Rotax 912 aircraft engine versus Rotax 582, Rotax 618 2 stroke aircraft engines.

 Light Sport Aircraft Parts Information


     

Airfield
(by appointment ONLY)




Click Here For More  
Light Sport Aircraft Parts Information

The L'il Buzzard, L'il Hustler, and L'il Hustler SS two place ultralight trainers and light sport aircraft.

Top 10 reasons to consider a
 L'il Buzzard, L'il Hustler or
L'il Hustler SS!
 

 Click here for this months specials!

 

BRS parachutes - save lives! Tips for proper BRS parachute installation. Click here for more information!


Click HERE to receive Light Sport Aircraft News EXTRA!
Our monthly newsletter
packed full of information about ultralight aviation!


Comparing the Rotax 912 and the Rotax 2 stroke engines for cost of operation in 1997.

912 vs 582/618 - 4 stroke vs 2 stroke

One of the most neglected and probably most costly items on light recreational aircraft today is the engine, especially if it is a 912 Rotax. In Canadian funds this engine can cost over $15,000 when you include, shipping, radiator, exhaust system, etc. While this is money that you have to spend, considered it as an investment rather than as an expense. What kind of investment? An investment in safe fun affordable recreational flying. Remember, if an investment is properly cared for and maintained it should increase in value as time goes on.

Now there are two words that are used in the opening sentence "costly" and "neglected." If we could let's deal with each separately. Costly - is the 912 a costly engine when compared to the 582 or 618 Rotax? To figure this out requires that the cost be broken down over the period of the engine life. The recommended rebuild time of a 912 Rotax engine is 1,200 hours. This has been born out by infield experience. Today several aircraft are flying on 912 engines that have over 1200 hours on them. The recommended rebuild time on a 582 and 618 Rotax engine is 300 hours. This is the recommended rebuild time as stated in the Rotax engine manual. This time is also born out by infield experience.

NOTE this table was done in 1997! Engine prices, fuel prices, repair costs will have increased! Also note the TBO on a 912 Rotax 80 HP engine has been increased to 1500 hours.

Cost of 912.... $ 12,500
Cost of running 912 for 1,200 hrs.  
2.5 gallon of fuel per hour at $2.50 per gallon $ 7500
8 spark plugs every 200 hours @ $5 each $ 240
Oil filter and oil every 100 hours $ 220

Total cost for 1,200 hours of operation $20,460


Cost of 582 Rotax engine b Drive electric start $ 6500
Cost of rebuild at 300 hrs.  
Crankshaft $ 800
Rings $ 125
Gasket seals $ 125
Wrist pin bearings $ 50
Labour $ 250
Total $9200
Cost of rebuild at 600 hrs  
Crankshaft $800
Pistons rings $250
Rebore $50
Gasket seals $125
Wrist Pin Bearings $50
Labour $250
Total $1525
Cost of rebuild at 900 hrs  
Crankshaft $800
Rings $125
Gasket seals $125
Wrist Pin Bearings $50
Labour $250
Total $1350
4 spark plugs every 50 hours $ 480
Fuel 4 gallons per hour (includes oil) at $3.00 $ 14,400
Total $17,580

Total cost for 582 approximately 1,200 hours $28,305

Cost of 618 Rotax engine E drive .... $7525
Cost of Rebuild at 300 Hours  
Crankshaft $800
Rings $125
Gasket seals $125
Wrist Pin Bearings $50
Labour $250
Total $8875
Cost of rebuild at 600 Hours  
Crankshaft $800
Piston Rings $250
Rebore $50
Gasket Seals $125
Wrist Pin Bearings $50
Labour $250
Total $1525
Cost of rebuild at 900 hours  
Crankshaft $800
Rings $125
Gasket Seals $125
Wrist Pin Bearings $50
Labour $250
Total $1350
4 Spark Plugs every 50 hours $480
Fuel 5 gallons per hour (includes oil) at $3.00 $18,000
Total cost after approximately 1200 hours $30,230

Cost of operating for 1200 hours is

582 $28,305
618 $30,230
912 $20,460

From these figures you can see that if you are operating an aircraft for 50 hours a year which is about average for most pilots, it would take 6 years before a 582 or 618 would need rebuilding, the first time. The 912 would last 20 years before it needed rebuilding.

This means that if you are using your craft in a training environment or are flying over 200 hours a year and your aircraft can handle the extra weight of the 912 then over the long haul it should prove more cost efficient.

