Fuel, Mixture, Carburetion, Oil, Cooling, and Electrical Systems
Episode: 6
Version: 0.1.3 Source verification: FAA links, claimed pages, and source relevance reviewed 2026-08-21.
In this episode
- Follow the air-and-fuel path from the induction intake to the cylinders.
- Explain float-type carburetion and distinguish it briefly from fuel injection, whose procedures may differ.
- Understand mixture as a fuel-to-air ratio that changes with air density.
- Explain carburetor ice as an internal temperature and airflow restriction problem.
- Connect fuel, oil, cooling, and electrical indications to the systems they report.
- Use the POH/AFM to translate the general system model to the airplane being flown.
Study materials and visual aids
- Float-type carburetor airflow and metering — PHAK Figure 7-10
- Carburetor ice formation — PHAK Figure 7-11
- Gravity-feed and fuel-pump layouts — PHAK Figure 7-30
- Aviation-fuel grades and colors — PHAK Figure 7-32
- Wet-sump oil-system flow — PHAK Figure 7-17
- Air cooling through baffles and cylinder fins — PHAK Figure 7-19
- Electrical-system components — PHAK electrical-system section
Fact-check and source material
| Topic | Source type | Authoritative source | Locator | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems and malfunction-recognition anchor | FAA standard | Private Pilot ACS: airplane systems | PA.I.G.K1c, K1e, K1f, K2, and R1; printed p. 7 | 2026-08-21 |
| Preflight inspection context | FAA standard | Private Pilot ACS: inspection and engine start | PA.II.A.K3; printed p. 11 | 2026-08-21 |
| Intake stroke | FAA guidance | PHAK: intake stroke | Ch. 7, printed p. 7-3 | 2026-08-21 |
| Induction and alternate air | FAA guidance | PHAK: induction systems and alternate air | Ch. 7, printed p. 7-7 | 2026-08-21 |
| Carburetor metering and throttle | FAA guidance | PHAK: carburetor metering and throttle valve | Ch. 7, printed p. 7-8 | 2026-08-21 |
| Mixture and carburetor icing | FAA guidance | PHAK: mixture control and carburetor icing | Ch. 7, printed p. 7-9 | 2026-08-21 |
| Carburetor heat and indications | FAA guidance | PHAK: carburetor heat and its indications | Ch. 7, printed p. 7-10 | 2026-08-21 |
| Fuel injection | FAA guidance | PHAK: fuel-injection systems | Ch. 7, printed p. 7-11 | 2026-08-21 |
| Fuel-system layout | FAA guidance | PHAK: gravity-feed and fuel-pump systems | Ch. 7, printed pp. 7-25–7-26 | 2026-08-21 |
| Fuel gauges and selectors | FAA guidance | PHAK: fuel gauges and selectors | Ch. 7, printed p. 7-26 | 2026-08-21 |
| Fuel contamination | FAA guidance | PHAK: fuel strainers, sumps, and drains | Ch. 7, printed p. 7-27 | 2026-08-21 |
| Fuel-quantity indication | FAA guidance | AC 23-17C: fuel-quantity indicators | Fuel Quantity Indicator and Fuel Flowmeter, PDF p. 196 (printed p. 188) | 2026-08-21 |
| Correct fuel grade | FAA guidance | PHAK: fuel grades | Ch. 7, printed p. 7-27 | 2026-08-21 |
| Oil system | FAA guidance | PHAK: oil systems | Ch. 7, printed p. 7-16 | 2026-08-21 |
| Oil indications and quantity | FAA guidance | PHAK: oil indications and quantity | Ch. 7, printed p. 7-17 | 2026-08-21 |
| Cooling airflow | FAA guidance | PHAK: engine cooling systems | Ch. 7, printed p. 7-17 | 2026-08-21 |
| Engine-temperature indications | FAA guidance | PHAK: cylinder-head and oil-temperature indications | Ch. 7, printed p. 7-18 | 2026-08-21 |
| Electrical system | FAA guidance | PHAK: electrical system | Ch. 7, printed p. 7-30 | 2026-08-21 |
| Circuit protection and electrical monitoring | FAA guidance | PHAK: circuit protection and electrical monitoring | Ch. 7, printed p. 7-31 | 2026-08-21 |
Correction status
This is a study resource. Corrections and source updates are recorded in the episode production log before a revised version is published. Submit a source correction through the repository issue form or email [email protected]. Do not send credentials, private documents, or personal flight information.