Corky Scott wrote in
:

That may be, but John Deakin has opined that no matter how you run
them, they will require top end overhaul at around 400 hours. He's
not sure exactly why, but thinks that the problems arose when all of
Continentals old timers retired and no new engineers were hired.

It's not that you will never get a TCM engine past 400, but rather that
most of them won't go much past. There is a standard "pattern" that
they have problem with, and it is extremely obvious signs.

Basically the problem is that TCM always got flack for their engines
using more oil than Lyc. engines of the same size. So about a decade
ago TCM redesigned their cylinders - and sort of succeeded. Trouble is,
they succeeded too well.

A large number of these engines will break in with ZERO oil usage. They
will stabilize such that, 50 hours after oil change, you won't find a
bit of oil loss. Originally owners were happy. Trouble is, that oil is
needed for lubrication.

So what happens is that right around 400 hours the engine starts using
oil. Not so much burning it, as typically blowing it out the crankcase.
Another hundred hours or so and it is really bad, oil all over the
belly, and compression is down around 0 *unless* you "play" with the
engine while doing the test.

Several minor design changes have not solved the problem. TCM's
response so far has been to continually reduce the requirement for a
"working" engine - currently 26 over 80 is acceptable, with a
pressurized crankcase and leakage past both the rings and exhaust valve.




The real secret is to not get Continental cylinders. Pure crap.

I would recommend overhauled rather than new TCM's.

jmk