Reciprocating Engine Questions

This chapter covers the theory of reciprocating engine operation.
It includes the basic practices and tools used to

inspect, repair, overhaul, and service reciprocating engines, as well as presents information on powerplant removal,
troubleshooting, and installation. The FAA exam questions that apply to this chapter include:
8001. A01 8001. Answer 6. AC 65-12A

Which statement is true regarding bearings used in Both ball bearings and roller bearings are used in air-
high-powered reciprocating aircraft engines? craft engines. However, since the steel balls in a ball
bearing offer less surface contact than the rollers of a
A - The outer race of a single-row, self-aligning ball roller bearing, ball bearings produce less rolling friction
bearing will always have a radius equal to the (answer B). Therefore, ball bearings are generally
radius of the balls. used in high-powered reciprocating engines to keep
B - There is less rolling friction when ball bearings friction to a minimum. Answer (A) is incorrect because
are used than when roller bearings are employed. self-aligning ball bearings have two rows of balls.
C - Crankshaft bearings are generally of the ball-type Answer (C) is incorrect because most high-powered
due to their ability to withstand extreme loads aircraft engines utilize roller bearings for the crankshaft
without overheating. main bearings because of their ability to withstand both
radial and thrust loads.
8002. A01 8002. Answer C. AC 65-9A

A condition that can occur in radial engines but is Before starting a radial engine that has been shut-down
unlikely to occur in horizontally opposed engines is for more than 30 minutes, the propeller should be pulled
through by hand in the direction of normal rotation to
A - valve overlap. detect hydraulic lock. Hydraulic lock is more likely to
B - zero valve clearance. occur in radial engines because the inverted lower cylinders
C - hydraulic lock. may allow oil to collect in the combustion chambers.
Answer A is incorrect because valve overlap is a condition
where the intake and exhaust valves are open at the same
time to increase the volumetric efficiency of a cylinder.
Valve overlap is used extensively in all reciprocating-
engines. Answer B is incorrect because zero valve
clearance is commonly found in engines that use
hydraulic valve lifters which are commonly found in radial
and horizontally opposed engines.
1-2 Reciprocating Engines
8003. A01 8003. Answer C. AC 65-12A

Which condition would be the least likely to be caused If a bearing fails or is in the process of failing, metal to
by failed or failing engine bearings? metal contact is occurring. The friction which accompa-
nies this metal to metal contact generates a great deal
A - Excessive oil consumption. of heat and can cause high oil temperatures (answer
B - High oil temperatures. B). The higher the oil temperature, the more oil is con-
C - Low oil temperatures. sumed (answer A). Since the question asks for the
condition that is least likely to be caused by a failed
bearing, answer (C) is the best choice.
8004. A01 8004. Answer B. AC 65-1?A

What is the principal advantage of using propeller The amount of horsepower an engine produces is
reduction gears? directly related to the engine's rpm. Therefore, most
aircraft engines must run at a speed in excess of 2,000
A - To enable the propeller RPM to be increased rprn to develop sufficient power. However, propeller
without an accompanying increase in engine efficiency at these speeds decreases rapidly.
RPM. Therefore, in order to maintain an acceptable level of
B - To enable the engine RPM to be increased with propeller efficiency a reduction gear is used. A reduc-
an accompanying increase in power and allow the tion gear allows an engine to run at the high rprn
propeller to remain at a lower, more efficient needed to produce more horsepower while at the
RPM. same time, allow the propeller to rotate at a lower,
C - To enable the engine RPM to be increased with more efficient rpm. Answer (A) is wrong because it
an accompanying increase in propeller RPM. implies that a reduction gear is used to increase pro-
peller rprn above that of the engine and answer (C) is
wrong because it implies that a reduction gear allows
propeller rprn and engine rprn to remain the same.
8005. A01 8005. Answer C. AC 65-12A

Which of the following will decrease volumetric effi- Volumetric efficiency is a comparison of the volume of
ciency in a reciprocating engine? a fuellair charge inducted into all cylinders to the total
piston displacement. Factors that reduce volumetric
1. Full throttle operation. efficiency include part-throttle operation, long, small
2. Low cylinder head temperatures. diameter intake pipes, sharp bends in the induction
3. Improper valve timing. system, excessive carburetor air temperatures, exces-
4. Sharp bends in the induction system. sive cylinder head temperatures, incomplete scaveng-
5. High carburetor air temperatures. ing, and improper valve timing. Of the five choices
given in the question only #3, #4, and #5 (answer C)
A - 2,4, and 5. affect volumetric efficiency.
B - l , 2 , 3 , and 4.
C - 3,4, and 5.
8006. Answer C. AC 65-12A
8006. A01 Special deep-groove ball bearings are used as thrust
Which of the following is a characteristic of a thrust bearings in most radial engines. This type of bearing
bearing used in most radial engines? generates the least amount of friction of all the types of
bearings listed while still being able to withstand both
A - Tapered roller. the thrust and radial loads. Although tapered roller
B - Double-row ball. bearings (answer A) and double-row ball bearings
.C - Deep-groove ball. (answer B) are capable of withstanding both thrust and
radial loads, they produce more friction than a deep-
groove ball bearing.
Reciprocating Engines 1-3
8007. A01 8007. Answer B. AC 65-12A

Which bearing is least likely to be a roller or ball bearing? The question asks for the least likely use of a roller or
ball bearing. Answers (A) and (C) are incorrect
A - Rocker arm bearing (overhead valve engine). because roller bearings and ball bearings are designed
B - Master rod bearing (radial engine). to withstand radial and thrust loads produced by crank-
C - Crankshaft main bearing (radial engine). shafts and rocker arms. Master rod bearings on radial
engines are generally subjected to radial loads only
and, therefore, plain bearings are used. Therefore,
answer (B) is correct.
8008. A01 8008. Answer A. AC 65-12A

The operating temperature valve clearance of a radial As a radial engine warms up, the aluminum alloy cylin-
engine as compared to cold valve clearance is der heads expand causing the rocker arm in the head
to move away from the crankcase. At the same time,
A - greater. the pushrod also expands but at a lesser rate than the
B - less. cylinder head. The difference in expansion amounts
C - the same. between the cylinder head and pushrod effectively
increases the space between the valve stem and
rocker arm (valve clearance). Therefore, answer (A) is
correct.
8009. A01 8009. Answer C. AC 65-12A

A nine-cylinder engine with a bore of 5.5 inches and a The total piston displacement of an engine is equal to
stroke of 6 inches will have a total piston displacement the displacement, or volume of one cylinder multiplied
of by the total number of cylinders. The volume of a cylin-
der is calculated using the formula V = pi r2 h, where
A - 740 cubic inches. (V) is the volume, (r) is the radius of the cylinder, and
B - 1,425 cubic inches. (h) is the height, or stroke of the piston. The displace-
C - 1,283 cubic inches. ment of each cylinder is 142.55 cubic inches (3.1416 x
2.752 x 6 = 142.55). To determine the displacement of
the entire engine, multiply the displacement of each
cylinder by the total number of cylinders. The total
engine displacement is 1,282.95 cubic inches
(142.55 x 9 = 1,282.95). Answer (C) is the closest.
8010. A01 8010. Answer C. AC 65-12A

The five events of a four-stroke cycle engine in the The four-stroke cycle begins when the piston starts
order of their occurrence are moving down in the cylinder on the intake stroke.
When the piston reaches bottom center it reverses
A - intake, ignition, compression, power, exhaust. direction and starts moving up on the compression
B - intake, power, compression, ignition, exhaust. stroke. Near the top of the compression stroke, the
C - intake, compression, ignition, power, exhaust. spark plug fires causing ignition of the fuellair mixture.
As soon as the fuellair mixture begins to burn, the pis-
ton is forced down in the power stroke. As the piston
approaches bottom center, the exhaust valve opens
and the piston reverses direction to begin the exhaust
stroke. Therefore, the five events of a four stroke
engine are intake, compression, ignition, power, and
exhaust. Answers (A) and (B) are wrong because they
do not list the five events in the proper sequence.
8011. A02 8011. Answer A. AC 65-12A

The primary concern in establishing the firing order for The firing order within an engine is designed to provide
an opposed engine is to for balance and to eliminate vibration to the greatest
extent possible. Answers (B) and (C) are incorrect
A - provide for balance and eliminate vibration to the because mechanical efficiency is obtained by having
greatest extent possible. the power impulses evenly divided.
B - keep power impulses on adjacent cylinders as far
apart as possible in order to obtain the greatest
mechanical efficiency.
C - keep the power impulses on adjacent cylinders as
close as possible in order to obtain the greatest
mechanical efficiency.
8012. A02 8012. Answer C. AC 65-12A

If fuellair ratio is proper and ignition timing is correct, Combustion is the third event in the cycle of a four-
the combustion process should be completed stroke engine. The combustion process begins as the
piston reaches the top of the compression stroke and
A - 20 to 30' before top center at the end of the com- the fuellair charge is ignited by means of an electric
pression stroke. spark. The time of ignition varies from 20 to 35
B - when the exhaust valve opens at the end of the degrees before top dead center to ensure complete
power stroke. combustion by the time the piston is slightly past the
C -just after top center at the beginning of the power top dead center position. Answer (A) is incorrect
stroke. because it describes the beginning of the combustion
process and answer (0) is incorrect because it
describes the start of the exhaust stroke.
8013. A02 8013. Answer C. AC 65-12A

