Mike Busch on Engines

What every aircraft owner needs to know about the design, operation, condition monitoring, maintenance and troubleshooting of piston piston aircraft engines

De: Mike Busch

Narrado por: Justin Smallbridge, Michael Busch

“The risk of engine failure is greatest when your engine is young, NOT when it’s old. You should worry more about pediatrics than geriatrics.” (Mike Busch, A&P/IA)

Mike Busch on Engines expands the iconoclastic philosophy of his groundbreaking first book Manifesto to the design, operation, condition monitoring, maintenance, and troubleshooting of piston aircraft engines.

Busch begins with the history and theory of four-stroke spark-ignition engines. He describes the construction of both the “top end” (cylinders) and “bottom end” (inside the case), and functioning of key systems (lubrication, ignition, carburetion, fuel injection, turbocharging). He reviews modern engine leaning technique (which your POH probably has all wrong), and provides a detailed blueprint for maximizing the life of your engine.

The second half presents a 21st-century approach to health assessment, maintenance, overhaul and troubleshooting. Busch explains how modern condition monitoring tools—like borescopy, oil analysis, and digital engine monitor data analysis—allow you to extend engine life and overhaul strictly on-condition rather at an arbitrary TBO. The section devoted to troubleshooting problems like rough running, high oil consumption, temperamental ignition, and turbocharging issues is worth its weight in gold.

If you want your engine to live long and prosper, you need this book.

©2018 Michael D. Busch (P)2023 Savvy Aviator, Inc.

Need for maintaining engine

Made me aware of things to keep track of regarding engine health, also companies to go to for assistance

Fabulous

Mike knocks IR out of the park as per usual. So great to see the tip of the hat to George Braly in the Epilogue. Honestly, I doubt I’d have finished the book without the Audible format. Congratulations!

Teaches how to keep ancient engines alive.

Book almost exclusively focuses on Lycoming and Continental engines and goes into great technical depth, component by component, on how to 1) evaluate an engine's condition (during annual or pre-buy) and keep it running for decades to come.

For me however the takeaway was to avoid such "legacy" engines and really find a way to afford an "experimental" but much, MUCH newer engine, which will work better, be much more efficient, AND more reliable. Will also be cheaper to maintain since it won't need so much archaic maintenance done every 100, 250hrs etc. Ly and Co engines do require it because they are build using 1950s tech and designs. Engine tech in general has progressed dramatically and it's very unfortunate that GA engines lag behind by half a century. My takeaway is that it's unwise to get involved with relying upon, and needing to maintain, such archaic tech, in 2025 and beyond.

Fascinating and informative

Must read for all involved in GA maintenance, management, and ownership. Prospective pilots and CFIs should also read to develop comprehensive level of understanding and break years of dogmatic inaccuracies.

Information

I have a 182S with Mostly electronic gremlins the first year. I bought it with 1700 hours, got a minimal subscription to Savvy aviation & I’ll keep an eye on my settings in flight. Lots of knowledge for a woman plane owner!

Absolutely critical information contained in this book for piston aviation.

This book contains a much needed new take on a dangerously antiquated industry space. It the complex topic of engine maintenance and makes clear what is most important and what is least. A absolutely recommended read for anyone into engines even if not for aviation.

All aircraft owners should read.

After 50 years of building general aviation engines I can say this is filled with some of the best advice I've seen for pilots. I don't agree with everything but it's a good work. Well researched.

Thank you Mike Bush!

Thank you Mike for sharing all your wisdom, you really are dragging GA piston maintenance and operational procedures into this century kicking and screaming.

Priceless

An absolute must for pilots, A&Ps and all aviation enthusiasts. Thank you, Mike, for sharing such an invaluable information.

Excellent in depth study

Found this to be a fascinating study of the history and experiences of engine management and plane ownership.
If you want to understand leaning, how to have a pov on engine management this is for you.