Ask the A&Ps

In this episode, Mike, Paul, and Colleen discuss unnecessary maintenance, lean of peak, and flaming exhausts! 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: Mitchell has a Cessna 185 and he's wondering if it's smart to change out the rotocoils on his engine at some pre-determined point in order to avoi...

Gotchas and head-scratchers are the theme this episode, as Mike, Paul, and Colleen help an owner with a pitted camshaft, an inop instrument, a faulty vacuum line, and ops procedures. 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 had two airplanes over the past 10 years with crankshaft pitting, de...

How do you fix a fix? Mike, Paul, and Colleen explore STC challenges, including parts, wrong installations, and ADS-B that isn't working. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org Full notes below: Barat has a Cirrus SR22 with an STC air conditioner. The driveshaft recently broke and he’s wondering how to fix it. Some mechanics...

Mike, Paul, and Colleen are in the hot seat as they answer live audience questions from Airventure 2025. We'll be back with our regular show next time. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join

How to tell the difference between greases? Mike, Paul, and Collen break it down, plus high lean of peak temps, breaking in an engine on an experimental, and composite airframe cracks. 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: Mark wants to make sure he’s clear on which grease to use for which appl...

Mike, Paul, and Colleen explain why they almost never set their parking brakes. Plus, valve guide concerns and gotchas on preflight. 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: William wants to know how Mike, Paul, and Colleen do preflight inspections as A&Ps, and if they look at something that most pilots d...

Oil is everywhere this time, with consumption and temperatures problems for three of our owners. 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: Mark has a Twin Comanche and is loving his new electronic ignition. He has an issue where oil temperature and CHTs are slightly different on one engine than the other....

A Cirrus with fluctuating fuel flow, de-injecting an engine, and fear of overhaul 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 notes below: Joe has a Maule with a 540 engine in it. The company has a mod to turn the engine to a carbureted version and he’s wondering about the legality of someth...

An owner wants to fly his engine after it sat for 7 years. Plus, prop strike at the shop, lean of peak, and break-in trouble. 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: Rupert is having trouble breaking in his new cylinders. They have five hours and the temperatures are still trying to go above 420...

Valves are sticking all over as the hosts give advice on how to avoid pulling cylinders. Send your questions to 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: Rick has a 182 with a new Pponk engine and he’s burning lots of exhaust valves. He’s wondering what he should change operationally. Paul said to borescope more...

It's all engines all the time this episode. Rusty ones, sticky ones, and one that doesn't burn oil. 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: Ralph had to throw away his relatively new engine. His flying club has a 1968 Cherokee 180. They overhauled their engine, and the first annual looked good. O...

Chris is trying to make sense of his logbooks. He has a Cessna 172 RG and he and his partners had a few electrical issues recently. Some of the logbook entries went in the airframe book and some went in the engine logbook, and he’s wondering about the decision-making process involved in picking the proper logbook. Mike said there’s no requirements around which entry to put in which logbook, and in...

John is a maintenance officer in a club, and he is wondering about tire ply ratings. The manual calls for 4 ply, but they often install 6 ply and he’s wondering if that’s ok. The hosts all agree that they have subbed in higher ply ratings when supply dictates. Paul’s rule of thumb is that he always allows a higher ply, but not lower. That’s because the ply rating relates to the weight of the aircr...

Should you trade your aging airplane in anticipation of higher repair costs on your current bird? Mike, Paul, and Colleen have a strong opinion on this. Plus, sticky valves, taking good care of turbos, and engine monitor set-up frustrations. 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: Scott has a Tecnam P201...

Ever wonder how the flap system in a Cessna works? This episode Mike, Paul, and Colleen take a deep dive on the system, plus engine vibrations, leaning for high altitude takeoffs and go arounds, and getting bees out of a restoration. 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: Ken is experiencing vibrations...

Can one high oil pressure reading forever alter your engine? Mike, Paul, and Colleen answer this question, plus the quirks of the O-470, compression test redemption, and repairman certificates. 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: Everett is wondering if his oil pressure is forever altered. He has a P...

Should you overhaul an engine based on oil analysis? The hosts answer this question, plus fuel pumps, valve grinding, and a pesky hot cylinder. 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: David is worried about the relatively new IO-470 in his Bonanza. His oil analysis history shows a lot of aluminum, and re...

A 182 mysteriously losses power and the hosts struggle to explain why. Plus, basic engine temperature theory, confusing ADs, and why it's so hard to find good help these days. 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: Andrey was flying low and slow on autopilot for a mission when he noticed the airspeed d...

Can you have a prop strike without a prop? This is one of the more unusual questions the hosts have faced. They also track down a carbon monoxide leak, advise on Continental rpm settings, and help an owner who likely had a pre-ignition event. 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: Robert is an A&P who i...

How to identify CamGuard in an oil analysis, erratic idles, how to check the oil, and what the wrong prop does to an engine are on tap for the latest 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: Tan has a 1968 Piper Arrow 180. He has an erratic idle as the engine warms. Mike and Paul said it sounds l...

Clogged injectors, how to care for an engine while training, avoiding costly altimeter checks, and engine design considerations are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join AOPA to become a member of the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Marko’s engine had a strong revving sound on takeoff. He saw that he had an EGT a...

Mike, Paul, and Colleen sludge through oil pumps that lose prime, skipping an oil filter change, and using the right oil in this Texas tea-themed episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org Full notes below: Mike has a Cessna Bird Dog with an oil pump that isn’t cooperating. When he lets the airplane sit for a month or m...

Lean of peak is causing odd vibrations in a Commander, and the hosts discuss proper troubleshooting. Plus carb heat on the ground, dehydrators, and parts no longer manufactured. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Full notes below. Chip said his mechanic is concerned about lean of peak because we don’t know the actual temperature at the valve, as the temperature is taken downs...

Rough idle, electronic ignition basics, airplanes to avoid (or not), and the difference between detonation and pre-ignition are on tap for this episode. Email us at 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: Stephen wants to get the engine on his Cessna 206 purring. At idle the engine stumbles down to 600 rpm. I...

How do you know when to replace certain parts? They begin to talk to you. Find out what, why, how, and when when Mike, Paul, and Colleen tackle this and other questions. 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: John is part of a club that owns a Cessna 172. Another member told him he shouldn’t move the ru...