Grinding the valves of a reciprocating engine to a A thin edge on a poppet valve is called a feather edge.
feather edge is likely to result in Valves with a feather edge are likely to overheat and burn
away in a short period of time. Both of these conditions
A - normal operation and long life. can lead to preignition.Answer (A) is incorrect because
B - excessive valve clearance. normal operation and long life are not characteristics of
C - preignition and burned valves. valves with a feather edge. Answer (B) is wrong because
the type of edge on a valve does not affect valve clear-
ance.
8014. A02 8014. Answer A. AC 65-12A

Which statement is correct regarding engine crankshafts? Each time a cylinder on an engine fires, a pulse of
energy is transferred to the crankshaft. Since the power
A - Moveable counterweights serve to reduce the stroke occurs out of line with the throw of the crank,
torsional vibrations in an aircraft reciprocating torsional vibrations occur. To dampen these vibrations,
engine. moveable counterweights, or dynamic dampers, align
B - Moveable counterweights serve to reduce the to dampen out the vibrations. Answer C is incorrect
dynamic vibrations in an aircraft reciprocating because the balance weights are positioned in response
engine. to the power impulses of the engine and not the natural
C - Moveable counterweights are designed to res- frequency of the crankshaft.
onate at the natural frequency of the crankshaft.
8015. A02 8015. Answer C. AC 65-12A

On which strokes are both valves on a four-stroke For a reciprocating engine to operate properly, each
cycle reciprocating engine open? valve must open at the proper time, stay open for a spe-
cific length of time, and close at the proper time. In a typ-
A - Power and exhaust. ical reciprocating engine, the intake valve opens just
B - Intake and compression. before the piston reaches top dead center on the
C - Exhaust and intake. exhaust stroke and remains open into the intake stroke.
On the other hand, the exhaust valve is open throughout
the exhaust stroke and remains open after top dead cen-
ter when the piston begins the intake stroke. Therefore,
at the end of the exhaust stroke and the beginning of the
intake stroke both valves are open at the same time.
8016. A02 8016. Answer A. AC 65-12A

Master rod bearings are generally what type? The master rod in a radial engine is subjected to radial
loads only and, therefore, plain bearings are typically
A - Plain. used as master rod bearings.
B - Roller.
C - Ball.
8017. A02 8017. Answer B. AC 65-12A

The actual power delivered to the propeller of an air- Brake horsepower is the horsepower that is delivered
craft engine is called to the propeller shaft. One way to determine an
engine's brake horsepower is to subtract an engine's
A - friction horsepower. friction horsepower from its indicated horsepower.
B - brake horsepower. Answer (A) is wrong because friction horsepower rep-
C - indicated horsepower. resents the amount of horsepower required to over-
come internal engine friction. Answer (C) is incorrect
because indicated horsepower is the power developed
in the combustion chambers without reference to fric-
tion losses.
8018. A02 8018. Answer A. AC 65-12A

Cam-ground pistons are installed in some aircraft A cam-ground piston is constructed with a slightly oval
engines to cross-section. In other words, the piston's diameter
perpendicular to the piston pin is slightly larger than
A - provide a better fit at operating temperatures. the diameter parallel to the piston pin. This oval shape
B - act as a compensating feature so that a compen- holds the piston square in the cylinder when an engine
sated magneto is not required. is cold and allows the greater mass of the piston pin
C - equalize the wear on all pistons. bosses to expand more freely at operating tempera-
tures. Once expanded, cam-ground pistons provide a
better fit within the cylinder. Answer (B) is wrong
because a compensated magneto has nothing to do
with piston design and answer (C) is incorrect
because, although a cam-ground piston wears more
evenly than a conventional piston, individual piston
wear on all pistons within an engine is dependent on
several other factors.
8019. A02 8019. Answer 6. AC 65-12A

Using the following information, determine how many One complete revolution of a crankshaft and piston
degrees the crankshaft will rotate with both the intake takes 360 degrees, with top dead center (TDC) being 0
and exhaust valves seated. degrees and bottom dead center (BDC) 180 degrees.
The only time both valves are closed in a four-stroke
Intake opens 15" BTDC. engine is during a portion of the compression and com-
Exhaust opens 70" BBDC. bustion strokes. This question indicates that the intake
Intake closes 45" ABDC. valve closes 45 degrees after bottom dead center, or
Exhaust closes 10" ATDC. 135 degrees before top dead center ( I80 - 45 = 135).
The exhaust valve, on the other hand, opens 70
degrees before bottom dead center, or 110 degrees
after top dead center (180 - 70 = 110). Therefore the
number of degrees both valves are seated is 245
degrees (135 + 110 = 245).
8020. A02 8020. Answer A. ITP-P2

Some aircraft engine manufacturers equip their product Most cylinders have a certain degree of choke, or
with choked or taper-ground cylinders i n order to taper. This means that the cylinder barrel is slightly
narrower at the cylinder head than at the cylinder skirt.
A - provide a straight cylinder bore at operating tem- A choked cylinder allows for cylinder expansion result-
peratures. ing from the higher operating temperatures near the
B - flex the rings slightly during operation and head. Once a choked cylinder reaches operating tem-
reduce the possibility of the rings sticking in the perature, the choked area expands to match the bore
grooves. at the skirt, and the entire bore becomes straight.
C - increase the compression pressure for starting Therefore, answer (A) is correct.
purposes.
8021. A02 8021. Answer A. AC 65-12A

An aircraft reciprocating engine using hydraulic valve In a zero-lash or zero-clearance hydraulic valve lifter,
lifters i s observed to have no clearance in its valve- oil pressure forces the lifter outward until all clearance
operating mechanism after the minimum inlet oil and between the rocker arm and the valve stem is
cylinder head temperatures for takeoff have been removed. This condition in an engine is normal.
reached. When can this condition be expected? Answers (B) and (C) are incorrect because when oil
pressure is removed or if sludge restricts hydraulic
A - During normal operation. lifter movement, valve clearance increases to a value
B - When the lifters become deflated. greater than zero.
C - As a result of carbon and sludge becoming
trapped i n the lifter and restricting its motion.
8022. A02 8022. Answer B. AC 65-12A

What tool i s generally used to measure the crankshaft The timing disk is a more accurate crankshaft position-
rotation i n degrees? ing device than timing reference marks. When setting
up the ignition timing on an engine, a timing disk
A - Dial indicator. should be attached to the engine to measure the
B - Timing disk. crankshaft rotation in degrees. Answer (A) is wrong
C - Prop protractor. because a dial indicator is used to measure an out of
round condition on crankshafts or piston pins. Answer
(C) is wrong because a prop protractor is used to mea-
sure propeller blade angles and degree of control sur-
face deflection.
8023. A02 8023. Answer C. AC 65-1 2A

If an engine with a stroke of 6 inches is operated at As a piston leaves top dead center (TDC) and bottom
2,000 RPM, the piston movement within the cylinder dead center (BDC), it accelerates and attains its maxi-
will be mum speed at 90 degrees after TDC and 90 degrees
after BDC. Answers (A) and (B) are incorrect because
A - at maximum velocity around TDC. piston speed must slow to allow for a change in the
B - constant during the entire 360" of crankshaft direction of movement at TDC and BDC.
travel.
C - at maximum velocity 90" after TDC.
8024. A02 8024. Answer C. AC 65-12A

If the intake valve is opened too early in the cycle of The distance an intake valve may be opened before
operation of a four-stroke cycle engine, it may result in TDC is limited by several factors. For example, if the
intake valve opens too early hot gases remaining in the
A - improper scavenging of exhaust gases. cylinder may flash back into the intake pipe and induc-
B - engine kickback. tion system causing a backfire. Answer (A) is incorrect
C - backfiring into the induction system. because exhaust gas scavenging is accomplished
through the exhaust valve. Answer (B) is incorrect
because engine kickback is a function of faulty ignition
timing rather than valve timing.
8025. A02 8025. Answer A. AC 65-12A

Some cylinder barrels are hardened by The cylinder barrel of a reciprocating engine is made of
a steel alloy forging with its inner surface hardened to
A - nitriding. resist wear. One method used to harden cylinders is
B - shot peening. nitriding. In the nitriding process, the cylinder is heated
C - tempering. and exposed to ammonia or cyanide gas. Nitrogen
from the gas is absorbed by the steel causing iron
nitrides to form on the steel's surface. Both answers
(8) and (C) are incorrect because shot peening and
tempering are methods used to relieve stresses within
metals and not methods of hardening.
8026. A02 8026. Answer A. AC 65-12A

Which statement is correct regarding a four-stroke Depending upon the specific engine, an intake valve is
cycle aircraft engine? timed to open prior to the piston reaching top dead
center on the exhaust stroke and to close about 50 to
A - The intake valve closes on the compression 75 degrees past bottom dead center on the compres-
stroke. sion stroke (answer A). This allows the momentum of
B - The exhaust valve opens on the exhaust stroke. the incoming gases to charge the cylinder more com-
C - The intake valve closes on the intake stroke. pletely. The exhaust valve, on the other hand, typically
opens around 70 degrees before bottom dead center
on the power stroke and closes at approximately 15
degrees after top dead center on the intake stroke.
8027. A02 8027. Answer B. AC 65-12A

