leaning below 5000

There was a discussion in my club about leaning the engine (of our cherokees) below 5000 feet in cruise. This was prompted by the observation in the manual that the engine should be leaned above 5000 feet at all times in cruise, and below 5000 feet at the pilot's discrescion. So, how should the pilot discrede? The old timers seemed to agree that:

1: at low power (say 65% or less) you can't hurt the engine by leaning to peak EGT, but...

2: at high power (above that, including the 75% many like to fly at to go fast) one should only lean if it's cold enough, and that the best thing to do is run full rich if you're in doubt.

This runs counter to my understanding and practice. I lean (50 degrees ROP) in cruise at all altitudes, including the ones where I can pick the leaves off the trees, and I run 70-75% power. Running full rich is just dumping a third of the fuel out the tailpipe.

Any opinions on Usenet about this?

Jose
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Relevant Pages

  • Re: leaning below 5000
    ... > cherokees) below 5000 feet in cruise. ... > observation in the manual that the engine should be leaned above 5000 ... I don't bother leaning if I'm staying at 2500 feet or lower. ...
    (rec.aviation.piloting)
  • Re: leaning below 5000
    ... says "For 5000 feet density altitude ... > There was a discussion in my club about leaning the engine (of our ... > cherokees) below 5000 feet in cruise. ...
    (rec.aviation.piloting)
  • Re: leaning below 5000
    ... This was prompted by the observation in the manual that the engine should be leaned above 5000 feet at all times in cruise, and below 5000 feet at the pilot's discrescion. ... at high power one should only lean if it's cold enough, and that the best thing to do is run full rich if you're in doubt. ...
    (rec.aviation.piloting)
  • Re: leaning below 5000
    ... Lean anytime you are in level flight, otherwise you cannot get the fuel ... 15,000 feet MSL. ... John Deakin's engine operation articles on AVweb www.avweb.com). ... falsehood that one should not lean in cruise below some magic altitude. ...
    (rec.aviation.piloting)
  • There I Was: Conehead Muddies His Flightsuit [LONG]
    ... log 5 FCLPs (Field Carrier Landing Practice ... an effort to not raise the gear as I climbed away- ... feet or so above a big, ... of power-and the engine went crazy. ...
    (rec.aviation.military)
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