"Just be sure you lube it with something"

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 [email protected] 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 splitting after only a few years after he moved to Salt Lake City. He's wondering if the same concern would hold with wood wings, like those on the Bellanca Viking. The hosts say not to worry. The wood spars are lathered with a varnish that helps keep out moisture, Sitka spruce is resistant to splitting, and Mike said in his experience with Vikings in the 1970s, shops didn't report issues with airplanes that had lived in different parts of the country. Jim has an Arrow and he wants to guard against the long down times we're seeing at overhaul shops. To do so he wonders if she would pick the right time and pre-emptively overhaul his engine, or at least change out the cylinders. Mike, Paul, and Colleen fully lecture poor Jim on the perils of so-called top overhauls, and instead advise him to do nothing more than stock a cylinder in case the time comes and he needs it. Darren is thinking of putting an all-new panel into his Tri-Pacer, and he's wondering if he should upgrade his generator to an alternator when he does it. Paul said he's not worried about the generator when it comes to his avionics, but given that Darren flies at night, Paul thinks an alternator is probably a good idea. Steve is wondering about spark plug anti-seize compounds. He uses the Tempest and Champion products, but found Lycoming's service instructions that prohibits their use. It calls for a copper-based compound, or motor oil. The hosts think the guidance might be a result of getting the carbon-based anti-seize on the insulator, which would cause arcing. They all agree that motor oil would be a bad choice. Paul thinks the Champion compound is fine, so long as you use only a little, and keep it off the last thread. Mike now uses an anti-seize stick that you apply to the threads, almost like a lip balm.