Engine Model Realism
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Hi,
While testing the engine in various conditions, I noticed a few behaviors that seem simplified compared to the level of realism the simulator aims to provide. I wanted to share some observations that might be useful for further development:
Cold start behavior: the engine starts without any difficulty at –15°C, with no preheating and no noticeable impact on cranking performance. In reality, temperature significantly affects mixture requirements, air density, and oil viscosity. Is a more detailed cold-start model planned?
Temperature influence on engine behavior: the sound and overall engine characteristics appear unaffected by outside temperature, although in real conditions colder weather noticeably changes the way an engine runs. Is there a dynamic engine-behavior model tied to temperature planned for future updates?
Oil warm-up: the oil reaches operating temperature in about one minute, even at sub-zero conditions. In practice, oil warm-up is much slower and strongly dependent on viscosity, load, and engine design. Are there plans to implement a more realistic thermal model?
Spark plug fouling / clean plugs function: I wasn’t able to create fouling under any circumstances, so the clean plugs option never became necessary. The clear cylinders function also seems mostly symbolic at the moment. Are these systems fully implemented already, or are they still placeholder features?
I’m sharing this in a positive spirit — the simulator has great potential and already does many things very well. I’m mainly curious whether these particular aspects are intended to be expanded in future updates, as they could meaningfully enhance the realism and align it even more with the “advanced simulation” description.
Seb
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Hi,
While testing the engine in various conditions, I noticed a few behaviors that seem simplified compared to the level of realism the simulator aims to provide. I wanted to share some observations that might be useful for further development:
Cold start behavior: the engine starts without any difficulty at –15°C, with no preheating and no noticeable impact on cranking performance. In reality, temperature significantly affects mixture requirements, air density, and oil viscosity. Is a more detailed cold-start model planned?
Temperature influence on engine behavior: the sound and overall engine characteristics appear unaffected by outside temperature, although in real conditions colder weather noticeably changes the way an engine runs. Is there a dynamic engine-behavior model tied to temperature planned for future updates?
Oil warm-up: the oil reaches operating temperature in about one minute, even at sub-zero conditions. In practice, oil warm-up is much slower and strongly dependent on viscosity, load, and engine design. Are there plans to implement a more realistic thermal model?
Spark plug fouling / clean plugs function: I wasn’t able to create fouling under any circumstances, so the clean plugs option never became necessary. The clear cylinders function also seems mostly symbolic at the moment. Are these systems fully implemented already, or are they still placeholder features?
I’m sharing this in a positive spirit — the simulator has great potential and already does many things very well. I’m mainly curious whether these particular aspects are intended to be expanded in future updates, as they could meaningfully enhance the realism and align it even more with the “advanced simulation” description.
Seb
@SebAvi Hi Seb. Thanks for applying your keen observation to my newest aircraft. I hope you don't mind if I reply in list form, since I've been receiving so much feedback lately.
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There should be a substantial impact on cranking performance, as it uses the same code from the Dukes. The increased friction, oil viscosity, and battery internal resistance should all play a roll.
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Engine performance should reflect the density altitude, but my sound designer and I have not made an attempt to capture a rough running engine during the warmup phase.
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I've received a lot of notes about this. This is one of the few features which I haven't taken complete control away from the simulator yet in my aircraft. I'm looking for a safe solution that I can roll out across my fleet.
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The easiest way to induce spark plug fouling is to leave the mixture at full rich at low RPM and low CHT. I have seen this effect many times in these aircraft, since I often have the simulator running in the background while I troubleshoot code.
Thanks again! All your suggestions always make my aircraft better, so I'm always happy to listen!
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