I have some concerns about the level of maintenance and service on some rental airplanes on an out of town trip.
The first airplane I rented had some misgivings, so I went on a different one today. It was a Cessna 172 and had a Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) monitor, which I hadn't seen before. So while on an extended leg I fiddled with it. Three of the cylinders where 340-350. However, cylinder 2 was only 280. That seems like a significant outlier.
Since most rental airplanes don't have a CHT monitor, I don't have experience with what is the normal temperature. Should I be concerned that one cylinder isn't close to the other three?
Below is some information about the airplane and that flight:
- Power: 2400 RPM
- Altitude: 7500 feet
- Oil Quantity: 7 quarts
- Oil Pressure: Top of green arc
- Oil Temperature: Normal
Airplane was fresh out of a 100-hr maintenance
Anomalous Cylinder: #2
There was some issue with the engine during the 100-hr maintenance which held it up, but was signed off by a mechanic with an IA.
I am unsure about the quality of maintenance service there. We had two flights cancelled in a row because the carburetor was fine when it was warm, but this cold snap (38°F) is making it hard impossible to start. In addition, there are all sorts of small squawks such as trim that was out of whack etc.
The bottom line is that I am concerned about my safety as probably I will be renting one more time. Is the above mentioned scenario something which could indicate a problem, or more likely something harmless? I have doubts that the maintenance is top quality, but I'm unsure if it's bad enough that I should just opt out.