toohip]

First time I have come across your channel. Well done.

[DamianMealor]

I work at Jabiru aircrafts (Bundaberg Qld OZ). cool video.

[BlueMax]

very useful to see info on a spreadsheet

[kevinswanson]

The 4th gen jabiru 2200 engine is the better buy now with the changes no more valve adjustments and torqued heads with 2000 hour rebuild, is now 85 hp