Aircraft Engines

Everyone says that fuel injected aircraft engines can be harder to start than carbureted ones. Is that really so? I think that depends on the engine. I've flown carbureted Cessna 172's, fuel injected 172's, a fuel injected 177RG, a fuel injected 182, and a fuel injected Piper Arrow, so I figured I'd do a quick comparison:

1. Carbureted 172's: generally easy to start. However, if the engine is warm, they recommend you don't prime the engine. That can sometimes result in rapid opening and closing of the throttle because the engine is under-primed. Then again, that depends on the engine. The 150hp's were always easy to start, and on the 180hp's the rule was always give it a shot of prime no matter what. 160hp's were the most finicky.
2. The fuel-injected 177RG: this 200hp engine gave me the most trouble out of them all (when hot). One time, while at Hoquiam, it wouldn't start no matter what I did: normal start, hot start, flooded start... I figure it was due to vapor lock. I had to get someone to start it using the most unorthodox method possible: throttle/mixture pumping, aux fuel pump on, etc. Maybe it was poor pilot technique, or maybe the Cardinal is just hard to start.
3. The fuel-injected 172's: this is probably the easiest fuel injected engine to start in my experience - both 160 and 180hp models. Cold - prime until the fuel flow starts indicating, then start. Warm - quick wiggle on the mixture to prime, then start.
4. The fuel-injected Piper Arrow: this one is also very easy to start. Just don't use the same warm start procedure as for the 172 - meaning don't wiggle the mixture! Otherwise, it will probably flood, and you'll have to do a flooded start.
5. The fuel-injected 182: this one requires some care. If in doubt, don't prime. It will usually start without any priming if the engine is hot, even if it's been a couple of hours on a toasty airport ramp. In the worst case you can do a flooded start - works every time. Just make sure you push the mixture in when you're done starting, otherwise the engine will die, and you're back to square one (gee, don't ask me how I know).

So there you have it; of course, your mileage may vary. I'm not responsible for any fires from the exhaust stack! :-)