Simviation Forum - mixture control(s)

Jan 13^th, 2011 at 8:18pm

jgf Offline
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Columbus OH

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What gauges do you monitor for adjusting the mixture? I've been trying to learn by watching all engine gauges after getting the cockpit message that "the engine is losing power ... use cntrl+x ..." but I see no change in anything as the mixture control(s) are moved. If I want to do this manually, how do I know when and by how much to adjust?

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Reply #1 - Jan 13^th, 2011 at 8:35pm

DaveSims Offline
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Clear Lake, Iowa

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jgf wrote on Jan 13^th, 2011 at 8:18pm:

What gauges do you monitor for adjusting the mixture? I've been trying to learn by watching all engine gauges after getting the cockpit message that "the engine is losing power ... use cntrl+x ..." but I see no change in anything as the mixture control(s) are moved. If I want to do this manually, how do I know when and by how much to adjust?

First ensure auto mixture is unchecked in the realism settings

I'm sure there is a tutorial somewhere on here from Brett on the subject, but I will give the short and sweet answer.

If your aircraft has an EGT gauge, use it. Otherwise you use the RPM. Using EGT, you lean until the EGT peaks, then richen the mixture just a hair to run about 50 degrees rich of peak.

Similar method using RPM, lean until peak, then richen the mixture just a little.

Dave

www.flymcw.com

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Reply #2 - Jan 15^th, 2011 at 7:17pm

jgf Offline
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village idiot
Columbus OH

Posts: 91

Thanks. If I disable automixture will I still get the cockpit message that the mixture needs adjusting? If not, how do I know when to adjust? (I've noticed I usually get the message when passing, either way, 2500ft asl and 5000ft asl; but is altitude the only criteria?)

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Reply #3 - Jan 15^th, 2011 at 9:24pm

dave3cu Offline
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You can disable warnings on the Settings>Realism screen by unchecking the 'Display Flying Tips' box.

You shouldn't get a mixture warning if you have auto-mixture on, the sim controls the mixture.

With auto-mixture off, when climbing you should begin leaning the mixture as you approach 3000'.

Dave

At that time [1909] the chief engineer was almost always the chief test pilot as well. That had the fortunate result of eliminating poor engineering early in aviation. Igor Sikorsky

I intend to live forever....so far, so good. Steven Wright

You know....you can just rip up a to-do list.

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Reply #4 - Jan 16^th, 2011 at 12:28pm

jgf Offline
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village idiot
Columbus OH

Posts: 91

I've left the flying tips on since they frequently prompt me to reset the altimeter or heading indicator (though they get a bit tiring at times, VFR over Europe gets me altimeter notices every 3-4 minutes), without them I'm hitting the appropriate keys every couple of minutes ...neither option seems completely realistic.

I checked and have not had automixture enabled; I'm assuming, when using cntrl+x, the sim makes the adjustments smoothly and in sync with the drop in rpm and egt so I never actually see any changes in the gauges. Armed with new information (thanks dave and davy) I'll see how it works on my next flight.

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Reply #5 - Jan 18^th, 2011 at 12:38pm

jgf Offline
Colonel
village idiot
Columbus OH

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Worked like a charm, thanks. This also disclosed why some aircraft wouldn't idle on the runway (hadn't noticed before, but it was always at higher altitude airports). A short hop from Winslow to Flagstaff was most illuminating.

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Reply #6 - Jan 18^th, 2011 at 1:14pm

dave3cu Offline
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Good to hear.

As far as leaving flying tips on for the rest (altimeter and heading indicator).

Unless you have a co-pilot, these would also be your responsibility, without warnings. (In fact, your 'flying tips' setting is stored as 'VirtualCopilotActive=' in the fs9.cfg.)

Though not realistic, I usually just hit the 'D' key (Heading calibration) and 'B' key (Altimeter setting) every few minutes, particularly before/on approach.

In 'reality', you would tune a nearby tower or AWOS to check current barometer and, while straight and level, compare your heading indicator to your onboard magnetic compass.

Cheers,
Dave

At that time [1909] the chief engineer was almost always the chief test pilot as well. That had the fortunate result of eliminating poor engineering early in aviation. Igor Sikorsky

I intend to live forever....so far, so good. Steven Wright

You know....you can just rip up a to-do list.

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