On which part of the cylinder walls of a normally oper- At the top of a stroke, a piston is subjected to extreme
ating engine will the greatest amount of wear occur? heat, pressure, and a more erosive environment than
at the bottom of a stroke. These factors tend to cause
A - Near the center of the cylinder where piston greater piston movement at the top of a cylinder.
velocity is greatest. Therefore, cylinder walls tend to wear more at the top
B - Near the top of the cylinder. than at the bottom (answer B).
C - Wear is normally evenly distributed.
8028. A02 8028. Answer 6. AC 65-12A

During overhaul, reciprocating engine exhaust valves Intake and exhaust valves can be checked for stretch
are checked for stretch by one of two methods. One involves checking the
diameter of the valve stem near the neck of the valve
A - with a suitable inside spring caliper. with a micrometer. If the diameter is smaller than nor-
B - with a contour or radius gauge. mal, the valve has been stretched. The second method
C - by placing the valve on a surface plate and mea- involves checking the valve with a radius or contour
suring its length with a vernier height gauge. gauge. The contour gauge is designed to fit along the
underside of the valve head. If the contour of the
gauge and that of the valve do not match, it indicates
that the valve has been stretched. Answer (A) is wrong
because an inside spring caliper is used to measure
inside dimensions and answer (C) is wrong because a
vernier height gauge is not meant to be used for mea-
suring valve clearance.
8029. A02 8029. Answer 6. AC 65-12A

When is the fuellair mixture ignited in a conventional In a reciprocating engine, the fuellair charge is fired by
reciprocating engine? means of an electric spark shortly before the piston
reaches top dead center on the compression stroke.
A - When the piston has reached top dead center of The time of ignition varies from 20 degrees to 35
the intake stroke. degrees before top dead center, depending upon the
B - Shortly before the piston reaches the top of the engine requirements. By igniting the fuellair charge
compression stroke. before the piston reaches top dead center, complete
C - When the piston reaches top dead center on the combustion is ensured by the time the piston is slightly
compression stroke. past top dead center and maximum power is delivered
to the crankshaft.
8030. A02 8030. Answer B. AC 65-12A

Ignition occurs at 28" BTDC on a certain four-stroke Ignition occurs at 28 degrees before top dead center.
cycle engine, and the intake valve opens at 1 5 O BTDC. Therefore, the piston will travel 28 degrees to complete
How many degrees of crankshaft travel after ignition the stroke. As the piston moves from top to bottom
does the intake valve open? (Consider one cylinder dead center on the power stroke, the crankshaft turns
only.) another 180 degrees. According to the question, the
intake valve opens 15 degrees before top dead center
of the exhaust stroke, or 165 degrees after bottom
dead center. Therefore, total crankshaft travel is 375
degrees (28 + 180 + 165 = 373).
8031. A02 8031. Answer C. AC 65-12A

What is the purpose of the safety circlet installed on The stems of some valves have a narrow groove cut in
some valve stems? them just below the lock ring groove that allows for the
installation of safety circlets or spring rings. The cir-
A - To hold the valve guide in position. clets are designed to prevent the valves from falling
B - To hold the valve spring retaining washer in posi- into the combustion chamber should the valve tip
tion. break during engine operation. Answer (A) is incorrect
C - To prevent valves from falling into the combus- because valve guides are held in position by a shrink
tion chamber. fit in the cylinder head and answer (B) is wrong
because valve spring retaining washers are held in
position by split stem keys or keepers.
8032. A02 8032. Answer A. AC 65-12A

Valve overlap is defined as the number of degrees of Valve overlap represents the degree of crankshaft
crankshaft travel travel in which both the intake valve and exhaust valve
are open (off their seat). On most reciprocating
A - during which both valves are off their seats. engines, the intake valve opens before top dead center
B - between the closing of the intake valve and the on the exhaust stroke, while the exhaust valve closes
opening of the exhaust valve. after the piston has passed TDC and started the intake
C - during which both valves are on their seats. stroke. This results in a valve overlap of anywhere
from 40 to 75 degrees. Answers (B) and (C) are wrong
because both valves are not open in either example.
8033. A02 8033. Answer B. AC 65-12A

The valve clearance of an engine using hydraulic lifters, When operating properly, an engine equipped with
when the lifters are completely flat, or empty, should hydraulic lifters will have a valve clearance of zero.
not exceed However, when the lifters are flat or empty, the lifter
must have a specified clearance greater than zero in
A - a specified amount below zero. order to provide the proper operating range (Answer 6).
B - a specified amount above zero. Answer A is incorrect because it is impossible to have
C - 0.00 inch. a valve clearance less than zero. Answer C is incorrect
because the flat or empty valve clearance must be
greater than zero.
8034. A02 8034. Answer C. AC 65-12A

If the exhaust valve of a four-stroke cycle engine is The intake valve of a reciprocating engine is timed to
closed and the intake valve is just closed, the piston is close about 50 to 75 degrees past bottom dead center
on the on the compression stroke. After the intake valve
closes, the continued upward travel of the piston com-
A - intake stroke. presses the fuellair mixture to obtain the desired burn-
B - power stroke. ing and expansion characteristics. On the intake stroke
C - compression stroke. (answer A), the exhaust valve is just closing, while the
intake valve is open and on the power stroke
(answer B) both valves are closed.
8035. A02 8035. Answer C. AC 65-12A

How many of the following are factors in establishing An engine's compression ratio is the controlling factor
the maximum compression ratio limitations of an air- in determining the amount of horsepower an engine
craft engine? develops. Some of the factors that must be considered
when establishing a maximum compression ratio
I . Detonation characteristics of the fuel used. include the detonation characteristics of the fuel used,
2. Design limitations of the engine. the engine's design limitations, and the degree of
3. Degree of supercharging. supercharging. Spark plug reach does not limit an
4. Spark plug reach. engine's compression ratio. Based on this, three of the
four factors listed (answer C) are valid limitations.
A - Four.
B - TWO.
C - Three.
8036. A02 8036. Answer C. AC 65-12A

Full-floating piston pins are those which allow motion A full-floating piston pin gets its name from the fact that
between the pin and the pin is free to rotate in both the piston and in the
small end of the connecting rod. Answer (A) is wrong
A - the piston. because a full-floating piston pin is free to rotate in
£3 both the piston and the large end of the connect-
- more than just the piston and answer (B) is incorrect
ing rod. because the large end of a connecting rod does not
C - both the piston and the small end of the connect- utilize a piston pin.
ing rod.
8037. A02 8037. Answer C. AC 65-12A

The primary purpose in setting proper valve timing and Reciprocating engines are timed so that both the
overlap is to intake and exhaust valves are open near the end of the
exhaust stroke and into the beginning of the intake
A - permit the best possible charge of fueUair mixture stroke. This valve overlap allows a larger quantity of
into the cylinders. the fuellair charge to be drawn into the cylinder which,
B - gain more thorough exhaust gas scavenging. in return, increases volumetric efficiency. Furthermore,
C - obtain the best volumetric efficiency and lower overlap helps to expel the exhaust gases from the pre-
cylinder operating temperatures. vious power stroke and lower operating temperatures.
8038. A02 8038. Answer 6. AC 65-12A

If the hot clearance is used to set the valves when the When an engine is hot, the clearance between the
engine is cold, what will occur during operation of the rocker arm and the valve stem is greater than when
engine? the engine is cold. Therefore, if the valves are set to
hot clearances when the engine is cold, the overall
A - The valves will open early and close early. valve clearance will be excessive and the valves will
B - The valves will open late and close early. open late and close early. Both answers (A) and (C)
C - The valves will open early and close late. are wrong because the valves will open late, not early
as indicated.
8039. A02 8039. Answer B. AC 65-12A

The purpose of two or more valve springs in aircraft Each valve on a reciprocating engine is closed by two
engines is to or three helical-coiledsprings. If only a single spring
were used to close a valve, the spring would vibrate or
A - equalize side pressure on the valve stems. surge at certain speeds. However, with multiple
B - eliminate valve spring surge. springs, each spring vibrates at a different engine
C - equalize valve face loading. speed resulting in rapid dampening of all spring surge
vibrations. Neither answer (A) nor (C) is correct
because the use of a single spring does not produce
uneven side pressures on a valve stem or unequal
valve face loading.
8040. A02 8040. Answer 6. AC 65-12A

During overhaul, the disassembled parts of an engine Water-mixed degreasing compounds usually contain
are usually degreased with some form of mineral spir- some form of alkali. If allowed to remain in the pores of
its solvent rather than water-mixed degreasers primar- metal engine parts when the engine is returned to ser-
ily because vice, the alkali will contaminate the oil and cause oil
foaming. Answer (A) is incorrect because some water-
A - solvent degreasers are much more effective. mixed degreasers are just as effective as solvent
B - water-mixed degreaser residues may cause engine degreasers. Answer (C) is wrong because, although
oil contamination in the overhauled engine. water-mixed degreasers can cause corrosion in alu-
C - water-mixed degreasers cause corrosion. minum and magnesium parts, it is not an absolute.
8041. A02 8041. Answer A. AC 65-12A

Why does the smoothness of operation of an engine The more cylinders an engine has, the closer together
increase with a greater number of cylinders? the power impulses occur and the smoother the engine
operates. Answer (B) is incorrect because the power
A - The power impulses are spaced closer together. pulses are spaced closer together not further apart and
B - The power impulses are spaced farther apart. answer (C) is incorrect because the number of cylin-
C - The engine has larger counterbalance weights. ders does not dictate the size of the counterbalance
weights. 'L
Reciprocating Engines 1-1 1
8042. A02 8042. Answer C. AC 65-1 2A

