John deakin manifold pressure sucks

The manifold pressure (MP) gauge is a very simple instrument, but what it does is a mystery to many pilots. Simply put, if you do not fully understand what that instrument is telling you, you cannot possibly understand the engine, engine management, power settings, or troubleshooting.

First, allow me to pose a few rhetorical questions to help you understand why there's more to this subject than meets the eye.

You might be uncomfortable with the thought of actually doing some of these things to your engine - and that's fine - but I ask that you visualize them as a mind exercise and think about them, please.

This entire column will deal only with normally-aspirated engines - those without superchargers or turbochargers.

I'll be dealing with the fire-breathers in another column.

Question: Assume that someone - perhaps a CFI quoting a poorly-done old POH, or perhaps just regurgitating what his CFI taught him - has told you that