Ask the A&Ps

What happens when you shut off the mags in flight? Mike, Paul, and Colleen answer this question, plus Cirrus cylinder woes, lapping technique, and more. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Jeff is questioning the part of his checklist that calls for turning off the mags just before shutting down. He...

The right oil temp, inop and new equipment, and oily turbos are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below: Grace’s engine runs rough above about 2,000 rpm. She currently has a single probe monitor, and is waiting to install a more comprehensive engine monitor. She’s worried...

A caller wants to know what they don't teach you in A&P school. Plus AD compliance, a scary engine failure, and putting the lean in lean of peak. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join KC wonders why ADs appear on some logbook entries as having been complied with with a terminating action, and in future entries the AD r...

Join Mike, Paul, and Colleen for a second live session from EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh 2026 as they are try to answer the audience's most pressing maintenance questions. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join

Join Mike, Paul, and Colleen as they take questions live from the audience at the AOPA tent at EAA AirVenture 2026.

Which oil is best, where is the oil going, running lean of peak with a carb, and how to fly a turbo are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below: Chris' American Champion Super Decathlon has an oil consumption issue. While his engine was apart after a prop strike the cylin...

A fidgety fuel problem, octane ratings, and water in the oil are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Gareth has a turbo Arrow and he's been fighting a problem with fluctuation fuel flow. Sometimes the engine quits on the ground or runs rough in the air. They've checked the fu...

Very cold cylinders, sort of warm cylinders, turbochargers, and pressurized mags are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below: Bill has a Cessna 182S with the Lycoming IO-540 and he has a temperature issue with his number 2 cylinder. Climbing out at full rich he would back...

Carbon monoxide, kickbacks, avionics upgrades, and leaning radials are on tap. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Bill has a Cessna 210 and in climb he gets 50-100 ppm on his CO gauge. When he levels and goes lean of peak it goes back to normal. He's also noticed that if he puts the heat on he also...

Worn intake valves, pitted camshafts, shock cooling, and AD compliance are on the docket. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Norm wonders whether condition-based maintenance and inspections failed him. He is co-owners in an airplane with a Lycoming IO-360, and after a few years they found a crack i...

Rising temperatures, unnecessary overhauls, unusual rigging, and ancient cloth in the wheel well are featured. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join

Sticky valves, sleepy valves, and valves destined for the trash are on tap this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below: Mac is trying to get a cylinder to wake up on his Piper Lance. The engine ran rough, and a magneto clearing procedure didn't help. The number 5 cylinder was dropping o...

Avoiding maintenance can be a good thing when what's recommended is unnecessary. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Dominick is questioning his mechanic's advice on prop overhauls. He has a Cessna 310 and his left rpm is too low on approach when the control is full forward. It's not an issue on the...

How much should a mechanic tell a client during an annual? Mike, Paul, and Colleen handle this question and more. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Justin flies a Twin Bonanza and cylinder 5 on his left engine takes as much as a minute to fire up and start running. It comes online fastest if he go...

Quick corrosion, long-lasting engines, and mobility mods are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below: Patrick is looking for the right fit on a potential aircraft purchase. He had a shoulder replacement and lost some mobility in his right shoulder. He’s wondering if he co...

Is going past TBO more expensive? Plus fuel vents and turbocharger temps. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below:   Mike wonders if running past TBO actually costs more. He has a Mooney and has heard that overhauls far beyond TBO can cost more as a result of having to replace more parts. That is...

What exactly should we be looking for in our cylinders? Plus torque tales, making TBO, and overzealous manufacturers. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full show notes below: Jared asks what he should be looking for with his borescope. He’s seen bad valves and what that looks like, but he’s also hoping to see what...

The definitive guide to owner maintenance, slipping starter adapters, and close CHT tolerances. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join

Creative leaning techniques, rusty cylinders, and odd manifold pressure indications are on tap this time. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join

Old engines, rusty airplanes, and a strange valve incident are the puzzlers for Mike, Paul, and Colleen this episode. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below: John has a Beech Musketeer who had an unusual situation with his valve. The valve seat separated from the cylinder barrel...

Pre-emptive engine overhauls, upgrading an old electrical system, spark plug anti-seize, and old wood wing concerns are on tap for this episode. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below: Lance inherited some furniture that had lived in the Midwest for 200 years, and began splittin...

A creative modification, lean of peak with turbocharging, electronic ignition, and oil leaks are on tap. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Tom has a turbocharged Mooney and he's wondering how to manage it while lean of peak. The hosts say the first goal is to get on the lean side quickly, and then...

Mike, Paul, and Colleen dig deep for some detailed troubleshooting on digital fuel indicators, oil temperature, gear problems, and more this episode. Send your questions to podcast@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Will's fuel indicators are giving off infrequent red Xs on his Garmin G1000, and it started happen...

From maintaining aircraft records to dealing with bad advice and sub-standard parts, Mike, Paul, and Colleen say being an aircraft owner is one of the hardest jobs in aviation. Email your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Randy wants to know if circuit breakers have a life limit. He has a M...

What's in our oil, how to keep cool (and warm), and lean of peak are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below: Mark flies a 182 and he read on a forum that the reason we've had so much spalling of lifters is because they took zinc out of the oil. Mike said this rumor has b...