Compression ratio is the ratio between the The compression ratio of an engine is a comparison of
the volume of a cylinder when the piston is at the bot-
A - piston travel on the compression stroke and on tom of a stroke to the volume of the same cylinder
the intake stroke. when the piston is at the top of a stroke. Answer (A) is
B - combustion chamber pressure on the combustion wrong because the amount of piston travel is identical
stroke and on the exhaust stroke. on every stroke and answer (B) is incorrect because
C - cylinder volume with piston at bottom dead cen- compression ratio is a ratio of volumes, not pressures.
ter and at top dead center.
8043. A02 8043. Answer A. AC 65-12A

If the crankshaft runout readings on the dial indicator The total indicator reading for runout on a crankshaft is
are plus .002 inch and minus .003 inch, the runout is the sum of the plus (+) and minus (-) readings. In this
case, the runout is .005 in. (.002 + .003 = .005).
A - .005 inch.
B - plus .001 inch.
C - minus .001 inch.
8044. A02 8044. Answer C. AC 65-12A

( I ) Cast iron piston rings may be used in chrome- Both statements (1) and (2) are true. As a general rule,
plated cylinders. chrome rings should never be used in a chrome cylin-
(2) Chrome-plated rings may be used in plain steel der. However, it is extremely important that only
cylinders. approved piston ring and cylinder combinations be
used. If approved combinations are not used, exces-
Regarding the above statements, sive cylinder and/or piston ring wear could result.
A - only No. 1 is true.

B - neither No. 1 nor No.2 is true.
C - both No. 1 and No.2 are true.
8045. A02 8045. Answer C. AC 65-12A

How is proper end-gap clearance on new piston rings The end gap clearance of piston rings is checked by
assured during the overhaul of an engine? placing a piston ring in the cylinder and inserting a
thickness, or feeler gauge, between the two ring ends
A - By accurately measuring and matching the out- to determine the amount of clearance. Answer (A) is
side diameter of the rings with the inside diame- wrong because a ring must be compressed by insert-
ter of the cylinders. ing it into a cylinder before end gap can be properly
B - By using rings specified by the engine manufac- checked. Answer (B) is incorrect because, although
turer. new piston rings specified by a manufacturer should
C - By placing the rings in the cylinder and measur- have the correct end-gap clearance, the only way to
ing the end-gap with a feeler gauge. ensure the correct clearance is to measure it.
8046. A02 8046. Answer C. AC 65-12A

The volume of a cylinder equals 70 cubic inches when An engine's compression ratio is a comparison of the
thegiston is at bottom center. When the piston is at the volume of a cylinder when the piston is at the bottom of
top of the cylinder, the volume equals 10 cubic inches. a stroke to the volume of the same cylinder when the
What is the compression ratio? piston is at the top of the stroke. In this question, the
ratio is 70: 10 which reduces to 7: 1.
A- 1:7.
B - 7:lO.
C - 711.
8047. A02 8047. Answer A. AC 65-12A

When cleaning aluminum and magnesium engine Water-mixed degreasing compounds usually contain
parts, it is inadvisable to soak them in solutions con- alkali or soap which, if allowed to remain in the pores
taining soap because of the metal, will react with hot oil and cause foaming.
Answer (B) is incorrect because soap does not chemi-
A - some of the soap will become impregnated in the cally alter aluminum and magnesium. Answer (C) is
surface of the material and subsequently cause wrong because soap solutions do not cause dissimilar
engine oil contamination and foaming. metal electrolytic action which can destroy engine
B - the soap can chemically alter the metals causing parts in a matter of minutes. Water-mixed degreasing
them to become more susceptible to corrosion. solutions containing soap are potentially corrosive to
C - the parts can be destroyed by dissimilar metal aluminum and magnesium engine parts only if the
electrolytic action if they are placed together in parts are not rinsed thoroughly after cleaning.
the solution for more than a few minutes.
8048. A03 8048. Answer B. AC 65-12A

What is the purpose of a power check on a reciprocat- The basic principle behind doing a power check is to
ing engine? measure the performance of an engine against an
established standard and determine if the engine is
A -- To check magneto drop. performing satisfactorily. Answer (A) is incorrect
B - To determine satisfactory performance. because a magneto check is used to check for the
C - To determine if the fuellair mixture is adequate. appropriate magneto drop and answer (C) is wrong
because the fuellair mixture is checked during the
cruise mixture check.
8049. A03 8049. Answer C. AC 65-12A

What will be the likely result if the piston ring gaps If all the ring gaps happen to be aligned when perform-
happen to be aligned when performing a differential- ing a differential pressure compression check they will
pressure compression check on a cylinder? allow air to escape from the cylinder and give the same
indication as if the rings were defective or worn. To
A - Little or no effect. remedy this problem, run the engine for a period of
B - The rings will not be seated. time so the ring gaps have a chance to shift. Answer
C - A worn or defective ring(s) indication. (A) is incorrect because if the ring gaps are aligned a
drop of 10 to 20 psi can result during a compression
check. Answer (B) is incorrect because proper ring
seating is a function of a proper "break in" schedule
and is not affected by ring gap location.
8050. A03 8050. Answer A. AC 65-12A

Which of the following will be caused by excessive When valve clearance is excessive, the valves will not
valve clearance of a cylinder on a reciprocating aircraft open as wide or remain open as long as they should.
engine? Therefore, both the intake and exhaust valves will open
late and close early resulting in a reduced valve overlap
A - Reduced valve overlap period. period. Answer (B) is incorrect because the valves will
B - Intake and exhaust valves will open early and open late and close early, not open early and close late.
close late. Furthermore, excessive valve clearances decrease
C - A power increase by shortening the exhaust engine power output due to the reduced volumetric effi-
event. ciency caused by the reduced overlap period.
8051. A03 8051. Answer C. AC 65-12A

The floating control thermostat, used on some recipro- One of the most widely used automatic oil temperature
cating engine installations, helps regulate oil tempera- control devices is the floating control thermostat. This
ture by unit provides both manual and automatic control of the
amount of air that passes through the oil cooler by con-
A - controlling oil flow through the oil cooler. trolling the oil cooler air-exit door. Both answers (A)
B - recirculating hot oil back through the sump. and (B) are wrong because a floating control thermo-
C -- controlling air flow through the oil cooler. stat does not control oil flow through the oil cooler or
recirculate hot oil back through the sump.
Reciprocating Engines
8052. A03 8052. Answer A. AC 65-12A

Which of the following would indicate a general weak- When performing a power check on a reciprocating
engine condition when operated with a fixed-pitch pro- engine, it should be noted that with a constant air den-
peller or test club? sity, a given propeller and blade angle will always turn
at the same rpm for a given horsepower. Therefore, if
A - Lower than normal static RPM, full throttle oper- an engine is producing a lower than normal rpm at a
ation. full throttle setting, the engine may be weak. Answers
I3 - Manifold pressure lower at idle RPM than at sta- (B) and (C) are incorrect because a low manifold pres-
tic RPM. sure is often the result of early ignition timing and not
C - Lower than normal manifold pressure for any necessarily an indication of a weak engine.
given RPM.
8053. A03 8053. Answer B. Part 43, Appendix D

What is required by 14 CFR Part 43 appendix D when According to 14 CFR 43, Appendix D, a cylinder com-
performing an annua1/100-hour inspection on a recip- pression check is required when performing an
rocating engine aircraft? annual1100-hour inspection on a reciprocating engine
aircraft. Although a magneto timing check (answer A)
A - Magneto timing check. and a valve clearance check (answer C) on nonhy-
B - Cylinder compression check. draulic lifters are valuable checks that should be done
C - Valve clearance check. periodically, they are not required on a 100-hour
inspection.
8054. A03
After spark plugs from an opposed engine have been 8054. Answer C. ITP-P2
serviced, in what position should they be reinstalled? When a spark occurs between the electrodes of a
spark plug, metal is taken from one electrode and
A - Next in firing order to the one from which they deposited onto another. Therefore, when a spark plug
were removed. fires positively, the ground electrode wears more than
B - Swapped bottom to top. the center electrode and when a spark plug fires nega-
C - Next in firing order to the one from which they tively, the center electrode wears more than the ground
were removed and swapped bottom to top. electrode. Furthermore, lead and other impurities pro-
duced during the combustion process tend to precipi-
tate to the lower spark plugs, causing them to wear. To
help equalize spark plug wear, each time spark plugs
are removed they should be replaced in the cylinder
next in the firing order to the one from which they were
removed and switched from top to bottom.
8055. A03
As the pressure is applied during a reciprocating 8055. Answer C. AC 65-12A
engine compression check using a differential pressure When a differential compression test is being performed
tester, what would a movement of the propeller in the on an aircraft engine, the piston should be at top dead
direction of engine rotation indicate? center when the air pressure is introduced into the cylin-
der. If the piston is past top dead center, the air pressure
A - The piston was on compression stroke. will force the piston to the bottom of the cylinder causing
B - The piston was on exhaust stroke. the propeller to rotate in the normal direction of rotation.
C - The piston was positioned past top dead center. Both answers (A) and (B) are incorrect because if the
piston was on the compression stroke the piston would
move counter to engine rotation and if the piston were on
the exhaust stroke the exhaust valve would be open and
no pressure could be retained.
8056. A03
Excessive valve clearance results in the valves opening 8056. Answer A. AC 65-12A
Excessive valve clearance describes a condition where
A - late and closing early. there is too much clearance between a rocker arm and
B - early and closing late. the end of a valve stem. The excessive clearance
C - late and closing late. results in the valve opening late due to the time
required for the rocker arm to contact the valve stem.
Furthermore, the valve will close early due to the
decreased dwell time.
8057. A03 8057. Answer A. AC 65-12A

