Piston Engine Controls

Most modern piston engines have two or three basic controls.

Airplanes with carburetors, like the C-182RG will have carberator heat.

Airplanes like the C-182S, with fuel injection, have no carburetor heat control.

1. A throttle, the control that has the most direct effect on power.
2. Prop control (if the aircraft is equipped with a constant-speed propeller) to adjust the propeller RPM.
3. Mixture control to adjust the air/fuel mixture as the airplane climbs and descends.

Carbureted engines also have carburetor heat to prevent the formation of or to melt carburetor ice.

Engines of about 200 hp or more usually have cowl flaps to allow the pilot to adjust the amount of cooling air that flows over the engine. Opening the cowl flaps is especially important during high-power operations such as takeoff and prolonged climbs.