Piston engine troubleshooting

Consult Continental service bulletins for more details. Excessive blowby is almost always accompanied by higher oil consumption and slightly higher oil temperature than normal.

A not so common but serious cause of low compression is a bad crack in the cylinder. This one is a serious safety issue and deserves a little attention here. If hissing is heard outside the cylinder, make sure the source is pinpointed before you go any further. This kind of crack sounds just like an air leak (it is). A crack this bad is immediate cause for cylinder removal and replacement before further flight.

Books have been written on this subject, but my hope is this article has given you a few pointers on making the piston engine troubleshooting experience a little more hassle-free. When you get good at it, it will be gratifying and even fun.