During routine inspection of a reciprocating engine, a Plain bearings used in aircraft engines are usually
deposit of small, bright, metallic particles which do not made of nonferrous metals, such as silver, bronze, alu-
cling to the magnetic drain plug is discovered in the oil minum, and various alloys of copper, tin, or lead. If this
sump and on the surface of the oil filter. This condition type of material is found in the oil sump of an engine
and on the surface of the oil filter, it is an indication that
A - may be a result of abnormal plain type bearing the bearings may be experiencing abnormal wear.
wear and is cause for further investigation. Answer (B) is incorrect because rings and cylinder
B - is probably a result of ring and cylinder wall wear walls are made of ferrous metals that would cling to a
and is cause for engine removal andlor overhaul. magnetic drain plug, and answer (C) is wrong because
C - is normal in engines utilizing plain type bearings the type of wear described is not normal.
and aluminum pistons and is not cause for alarm.
8058. A03 8058. Answer C. AC 65-12A

A characteristic of dyna-focal engine mounts as One characteristic of dyna-focal engine mounts is that
applied to aircraft reciprocating engines is that the the shock mounts point toward the engine's center of
gravity. This design feature helps prevent vibration
A - shock mounts eliminate the torsional flexing of from being transmitted to the airframe. The shock
the powerplant. mounts consist of a piece of rubber inside a round
B - engine attaches to the shock mounts at the metal mount. The rubber within the mount helps
engine's center of gravity. absorb vibration and allows some torsional flexing.
C - shock mounts point toward the engine's center of Therefore, answer (A) is incorrect. Answer (B) is wrong
gravity. because an engine's center of gravity is inside the
engine and you cannot attach an engine mount inside
the engine.
8059. A03
If metallic particles are found in the oil filter during an 8059. Answer B. AC 65-12A
inspection, Metal particles on engine oil screens or magnetic sump
plugs are generally an indication of partial internal
A - it is an indication of normal engine wear unless engine failure. However, due to the construction of air-
the particles are nonferrous. craft oil systems, it is possible that metal particles
B - the cause should be identified and corrected could have collected in the oil system sludge at the
before the aircraft is released for flight. time of a previous engine failure. At any rate, the cause
C - it is an indication of normal engine wear unless or source of the particles should be determined before
the deposit exceeds a specified amount. the engine is returned to service. Answers (A) and (C)
are incorrect because you cannot just assume the dis-
covery of metal particles is normal. The discovery of
metallic particles may indicate the beginning of a seri-
ous problem.
8060. A03
If the oil pressure gauge fluctuates over a wide range 8060. Answer A. AC 65-12A
from zero to normal operating pressure, the most likely The most likely cause of oil pressure fluctuating
cause is between zero and normal oil pressure is a low oil sup-
ply. If you have an engine with a low oil supply, the oil
A - low oil supply. pressure will be normal as long as the oil is being
B - broken or weak pressure relief valve spring. picked up by the pump. However, momentary losses of
C - air lock in the scavenge pump intake. oil pick-up will cause the oil pressure to drop to zero.
Answer (B) is incorrect because a weak or broken
pressure relief valve spring would result in low or pos-
sibly no oil pressure. Answer (C) is wrong because a
scavenge pump used in a dry-sump system pumps oil
from the engine sump back to the tank and has nothing
to do with the oil pressure within the system.
8061. A03 8061. Answer C. AC 65-12A

What special procedure must be followed when adjust- When adjusting the valves on a radial engine with a
ing the valves of an engine equipped with a floating floating cam ring, the clearance between the cam ring
cam ring? and cam bearing must be eliminated so the cam is in a
definite position prior to adjusting the valve clearance.
A - Adjust valves when the engine is hot. To do this, specific valves must be depressed and
B - Adjust all exhaust valves before intake valves. released simultaneously to remove the spring tension
C - Eliminate cam bearing clearance when making from the side positions on the cam. This permits the
valve adjustment. cam to slide away from the valves you are adjusting.
Answer (A) is wrong because valves are rarely
adjusted when hot and answer (B) is incorrect because
valves can be adjusted in almost any order.
8062. A03 8062. Answer A. AC 65-12A

Which of the following is most likely to occur if an When the valve clearance on a reciprocating engine is
overhead valve engine is operated with inadequate inadequate, the push rods open the valves earlier and
valve clearances? close them late. In addition, as the engine warms up,
the valve clearances tend to increase as the cylinders
A - The valve will not seat positively during start and expand. Answer A is correct because the valves will
engine warmup. not remain seated as long during engine starting and
B - The further decrease in valve clearance that warmup. Answer B is incorrect because the valve
occurs as engine temperatures increase will cause clearances increase as the engine warms up. Answer
damage to the valve-operating mechanism. C is incorrect because the valves remain closed for a
C - The valves will remain closed for longer periods shorter period with inadequate valve clearances.
than specified by the engine manufacturer.
8063. A03 8063. Answer B. AC 65-12A

Excessive valve clearances will cause the duration of When there is excessive clearance between the valve
valve opening to stem and rocker arm (valve clearance), the valves will
not open as wide or remain open as long during engine
A - increase for both intake and exhaust valves. operation (answer B). This reduces the overlap period
B - decrease for both intake and exhaust valves. and the cylinder's volumetric efficiency.
C - decrease for intake valves and increase for
exhaust valves.
8064. A03 8064. Answer C. AC 65-12A

What does valve overlap promote? Valve overlap represents the number of degrees that
both the exhaust and intake valves are open. Two ben-
A - Lower intake manifold pressure and tempera- efits of valve overlap are improved scavenging and
tures. cooling characteristics and increased volumetric effi-
B - A backflow of gases across the cylinder. ciency. Answers (A) and (B) are wrong because valve
C - Better scavenging and cooling characteristics. overlap does not lower manifold pressure or create a
backflow of gases across a cylinder.
8065. A03 8065. Answer C. AC 65-12A

At what speed must a crankshaft turn if each cylinder In a four-stroke engine, each cylinder fires once every
of a four-stroke cycle engine is to be fired 200 times a two crankshaft revolutions. Therefore, in order for a
minute? cylinder to fire 200 times a minute, the crankshaft must
rotate at a speed of 400 rpm (200 x 2 = 400).
A - 800 RPM.
B - 1,600 RPM.
C - 400 RPM.
8066. A03 8066. Answer B. AC 65-12A

Engine crankshaft runout i s usually checked Engine crankshaft runout is typically checked when the
crankshaft is separated from the engine. Therefore,
1. during engine overhaul. crankshaft runout is usually checked during an engine
2. during annual inspection. overhaul. Furthermore, manufacturers generally
3. after a "prop strike" or sudden engine stoppage. require runout checks after sudden stoppage or a sud-
4. during 100-hour inspection. den reduction in speed, such as a prop strike. Answers
(A) and (C) are wrong because an engine is not disas-
A - 1,3,and4. sembled down to the crankshaft during either an
B - 1 and 3. annual or 100-hour inspection.
C - 1,2and 3.
8067. A03 8067. Answer C. AC 65-12A

Before attempting to start a radial engine that has been Whenever a radial engine remains shut down for more
shut down for more than 30 minutes, than 30 minutes, oil and fuel may drain into the com-
bustion chambers of the lower cylinders or accumulate
turn the propeller by hand three or four revolu- in the lower intake pipes. These fluids can cause a liq-
tions in the opposite direction o f normal rotation uid lock, or hydraulic lock, which can damage the
to check for liquid lock. engine if a start is attempted. To check for a liquid lock,
turn the ignition switch on before energizing the the propeller should be turned by hand in the normal
starter. direction of rotation a minimum of two complete revolu-
turn the propeller by hand three to four revolutions. Never attempt to clear a liquid lock by pulling the
tions i n the normal direction of rotation to check propeller through in the direction opposite the normal
for liquid lock. rotation (answer A), since this tends to inject the liquid
into the intake pipe, increasing the possibility of a lock
during a subsequent start. Answer (B) is incorrect
because turning the ignition switch on will not help
identify a liquid lock.
8068. A03 8068. Answer A. AC 65-12A

A n engine misses i n both the right and left positions of The cold cylinder check determines the operating char-
the magneto switch. The quickest method for locating acteristics of each cylinder of an air-cooled engine.
the trouble is to The tendency for any cylinder or cylinders to be cold or
to be only slightly warm after the engine was running
A - check for one or more cold cylinders. indicates either a lack of combustion or incomplete
B - perform a compression check. combustion. If an engine misses in both the right and
C - check each spark plug. left positions of the magneto switch, combustion is not
taking place in one or more cylinders. Any time there is
a lack of combustion or incomplete combustion, the
cylinder(s) affected will feel cooler than the cylinder(s)
where complete combustion is occurring. Answer (B) is
incorrect because conducting a compression check will
not identify the cause of a misfire and answer (C) is
wrong because checking each spark plug is not the
quickest way to locate a misfiring cylinder.
8069. A03 8069. Answer B. AC 65-12A