However if you are using your aircraft in a training environment you will probably be rotating your stock and it would be more cost efficient to use a two stroke, since your initial investment is lower and engine depreciation will most likely be born by the buyer.

So which two stroke should you use the 582 with a B box or the 618 with the C/E box.

Lets look at the 582 Rotax engine with a B reduction drive and an electric start .

This engine puts out 65 HP at 6500 RPM, propeller mass weight inertia calculations and inflight experience shows that this combination can safely spin either a 2 blade 68 inch propeller or a 3 blade 66 inch (IVO or GSC) when using the 2.58 to 1 reduction ratio. When you look at most of the aircraft on the market this is about the maximum diameter of propeller used.

However if you check out the market you will find that most of the manufacturers are moving away from the B gear box and using either the C or E drives*. The most popular ratio appears to be 3 to 1. Thus they are spinning a larger diameter propeller slower for more efficiency and less noise, right? Yes and No!

Inflight and on ground sound tests have shown that the noise of an aircraft at cruise is nearly the same whether you are using a B or C/E reduction drive. Performance seems to differ from aircraft to aircraft.

Flying identical Kitfox aircraft, one with a 582 B Box the 2.58 1 reduction ratio using a 3 blade 66 inch IVO prop, the other with a 582 C drive with a 3 to 1 ratio with a 68 inch IVO prop I found little noticeable difference in the climb, cruise or top speed.

On two identical Merlins' one equipped with a 582 B drive 2.58 to 1 using a 3 blade 66 in IVO and the other with a 582 C drive 3 to 1, I found the 582 B drive equipped craft to cruise faster at lower RPM. Climb rate was also better by about 100 feet per minute.

So why would the manufacturer sell his craft with a C drive instead of a B? The difference in the cost of the two drives is about $1,000. If you were selling something would you rather make 25% of $900 or 25% of $1900?

Some "experts" have indicated that the C drive is a more reliable drive and that it passes less vibration and stress back into the crankshaft. This may be true but I have not seen any difference in the "reliability" of the two drives. Remember you are NOT talking to someone that only flies for 50 hours per year and just got into this business yesterday!

If there is less stress passed back into the crankshaft using the C/E drive with its rubber coupler, why isn't the life expectancy of the engine more when a C/E drive is used? Rotax still insists that the engine be rebuild with a new crankshaft at 300 hours whether the B or C/E drive is used!

582 vs 618

The advantage of the 618 is that it does supply 10 more horsepower, but only 3 lbs more torque. This relates to about 2 degrees more pitch in a three blade 66 inch prop. The 618 also revs higher with a top RPM of 6850. This added RPM has been shown to work better on float equipped aircraft.

The disadvantage is the price is about $1,200 more, only two exhaust systems are currently available, and there is a substantial increase in weight mostly in the exhaust system, and if you are using the E drive the weight is put farther forward/backward on the plane (depending on whether you have a pusher or tractor).

Next issue we will deal with "neglected" in "Protecting your investment - proper engine installation and monitoring!"

*It is my recommendation that if you are using either the 582/618 with a C drive and electric start that you purchase the new E drive instead.
The E drive comes equipped with the electric start as part of the drive. This means that when you start the engine you turn the engine over from the prop end. Using Rotax's standard model electric start you are turning the engine and propeller over through the crankshaft. Over time this could effect the crankshaft since it's components are press fitted together.

Rotax Engine Rebuilding Videos
Rotax engine rebuilding videos, each video is approximately 2 hours in length and takes you step by step through the tear down, clearing, and reassembly of a Rotax engine
Click here for more information!

Rotax 582 aircraft engine

Rotax 912 aircraft engine

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12  Index for this section.

Make yourself visible to others when your flying...... Strobe lights make you visible! Click here for more information!


Light Sport Aircraft News


  


Google
Use this box to search our sites or the web!

Web UltralightNews.ca
UltralightNews.com UltralightFlyer.com


Light Sport Aircraft News  . You may link to these pages or print them out for your own personal use, but no part of this publication may be copied or distributed, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any human or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic,  mechanical, manual, or otherwise,  without the written permission of Light Sport Aircraft News. By copying or paraphrasing the intellectual property on this site, you're automatically signing a binding contract and agreeing to be billed $10,000 payable immediately. Copyright Light Sport Aircraft News -  Ultralight Flyer.