EGT
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Re: EGT
Use the EGT gauge to assist in leaning. Lean slowly to peak EGT and then richen by 50-75 degrees. I also note when the engine RPM rises during leaning and then move mixture to a richer position/slight decrease in RPM. There are bound to be more opinions on this but that is what the EGT is for.
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Re: EGT
no limits or required markings on an EGT gauge, and in fact for these engines it makes no difference what the markings mean, just guides. generally I have our gauges checked to verify scale accuracy, meaning that each mark is about 25 deg. so you know what the scale means. then just go to peak, richen (or lean if your fancier airplane has injectors that are set up for it) a specified amount for best power or whatever, and away you go. an O-300/C145 is not the Space Shuttle (or a U2, in your case!)
EGT's are extremely difficult to keep calibrated so folks with gauges marked with specific degrees (1200, 1300, 1400, etc) are usually fooling themselves, IMHO. But it's a good moneymaker for the shop to keep adjusting the cals.
EGT's are extremely difficult to keep calibrated so folks with gauges marked with specific degrees (1200, 1300, 1400, etc) are usually fooling themselves, IMHO. But it's a good moneymaker for the shop to keep adjusting the cals.
'56 "C170 and change"
'52 Packard 200
'68 Arctic Cat P12 Panther
"He's a menace to everything in the air. Yes, birds too." - Airplane
'52 Packard 200
'68 Arctic Cat P12 Panther
"He's a menace to everything in the air. Yes, birds too." - Airplane
- GAHorn
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Re: EGT
EGT Instrumentation comes in two versions: Compensated and Non-compensated.
Non compensated gauges are the cheap ones and they are not "compensated" for ambient temperatures. I.E., their indications are "relative" not "absolute".
Compensated gauges are higher quality and read more accurately.
In either case, the C145/O300 is not likely to exceed any EGT limits for several reasons...the most obvious one being they never develop very high power with typical fixed-pitch props. (On takeoff with a standard prop you are only achieving about 120 H.P....not nearly 100% of rated power.)
Additionally, these very same cylinders/valves are used in the higher-output GO-300 series engines which are sometimes used with constant speed props and can develop 175 H.P.... and their EGTs are therefore higher (in the order of 1500+ degrees F). You do not have to worry about this in standard installations of C145/O300 engines, especially at typical cruising altitudes.
Having said that, I would set as my personal, arbitrary, goal not to exceed 1300-degrees in my O300. (PS> I don't even have an EGT gauge in my 170 because I don't think it's very useful at all. I lean according to RPM.)
Non compensated gauges are the cheap ones and they are not "compensated" for ambient temperatures. I.E., their indications are "relative" not "absolute".
Compensated gauges are higher quality and read more accurately.
In either case, the C145/O300 is not likely to exceed any EGT limits for several reasons...the most obvious one being they never develop very high power with typical fixed-pitch props. (On takeoff with a standard prop you are only achieving about 120 H.P....not nearly 100% of rated power.)
Additionally, these very same cylinders/valves are used in the higher-output GO-300 series engines which are sometimes used with constant speed props and can develop 175 H.P.... and their EGTs are therefore higher (in the order of 1500+ degrees F). You do not have to worry about this in standard installations of C145/O300 engines, especially at typical cruising altitudes.
Having said that, I would set as my personal, arbitrary, goal not to exceed 1300-degrees in my O300. (PS> I don't even have an EGT gauge in my 170 because I don't think it's very useful at all. I lean according to RPM.)
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'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.

- n2582d
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- GAHorn
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Re: EGT
One more thing too, attempting to operate a C145/O300 "lean of peak" is a ridiculous challenge with this engines silly carburetion. I suggest you do what the Operating manual for the engine recommends: Lean to max RPM...continue to lean to first indication of RPM drop, ...then enrichen back to max RPM.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.