A hissing sound from the exhaust stacks when the pro- Exhaust valve blow-by occurs when the exhaust valve
peller i s being pulled through manually indicates does not seat properly, allowing a portion of the fuellair
charge to escape before combustion takes place.
A - a cracked exhaust stack. Exhaust valve blow-by is identified by a hissing or
B - exhaust valve blow-by. whistling sound coming from the exhaust stacks.
C - worn piston rings. Answer (A) is incorrect because you could never get
enough air to pass through the exhaust stack to pro-
duce a hissing sound in a cracked exhaust. Answer (C)
is wrong because worn piston rings produce more of a
grinding sound than a hissing sound.
8070. A03 8070. Answer B. AC 65-12A

If the oil pressure of a cold engine is higher than at On engines that are equipped with a compensated oil
normal operating temperatures, the pressure relief valve, a higher oil pressure is main-
tained when the oil is cold. This helps ensure adequate
A - oil system relief valve should be readjusted. lubrication when the oil is partially congealed.
B - engine's lubrication system is probably operating However, as the oil heats up, the relief valve automati-
normally. cally lowers the system pressure to the normal operat-
C - oil dilution system should be turned on immediately. ing range.
8071. A03 8071. Answer A. AC 65-12A

If an engine operates with a low oil pressure and a high Some lubrication systems provide a means of diluting oil
oil temperature, the problem may be caused by a with fuel. When oil is diluted, less power is needed for
starting and starting is accomplished more rapidly.
A - leaking oil dilution valve. However, if an oil dilution valve leaks (answer A), the oil
B - sheared oil pump shaft. will become excessively thin and cause a reduction in oil
C - clogged oil cooler annular jacket. pressure. Furthermore, because fuel thinned-oil cannot
transfer heat as readily as normal oil, an engine oper-
ated with diluted oil will have higher oil temperatures.
8072. A03 8072. Answer C. AC 65-12A

Which fuellair mixture will result in the highest engine The fuellair mixture which will result in the highest engine
temperature (all other factors remaining constant)? temperature varies according to the engine's power set-
ting. For example, at high power settings, lean mixtures
A - A mixture leaner than a rich best-power mixture produce the highest temperature. Therefore, a mixture
of .085. leaner than a manual lean mixture of .060 will produce
B - A mixture richer than a full-rich mixture of .087. very high temperatures at high power settings. Although a
C - A mixture leaner than a manual lean mixture of mixture leaner than a rich best-power mixture of .085
.060. (answer A) will produce an elevated temperature, it will not
produce the highest of the choices listed. Answer (B) is
wrong because any time you have a mixture richer than
full-rich, cool temperatures result.
8073. A03 8073. Answer 6. AC 65-12A

If an engine cylinder is to be removed, at what position Before removing a cylinder from an engine, the piston
in the cylinder should the piston be? should be at top dead center on the compression
stroke (answer B). Having the piston in this position
A - Bottom dead center. helps prevent damage to the cylinder, piston, and
B - Top dead center. valves and helps relieve pressure on both the intake
C - Halfway between top and bottom dead center. and exhaust rocker arms.
8074. A03 8074. Answer B. AC 65-12A

The horsepower developed in the cylinders of a recip- The horsepower developed in the combustion cham-
rocating engine is known as the bers without considering friction is referred to as indi-
cated horsepower. Answer (A) is incorrect because
A - shaft horsepower. shaft horsepower represents the horsepower available
B - indicated horsepower. at a rotating shaft and answer (C) is incorrect because
C - brake horsepower. brake horsepower represents the amount of horse-
power delivered to the propeller.
8075. A03 8075. Answer C. AC 65-12A

Engine operating flexibility is the ability of the engine to Operating flexibility is defined as the ability of an
engine to run smoothly and give desired performance
A - deliver maximum horsepower at a specific altitude. at all engine speeds. Both answers (A) and (B) are
B - meet exacting requirements of efficiency and low wrong because delivering maximum horsepower at a
weight per horsepower ratio. specific altitude and meeting requirements of efficiency
C - run smoothly and give the desired performance at and weight to horsepower ratio are not part of operat-
all speeds. ing flexibility.
1- 18 Reciprocating Engines
8076. A03 8076. Answer B. AC 65-12A

Standard aircraft cylinder oversizes usually range from Generally, standard aircraft cylinder oversizes are
0.010 inch to 0.030 inch. Oversize on automobile 0.010 inch, 0.015 inch, 0.020 inch, or 0.030 inch. The
engine cylinders may range up to 0.100 inch. This is reason aircraft cylinders cannot be oversized as much
because aircraft engine cylinders as automobile cylinders is because aircraft cylinders
have relatively thin walls and may have a nitrided sur-
A - have more limited cooling capacity. face. Both answers (A) and (C) are incorrect because
B - have relatively thin walls and may be nitrided. aircraft cylinders do not have a more limited cooling
C - operate at high temperatures. capacity nor do they operate at excessively high tem-
peratures.
8077. A03 8077. Answer C. AC 65-12A

If the ignition switch is moved from BOTH to either A magneto check is conducted with the propeller in the
LEFT or RIGHT during an engine ground check, nor- high rpm position at a speed between approximately
mal operation is usually indicated by a 1,000 and 1,700 rpm. During this check, the ignition
switch is moved from the BOTH to the RIGHT position,
A - large drop in RPM. and then the BOTH to the LEFT position. While switch-
B - momentary interruption of both ignition systems. ing from BOTH to a single magneto position, a slight
C - slight drop in RPM. but noticeable drop in rpm should occur. If a large rpm
drop occurs (answer A), or if there is a momentary
interruption of both ignition systems (answer B), the
ignition system is not operating properly.
8078. A03 8078. Answer C. AC 65-12A

During ground check an engine is found to be rough- The most likely cause of a rough running engine which
running, the magneto drop is normal, and the manifold has normal magneto drop and high manifold pressure
pressure is higher than normal for any given RPM. The is a dead cylinder (answer C). Answer (A) is incorrect
trouble may be caused by because if several spark plugs were fouled on different
cylinders the magneto drop would not be normal.
A - several spark plugs fouled on different cylinders. Answer (B) is wrong because, although a leak in an
B - a leak in the intake manifold. intake manifold could cause a rough running engine,
C - a dead cylinder. manifold pressure would not necessarily be higher
than normal at all rpm settings.
8079. A03 8079. Answer A. AC 65-12A

What is the best indication of worn valve guides? If the valve guides of an engine are worn, there will be
excessive clearance between the valve guide and the
A - High oil consumption. valve stem. The excessive clearance allows oil to seep
B - Low compression. by the valve stems and enter the intake and exhaust
C - Low oil pressure. ports, causing high oil consumption. Answer (B) is
wrong because, as long as the valves are seating prop-
erly, worn valve guides will not affect cylinder compres-
sion. Answer (C) is incorrect because the oil that seeps
by the valve stems is not under pressure and, there-
fore, cannot in itself cause a low oil pressure reading.
8080. A03 8080. Answer A. AC 65-12A

By use of a differential pressure compression tester, it is When the piston in cylinder number one is rotated 260
determined that the No.3 cylinder of a nine-cylinder radial degrees past top dead center on the compression
engine will not hold pressure after the crankshaft has been stroke, cylinder number three will be 180 degrees past
rotated 260" from top dead center compression stroke No. 1 top dead center between the end of the compression
cylinder. How can this indication usually be interpreted? stroke and the beginning of the exhaust stroke. When
the number three piston is in this position, the exhaust
A - A normal indication. valve is open and the cylinder would not be able to
B - Exhaust valve blow-by. hold pressure. Both answers (B) and (C) are incorrect
C - A damaged exhaust valve or insufficient exhaust because, with the piston in the position indicated, the
valve clearance. listed conditions are not possible.
8081. A03 8081. Answer A. AC 65-1 2A

When does valve overlap occur in the operation of an Valve overlap identifies the period when both the
aircraft reciprocating engine? intake and exhaust valves are open in a cylinder. The
only time valve overlap occurs is at the end of the
A - At the end of the exhaust stroke and the begin- exhaust stroke and the beginning of the intake stroke.
ning of the intake stroke. Answers (B) and (C) are incorrect because both valves
B - At the end of the power stroke and the beginning are not open simultaneously during the cycles indi-
of the exhaust stroke. cated.
C - At the end of the compression stroke and the
beginning of the power stroke.
8082. A03 8082. Answer B. AC 65-12A

What is an advantage of using metallic-sodium filled Metallic-sodium is used in some valves because it is
exhaust valves in aircraft reciprocating engines? an excellent heat conductor. In a metallic-sodium filled
valve, the sodium melts at approximately 208°F. When
A - Increased strength and resistance to cracking. this happens, the reciprocating motion of the valve cir-
B - Reduced valve operating temperatures. culates the liquid sodium enabling it to carry away
C - Greater resistance to deterioration at high valve excess heat, thereby reducing valve operating temper-
temperatures. atures. Answer (A) is incorrect because filling a valve
with metallic sodium does not increase its strength and
answer (C) is wrong because metallic sodium valves
do not have a greater resistance to deterioration at
high temperature.
8083. A03 8083. Answer C. AC 65-12A

