since 1940

Scuffed piston skirt in Lycoming or Continental Aircraft Engine

1. Insufficient cylinder to barrel clearance. May be caused by improper fit or elevated piston temperature.

2. Cold engine start where insufficient splash lubrication has resulted in insufficient cylinder barrel lubrication. Minor piston skirt scuffing occurs when one uses the wrong weight of oil. For example, when you start your engine in the morning at 30 degrees with 50 wt. engine oil your cylinder wall is not being lubricated until the oil warms up and thins out.

3. Sugar in oil.

4. Improper piston rings. Example would be using chrome faced piston rings in chrome cylinder barrels.

Photograph of chrome cylinder barrel showing channel pattern. It is the channels that hold the oil and provide lubrication.
 

Copyright 2003 by Sacramento Sky Ranch Inc. All rights reserved.  Prices subject to change without notice. Not responsible for typographical or misprint.
Disclaimer: sacskyranch.com contains abundant information relating to aircraft maintenance. The information provided  is not intended to supercede or supplement the F.A.A. approved  maintenance and/or operator’s manuals. Those F.A.A. approved manuals must be utilized when performing maintenance and/or operating aircraft.