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Re: EGT
Thanks for the replies. Now I will feel a little smarter the next time I am staring at that gauge wondering it's supposed to be reading.
I normally only lean on the ground and above 3k in cruise flight. When I lean I pull back until rpm decays and then push it back in a little. I never put much thought into doing anything else.
I normally only lean on the ground and above 3k in cruise flight. When I lean I pull back until rpm decays and then push it back in a little. I never put much thought into doing anything else.
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Re: EGT
You really don't need an EGT gauge or tach to properly lean C-145/O-300 engines. When at cruise rpm, lean smoothly and steadily until you feel the power reduce and rpm fall (the engine may be smooth or it might just start to shake a little as the first (leanest) cylinder starts to drop offline). Then enrichen just a little until the engine gets power back and runs smooth, it doesn't take much! It will take a few times to get the feel but once you are used to it it will only take a second.
That procedure checked against a digital compensated 6-position EGT gives repeatable, consistent, correct results.
Note: The EGT spread between cylinders is awful so if you see they are not even, nothing you can do about it, it's the engine's design, not your EGT gauge.
That procedure checked against a digital compensated 6-position EGT gives repeatable, consistent, correct results.
Note: The EGT spread between cylinders is awful so if you see they are not even, nothing you can do about it, it's the engine's design, not your EGT gauge.
Richard Pulley
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
2023 Best Original 170A at Sault Ste. Marie
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
2023 Best Original 170A at Sault Ste. Marie
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
- cessna170bdriver
- Posts: 4115
- Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:13 pm
Re: EGT
I have the Electronics International UBG-16 engine instrumentation with 6 CHT and 6EGT's. I can use it to run "lean of peak" (hottest cylinder at 25 LOP) but the end result is exactly the same as following the book procedure of leaning to a slight roughness, then richening slightly for smoothness. My hottest EGT ends up around 1425 F, with about 50 - 75 or so spread. All my probes are 2 inches below the exhaust flange.
I haven't had carb ice since installing this instrument, but I'm confident I could use the across-the-board drop in EGTs to verify ice as the cause an RPM drop. Same effect as closing the throttle slightly. I would also think it would show a sticking valve or spark plug going bad. One interesting thing I've learned is that the standard baffling makes #5 and #6 CHT about 100F cooler than the other four. It REALLY makes me want to add some baffling to those front cylinders!
Is this instrumentation necessary? No, just a nice-to-have... just like the airplane itself.
I haven't had carb ice since installing this instrument, but I'm confident I could use the across-the-board drop in EGTs to verify ice as the cause an RPM drop. Same effect as closing the throttle slightly. I would also think it would show a sticking valve or spark plug going bad. One interesting thing I've learned is that the standard baffling makes #5 and #6 CHT about 100F cooler than the other four. It REALLY makes me want to add some baffling to those front cylinders!
Is this instrumentation necessary? No, just a nice-to-have... just like the airplane itself.

Miles
“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
- DaveF
- Posts: 1564
- Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2007 1:44 am
Re: EGT
You mean the end result is the same EGT, not the same fuel flow or power output, right?cessna170bdriver wrote:I have the Electronics International UBG-16 engine instrumentation with 6 CHT and 6EGT's. I can use it to run "lean of peak" (hottest cylinder at 25 LOP) but the end result is exactly the same as following the book procedure of leaning to a slight roughness, then richening slightly for smoothness. My hottest EGT ends up around 1425 F, with about 50 - 75 or so spread. All my probes are 2 inches below the exhaust flange.
I haven't had carb ice since installing this instrument, but I'm confident I could use the across-the-board drop in EGTs to verify ice as the cause an RPM drop. Same effect as closing the throttle slightly. I would also think it would show a sticking valve or spark plug going bad. One interesting thing I've learned is that the standard baffling makes #5 and #6 CHT about 100F cooler than the other four. It REALLY makes me want to add some baffling to those front cylinders!
Is this instrumentation necessary? No, just a nice-to-have... just like the airplane itself.
My O-360 isn't good LOP. It gets rough before the richest cylinder has gone LOP. And with only four cylinders, that's rough in a way you O-300 guys have never experienced!

- cessna170bdriver
- Posts: 4115
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Re: EGT
The same EGT, and if the power and fuel flow are different, I can't tell. I don't track fuel flow precisely, just close enough to be able to use my watch to keep from running out of gas.DaveF wrote:You mean the end result is the same EGT, not the same fuel flow or power output, right?
My O-360 isn't good LOP. It gets rough before the richest cylinder has gone LOP. And with only four cylinders, that's rough in a way you O-300 guys have never experienced!
BTW, a C-145/O-300 running on 4 is pretty rough...
Miles
“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
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