Valve clearance changes on opposed-type engines The only way to adjust the valve clearance on an engine
using hydraulic lifters are accomplished by using hydraulic lifters is to insert a different sized push
rod. Both answers (A) and (B) are wrong because
A - rocker arm adjustment. adjusting or replacing the rocker arms in an engine with
B - rocker arm replacement. hydraulic lifters will not change valve clearances.
C - push rod replacement.
8084. A03 8084. Answer A. AC 65-12A

What is likely to occur if a reciprocating engine is The viscosity of oil is affected by temperature and it is
operated at high power settings before it is properly not uncommon for some grades of oil to become
warmed up? extremely stiff in cold weather. As you know, stiff oil
does not circulate well within an engine and, therefore,
A - Oil starvation of bearings and other parts. if a reciprocating engine is operated at high power set-
B - Excessive thinning of the engine oil. tings before it is properly warmed up, oil starvation to
C - Accelerated oil breakdown and oxidation. some parts is likely to occur. Answers (B) and (C) are
incorrect because neither excessive thinning nor accel-
erated oil breakdown will occur under the conditions
indicated.
8085. A04 8085. Answer C. AC 65-12A

An increase in manifold pressure with a constant RPM Manifold pressure represents the absolute pressure of
will cause the bearing load in an engine to the fuellair mixture prior to entering the cylinders.
Therefore, an increase in manifold pressure (answer
A - decrease. C) for a given rpm represents a higher pressure fuellair
B - remain relatively constant. mixture entering the cylinders. This higher pressure
C - increase. produces a corresponding increase in brake mean
effective pressure and power output. Any time the
brake mean effective pressure or power output is
increased, additional force is transmitted through the
pistons to the crankshaft and bearing load increases.
8086. A04 8086. Answer A. AC 65-12A

Direct mechanical push-pull carburetor heat control When rigging any carburetor control linkage, the compo-
linkages should normally be adjusted so that the stop nent being moved must contact its stop prior to the stop
located on the diverter valve will be contacted in the cockpit is reached. This ensures full control travel.
Answers (6) and (C) are incorrect because they both
A - before the stop at the control lever is reached in indicate conditions where the cabin control reaches its
both HOT and COLD positions. stop prior to the component reaching its stop.
B - before the stop at the control lever is reached in
the HOT position and after the stop at the control
lever is reached in the COLD position.
C - after the stop at the control lever is reached in
both HOT and COLD positions.
8087. A04 8087. Answer A. AC 65-12A

Reduced air density at high altitude has a decided A combustion engine relies on a specific airlfuel mix-
effect on carburetion, resulting in a reduction of engine ture to produce a given amount of power. Any deviation
power by from this mixture affects power output. As an aircraft
climbs, air density decreases thereby decreasing the
A - excessively enriching the airlfuel mixture. amount of air in the fuellair mixture. This results in an
B - excessively leaning the airlfuel mixture. excessively rich airlfuel mixture which causes a reduc-
C - reducing fuel vaporization. tion in engine power.
8088. A04 8088. Answer A. AC 65-9A

Increased water vapor (higher relative humidity) in the When an engine takes in air with a high water vapor
incoming air to a reciprocating engine will normally content, there is less oxygen available for combustion.
result in which of the following? Any time there is less oxygen available for combustion
there is a corresponding decrease in engine power for
A - Decreased engine power at a constant RPM and any given rpm and manifold pressure. Answer (8) is
manifold pressure. incorrect because both power output and volumetric
B - Increased power output due to increased volumet- efficiency decrease and answer (C) is wrong because
ric efficiency. humid air typically produces an enriching effect on pis-
C - A leaning effect on engines which use non-auto- ton engines.
matic carburetors.
8089. A04 8089. Answer C. AC 65-12A

(1) Preignition is caused by improper ignition timing. Both statements are false. Preignition occurs when the
(2) Detonation occurs when an area of the combustion fuellair mixture is ignited prior to the spark plugs firing
chamber becomes incandescent and ignites the and has nothing to do with how an ignition system is
fuellair mixture in advance of normal timed ignition. timed. Detonation, on the other hand, is the uncon-
trolled burning of the fuellair mixture. Typical causes of
Regarding the above.statements, detonation include use of the improper fuel grade and
engine overheating.
A - only No. 1 is true.
B - both No. 1 and No. 2 are true.
C - neither No. 1 nor No. 2 is true.
8090. A04 8090. Answer B. AC 65-12A

Which of the following engine servicing operations After an engine is installed it should be pre-oiled prior
generally requires engine pre-oiling prior to starting to starting. Pre-oiling helps prevent excessive wear or
the engine? failure of the engine bearings. Both answers (A) and
(C) are incorrect because neither operation depletes
A - Engine oil and filter change. the supply of residual oil within an engine.
B - Engine installation.
C - Replacement of oil lines.
Reciprocafing Engines 1-21
8091. A04 8091. Answer C. AC 65-12A

During the inspection of an engine control system in After a pushlpull control rod has been adjusted you
which push-pull control rods are used, the threaded rod should check the number of threads engaging the rod
ends should end. To check for the proper amount of engagement, an
inspection hole is typically provided in which a piece of
A - not be adjusted in length for rigging purposes safety wire is inserted. If the safety wire can pass
because the rod ends have been properly posi- through the hole, there is insufficient thread engage-
tioned and staked during manufacture. ment. Answer (A) is incorrect because push-pull rods
B -be checked for thread engagement of at least two must be adjusted from time to time. Answer (B) is wrong
threads but not more than four threads. because the minimum number of threads engaged is
C - be checked for the amount of thread engagement typically greater than two threads and there is no maxi-
by means of the inspection holes. mum thread engagement requirement for rod ends.
8092. A04 8092. Answer C. AC 65-12A

Which of the following conditions would most likely Detonation is the uncontrolled burning of the fuellair
lead to detonation? mixture. Typical causes of detonation include use of
fuel with too low an octane rating, high manifold pres-
A - Late ignition timing. sure, high intake air pressure, and engine overheating.
B - Use of fuel with too high an octane rating. Both answers (A) and (B) are incorrect because nei-
C - Use of fuel with too low an octane rating. ther late ignition timing nor the use of a higher fuel
grade will cause detonation.
8093. A04 8093. Answer C. AC 65-12A

An unsupercharged aircraft reciprocating engine, oper- As a rule, an unsupercharged reciprocating engine
ated at full throttle from sea level to 10,000 feet, pro- operated at altitude produces less power than it does
vided the RPM is unchanged, will at sea level. This is because, at higher altitudes, less
dense air is drawn into the cylinders resulting in a less
A - lose power due to the reduced volume of air potent fuellair charge. Answer (A) is incorrect because
drawn into the cylinders. the volume of air drawn into the cylinders remains con-
B - produce constant power due to the same volume stant regardless of altitude, and answer (B) is wrong
of air drawn into the cylinders. because engine power decreases with increases in
C - lose power due to the reduced density of the air altitude.
drawn into the cylinders.
8094. A04 8094. Answer C. AC 65-12A

Which of the following would most likely cause a An extremely lean mixture will either not burn at all or
reciprocating engine to backfire through the induction burn so slowly that combustion continues until the
system at low RPM operation? intake valve opens near the end of the exhaust stroke.
When this happens, the flame in the cylinder ignites
A - Idle mixture too rich. the contents in the intake manifold causing an explo-
B - Clogged derichment valve. sion, or backfire within the induction manifold. Answer
C - Lean mixture. (A) is wrong because an excessively rich mixture
causes flooding and spark plug fouling, not backfiring.
Answer (B) is incorrect because there is no such thing
as a derichment valve.
8095. A04 8095. Answer 6. AC 65-12A

How may it be determined that a reciprocating engine When an engine is being pre-oiled, a line from the inlet
with a dry sump is preoiled sufficiently? side of the engine-driven oil pump must be disconnected
to permit the pre-oiler tank to be connected. Then, a line
A - The engine oil pressure gauge will indicate normal near the nose of the engine is disconnected to allow oil
oil pressure. to flow out. Once oil flows out of the engine pre-oiling is
B - Oil will flow from the engine return line or indi- complete. Answer (A) is incorrect because the oil pres-
cator port. sure gauge will not indicate an oil pressure when pre-oil-
C - When the quantity of oil specified by the manu- ing, and answer (C) is wrong because manufacturers do
facturer has been pumped into the engine. not specify the specific oil quantity used to pre-oil.
8096. A04 8096. Answer C. AC 65-12A

What is the basic operational sequence for reducing the When reducing power on an engine equipped with a
power output of an engine equipped with a constant- constant speed propeller, care should be taken to
speed propeller? never let the manifold pressure get too high for a given
rpm. To do this, the throttle should be pulled back to
A - Reduce the RPM, then the manifold pressure. reduce the manifold pressure first followed by a slow
B - Reduce the manifold pressure, then retard the reduction in rpm. Answer (A) is wrong because mani-
throttle to obtain the correct RPM. fold pressure is reduced first followed by rpm, and
C - Reduce the manifold pressure, then the RPM. answer (6) is wrong because the propeller control is
used to reduce rpm, not the throttle.
8097. A04 8097. Answer A. AC 65-12A

