Hi Lisa.

I agree that the actual POH leaves a lot to be desired. We check for
pressure from the electric fuel pump during preflight. Master ON, Check Fuel
Gauges, Fuel Pump ON, check pressure, Fuel Pump OFF, Master OFF.

We do use the auxilliary fuel pump for starting the engine - don't remember
now why exactly, but I believe it's just to ensure fuel flow during the
start. Cranking the engine w/o enough fuel (too lean) is worse than getting
it started and then having it kill when the aux pump is turned off. Less
risk of detonation on startup, I guess (and I am guessing).

Once the engine is started. we do not use the auxiliary pump again until
pretakeoff (it is off for taxiing and the runup). It stays on through
takeoff until 500' AGL.

Thinking about your comment about shutting off cabin heat/defrost before
starting, I could see this being an issue in airplanes where the carburetor
is mounted underneath the engine, as flames could travel up into the cabin
air duct. The way the carburetor is mounted on the Warrior's engine, I think
this is far less likely to happen. I won't say it couldn't, but I just don't
see how, unless you had a ruptured fuel line that covered the inside of the
cowling - something that would create a larger fireball than just a flooded
carburetor.





"Lisa" wrote in message ...
My question refers to Warrior IIs, but could be about other
Lycoming O-320 and O-360 engines with electric fuel pumps too.

I've noticed checklists on some Warriors tell you to turn the
electric fuel pump ON and leave it on for starting, and others
tell you to turn the fuel pump ON, check pressure, then OFF
before starting.

The actual P.O.H. I've seen says to turn the fuel pump on before
start but doesn't even mention to check the fuel pressure to make
sure that the electric pump works. It doesn't say when to turn
the fuel pump off, except during the run-up to turn it off so the
pressure can be checked. All in all, the checklists in the
actual P.O.H. aren't very impressive and seem to leave a lot of
important stuff out. They don't even remind you to shut off the
cabin heat/defrost before starting to protect you in case there
is a fire during start.

So why the different schools of thought? It doesn't seem
necessary to leave the pump on for taxi, as the POH suggests.
But should the fuel pump be on while cranking? What does
everybody do?