Engine pickling

[Darick]

I fly from a turf runway which typically is unusable for about three months of the winter. Besides and/or in addition to desiccant in the engine openings, has anyone used engine fogging oil? So far I've found three brands, Amsoil, Star bright and Sta-bil.

[T41pilot]

Darrick

I've used Stabil in my Rotax 2 stroke every winter since new. It's been 7 winters now. My plane is out of action more like 5 months out of the year. When I had my 150 hour inspection last year, the Tech said it was the best engine he had seen with that many hours on it inside. Course it's not just the oil. I drain the fuel, remove the float bowl from the carb and drain fuel from there too. Clean the floats. Then use the fogging oil and spray inside the carb. I remove the plugs and spray it into the cylinders and work it in turning the prop. I spray it in the intakes and do the same. Then plug up holes and openings as necessary to keep the outside air out. My Aerovee is not running yet, but I saw no harm in shooting some oil in those cylinders as well and working it in. The Rotax smokes lightly for about 5 minutes on the first run the following spring. After that, all good.

[Matt541]

Cool, that's good to know. Very thorough. (I was watching this thread to see what others would say.)

I knew a guy that also used Stabil when pickling his Taylorcraft, but have no direct experience.

[Rynoth]

ACF-50 Might be another option. Not sure of it's application for engine pickling, but I use it on stuff like rudder cables or pushrods that got a bit of the powder coat scratched off. Not sure if it comes in a fogging applicator.