Which statement pertaining to fuellair ratios is true? For a given rpm, the fuellair mixture that results in best
power is always richer than the mixture used for best
A - The mixture ratio which gives the best power is economy. One way to remember this is to associate
richer than the mixture ratio which gives maxi- best power with using more fuel and best economy
mum economy. with using less fuel. With this in mind there is no way
B - A rich mixture is faster burning than a normal the mixture used for maximum economy can also be
mixture. used for best power (answer C). Answer (6) is incor-
C - The mixture ratio which gives maximum econ- rect because a rich mixture burns slower than a normal
omy may also be designated as best power mix- mixture.
ture.
8098. A04 8098. Answer A. AC 65-12A

Backfiring through the carburetor generally results An extremely lean mixture will either not burn at all or
from the use of burn so slowly that combustion continues until the
intake valve opens near the end of the exhaust stroke.
A - an excessively lean mixture. When this happens, the flame in the cylinder ignites
B - excessively atomized fuel. the contents in the intake manifold causing an explo-
C - an excessively rich mixture. sion known as a backfire. Answer (6) is wrong
because excessively atomized fuel typically burns
completely and rapidly making a backfire impractical,
and answer (C) is incorrect because an excessively
rich mixture causes flooding and spark plug fouling, not
backfiring.
8099. A04 8099. Answer 6. AC 65-12A

Which of these conditions will cause an engine to have Detonation is the uncontrolled burning of the fuellair
an increased tendency to detonate? mixture. Typical causes of detonation include use of
fuel with too low an octane rating, high manifold pres-
1. High manifold pressure. sure, high intake air pressure, and engine overheating.
2. High intake air temperature. Of the conditions provided, only numbers 1, 2, and 3
3. Engine overheated. (answer 6) are correct.
4. Late ignition timing.
8100. A04 8100. Answer C. AC 65-12A

When will small induction system air leaks have the A small induction system air leak will have the most
most noticeable effect on engine operation? noticeable effect on engine operation at idle. The rea-
son for this is that at low engine speeds the volume of
A - At high RPM. air entering the induction system is small. Therefore,
B - At maximum continuous and takeoff power set- the additional air coming in through a crack will lean
tings. the fuellair mixture appreciably. Both answers (A) and
C - At low RPM. (B) are incorrect because a small induction leak typi-
cally is not noticeable at high power settings.
8101. A04 8101. Answer A. AC 65-12A

To reduce the power output of an engine equipped with When reducing power on an engine equipped with a
a constant-speed propeller and operating near maxi- constant speed propeller, care should be taken to
mum BMEP, the never let the manifold pressure get too high for a given
rpm. To do this, the throttle should be pulled back to
A - manifold pressure i s reduced with the throttle reduce the manifold pressure first followed by a slow
control before the RPM i s reduced with the pro- reduction in rpm. Answer (B) is wrong because mani-
peller control. fold pressure is reduced using the throttle not the pro-
B - manifold pressure i s reduced with the propeller peller control and the rpm is reduced with the propeller
control before the RPM i s reduced with the throt- control instead of the throttle. Answer (C) is wrong
tle control. because manifold pressure is reduced prior to reducing
C - RPM i s reduced with the propeller control before rpm.
the manifold pressure i s reduced with the throttle
control.
8102. A04 8102. Answer C. AC 65-12A

One of the best indicators of reciprocating engine com- One way of determining combustion chamber prob-
bustion chamber problems i s lems is by examining the condition of the spark plugs.
For example, normal operation is indicated by a spark
A - excessive engine vibration. plug having a relatively small amount of light brown or
B - starting difficulties. tan deposit on the nose of the center electrode insula-
C - spark plug condition. tor. However, if heavy oily deposits are found on the
spark plugs, it is a good indication that the rings or
valve seals are worn and allowing oil to seep into the
cylinder. Answer (A) is incorrect because excessive
engine vibration is normally caused by a malfunction-
ing ignition system or propeller imbalance, not spark
plugs. Answer (B) is incorrect because most starting
difficulties are from mismanagement of the fuel system
or from incorrect ignition timing.
8103. A04 8103. Answer A. AC 65-12A

What could cause excessive pressure buildup i n the All piston rings let some combustion chamber pressure
crankcase of a reciprocating engine? into the engine crankcase. This pressure is vented to
the atmosphere through a crankcase breather.
A - Plugged crankcase breather. Therefore, if a crankcase breather becomes plugged,
B - Improper warmup operation. pressure will build up inside the crankcase. Answer (8)
C - An excessive quantity of oil. is incorrect because as long as the breather tube is
open an improper warmup will not cause excessive
pressure and answer (C) is wrong because any exces-
sive oil typically drains out through the breather tube.
8104. A04 8104. Answer C. AC 65-12A

Excessive valve clearance i n a piston engine Valve overlap represents the time when both the intake
and exhaust valves are open simultaneously. When
A - increases valve overlap. there is too much valve clearance, the valves do not
B - increases valve opening time. open as wide or remain open as long as they should. If
C - decreases valve overlap. the valves are not open as long, the amount of overlap
decreases.
8105. A04 8105. Answer A. AC 65-12A

To what altitude will a turbo charged engine maintain A reciprocating engine's critical altitude is that altitude
sea level pressure? at which the engine can maintain sea level power. Any
increase above an engine's critical altitude results in a
A - Critical altitude. decrease in available horsepower. The critical altitude
B - Service ceiling. of a typical turbocharged engine is generally between
C - Pressure altitude. 8,000 and 16,000 feet MSL. An aircraft's service ceiling
(answer B) represents the altitude at which an aircraft
is able to maintain a maximum climb rate of 100 feet
per minute. Answer (C), pressure altitude, represents
the altitude read off the altimeter with 29.92 set in the
barometric window.
8106. A04 8106. Answer C. AC 65-12A

If air is heard coming from the crankcase breather or Excessive leakage past the piston rings can be
oil filler during a differential compression check, what detected by the sound of escaping air at the engine
is this an indication of? breather tube or oil filler cap. Leakage at the exhaust
valve (answer A) is detected by listening for air at the
A - Exhaust valve leakage. exhaust outlet, and intake valve leakage (answer B) is
B - Intake valve leakage. detected at the air intake.
C - Piston ring leakage.
8107. A04 8107. Answer C. AC 65-12A

One cause of afterfiring in an aircraft engine is Afterfiring refers to a condition when unburned fuel
from an excessively rich fuellair mixture combines with
A - sticking intake valves. air in the exhaust stacks and ignites, or fires, in the
B - an excessively lean mixture. exhaust system. Sticking intake valves (answer A)
C - an excessively rich mixture. cause timing conflicts that can lead to flash back in the
intake pipe and high engine temperatures, whereas an
excessively lean mixture (answer B) causes backfiring.

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Reciprocating Engine Questions

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This chapter covers the theory of reciprocating engine operation.

It includes the basic practices and tools used to

8001. A01 8001. Answer 6. AC 65-12A

8002. A01 8002. Answer C. AC 65-9A

8003. A01 8003. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8004. A01 8004. Answer B. AC 65-1?A

8005. A01 8005. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8007. A01 8007. Answer B. AC 65-12A

8008. A01 8008. Answer A. AC 65-12A

8009. A01 8009. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8010. A01 8010. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8011. A02 8011. Answer A. AC 65-12A

8012. A02 8012. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8013. A02 8013. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8014. A02 8014. Answer A. AC 65-12A

8015. A02 8015. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8016. A02 8016. Answer A. AC 65-12A

8017. A02 8017. Answer B. AC 65-12A

8018. A02 8018. Answer A. AC 65-12A

8019. A02 8019. Answer 6. AC 65-12A

8020. A02 8020. Answer A. ITP-P2

8021. A02 8021. Answer A. AC 65-12A

8022. A02 8022. Answer B. AC 65-12A

8023. A02 8023. Answer C. AC 65-1 2A

8024. A02 8024. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8025. A02 8025. Answer A. AC 65-12A

8026. A02 8026. Answer A. AC 65-12A

8027. A02 8027. Answer B. AC 65-12A

8028. A02 8028. Answer 6. AC 65-12A

8029. A02 8029. Answer 6. AC 65-12A

8030. A02 8030. Answer B. AC 65-12A

8031. A02 8031. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8032. A02 8032. Answer A. AC 65-12A

8033. A02 8033. Answer B. AC 65-12A

8034. A02 8034. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8035. A02 8035. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8036. A02 8036. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8037. A02 8037. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8038. A02 8038. Answer 6. AC 65-12A

8039. A02 8039. Answer B. AC 65-12A

8040. A02 8040. Answer 6. AC 65-12A

8041. A02 8041. Answer A. AC 65-12A

8042. A02 8042. Answer C. AC 65-1 2A

8043. A02 8043. Answer A. AC 65-12A

8044. A02 8044. Answer C. AC 65-12A

A - only No. 1 is true.

8045. A02 8045. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8046. A02 8046. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8047. A02 8047. Answer A. AC 65-12A

8048. A03 8048. Answer B. AC 65-12A

8049. A03 8049. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8050. A03 8050. Answer A. AC 65-12A

8051. A03 8051. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8052. A03 8052. Answer A. AC 65-12A

8053. A03 8053. Answer B. Part 43, Appendix D

8057. A03 8057. Answer A. AC 65-12A

8058. A03 8058. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8061. A03 8061. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8062. A03 8062. Answer A. AC 65-12A

8063. A03 8063. Answer B. AC 65-12A

8064. A03 8064. Answer C. AC 65-12A

8065. A03 8065. Answer C. AC 65-12A