Continental IO-550

Teledyne Continental Motors
	Continental TSIO-550-C in a Cessna 400
Continental IO-550
Production period:	since 1983
Manufacturer:	Teledyne Continental Motors
Developing country:	United States
First run:	1983
Working principle:	Otto
Motor design:	Boxer engine
Cylinder:	6th
Displacement:	9045 cm 3
Mixture preparation:	Injector
Engine charging:	different models with turbocharger
Cooling system:	Air cooling
Power:	209 to 268 kW
Dimensions:	191 to 253 kg
Previous model:	IO-520
Successor:	none

Continental IO-550 is a family of air-cooled six-cylinder boxer engines with gasoline injection for use in small aircraft . The engine was developed by Teledyne Continental Motors . The first IO-550 was delivered in 1983 and the model is currently still being built.

The IOF-550 is a version equipped with a fully digital engine control from Aerosance. The TSIO-550 is a version with twin turbochargers and the TSIOL-550 is a water-cooled version. In contrast to other series, there is no carburetor variant that would bear the designation O-550. Therefore, the IO-550 is the basic model.

The series IO-550 competes with the series IO-580 of Lycoming , it also in around six-cylinder engines with similar performance concerns and similar weight.

development and construction

The IO-550 series was developed from the IO-520 series. The piston stroke was extended from 4 to 4.25 inches and the displacement increased to 552 in³ (9.05 liters). It contains engines with outputs between 280 PS (206 kW) and 360 PS (265 kW).

Engine development began in the early 1980s. The first model based on FAR 33 was approved on October 13, 1983.

Technical data (IO-550-A)

drilling	5.25 in (133 mm)
Hub	4.25 in (108 mm)
compression	8.5: 1
fuel	AVGAS 100LL
power	300 hp (221 kW) at 2700 min ^-1
Weight	430.72 lb (195 kg)

Models

IO-550-A: 300 hp (221 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 430.72 lb (195 kg). Admitted on October 13, 1983.
IO-550-B: 300 hp (221 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 421.61 lb (191 kg). Admitted on October 13, 1983.
IO-550-C: 300 hp (221 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 433.20 lb (196 kg). Admitted on October 13, 1983.
IO-550-D: 300 hp (221 kW) at 2,700 rpm, dry weight 437.1 lb (198 kg). Approved on June 23, 1988.
IO-550-E: 300 hp (221 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 450.50 lb (204 kg). Approved on December 20, 1989.
IO-550-F: 300 hp (221 kW) at 2,700 rpm, dry weight 437.1 lb (198 kg). Identical in construction to IO-550-A, B and C, but with overhead air intake and a 12.7 liter oil pan . Approved on June 23, 1988.
IO-550-G: 280 hp (206 kW) at 2500 rpm, dry weight 428.97 lb (195 kg). Admitted March 17, 1989.
IO-550-L: 300 hp (221 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 438.5 lb (199 kg). Approved on June 23, 1988.
IO-550-N: 310 hp (228 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 429.97 lb (195 kg). Identical in construction to IO-550-G with increased performance. Approved on August 16, 1996.
IO-550-P: 310 hp (228 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 429 lb (195 kg). Identical to IO-550-N with the oil pan of IO-550-L. Admitted March 1, 2000.
IO-550-R: 310 hp (228 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 439.5 lb (199 kg). Identical in construction to IO-550-N with the oil pan, oil suction line and fixings of IO-550-B. Admitted March 1, 2000.

Electronic control models

IOF-550-B: 300 hp (221 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 447.1 lb (203 kg). Identical to IO-550-B with FADEC . Admitted February 4, 2002.
IOF-550-C: 300 hp (221 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 453.2 lb (206 kg). Identical to IO-550-C with FADEC . Admitted February 4, 2002.
IOF-550-D: 300 hp (221 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 455.0 lb (206 kg). Identical to IO-550-D with FADEC . Admitted February 4, 2002.
IOF-550-E: 300 hp (221 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 462.8 lb (210 kg). Identical to IO-550-E with FADEC . Admitted February 4, 2002.
IOF-550-F: 300 hp (221 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 460.1 lb (209 kg). Identical to IO-550-F with FADEC . Admitted February 4, 2002.
IOF-550-L: 300 hp (221 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 455.0 lb (206 kg). Identical to IO-550-L with FADEC . Admitted February 4, 2002.
IOF-550-N: 310 hp (228 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 460.0 lb (209 kg). Identical to IO-550-N with FADEC . Admitted February 4, 2002.
IOF-550-P: 310 hp (228 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 460.0 lb (209 kg). Identical to IO-550-P with FADEC . Admitted February 4, 2002.
IOF-550-R: 310 hp (228 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 470.5 lb (213 kg). Identical to IO-550-R with FADEC . Admitted February 4, 2002.

Turbo-charged models

TSIO-550-A: 360 hp (265 kW) at 2600 rpm, dry weight 442 lb (200 kg) with two turbochargers at 28.2 lb (13 kg) each.
TSIO-550-B: 350 hp (257 kW) at 2,700 rpm, dry weight 442 lb (200 kg) with two turbochargers at 28.2 lb (13 kg) each. Identical to the TSIO-550-A with a 12.7 liter oil pan, a single-stage fuel pump instead of the two-stage pump used in the TSIO-550-A and without a Venturi nozzle .
TSIO-550-C: 310 hp (228 kW) at 2600 rpm, dry weight 442 lb (200 kg) with two turbochargers at 28.2 lb (13 kg) each.
TSIO-550-E: 350 hp (257 kW) at 2,700 rpm, dry weight 442 lb (200 kg) with two turbochargers at 28.2 lb (13 kg) each. Identical to TSIO-550-C with the oil pan and the performance of TSIO-550-B.
TSIO-550-G: 310 hp (228 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 554 lb (251 kg) with two turbochargers at 28.2 lb (13 kg) each. Identical to TSIO-550-E with smaller cooling, different oil pan and lower power.
TSIO-550-K: 315 hp (232 kW) at 2500 rpm, dry weight 522 lb (237 kg) with two turbochargers at 28.2 lb (13 kg) each. Identical to TSIO-550-E with a new oil pan, reduced power, increased boost pressure, reduced speed and tapered cylinder liners.

Turbo-charged models with electronic control

TSIOF-550-D

TSIOF-550-D: 350 hp (257 kW) at 2600 rpm, dry weight 558 lb (253 kg) with two turbochargers each 35.2 lb (16 kg). Identical to TSIOF-550-J with a different exhaust system and a different low-voltage wiring harness.
TSIOF-550-J: 350 hp (257 kW) at 2600 rpm, dry weight 558 lb (253 kg) with two turbochargers each 35.2 lb (16 kg). Identical to TSIO-550-E with FADEC , turbochargers, tapered cylinder liners, different oil sump and different maximum speed.
TSIOF-550-K: 315 hp (232 kW) at 2500 rpm, dry weight 537.3 lb (244 kg) with two turbochargers with 28.2 lb (13 kg) each. Identical to TSIO-550-K with FADEC.

Water-cooled models

TSIOL-550-A: 350 hp (257 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 402 lb (182 kg). Identical in construction to TSIO-520-NB with a new cylinder design for water cooling. The coolant supply is located on the top of the cylinder head , the coolant pump is mounted on the starter bracket. The oil cooler, on the other hand, is not attached to the engine, but to the airframe. The engine has a TA81 turbocharger from AiResearch .
TSIOL-550-B: 325 hp (239 kW) at 2700 rpm, dry weight 557 lb (253 kg). Identical to TSIO-520-UB with the same extensions as TSIOL-550-A.
TSIOL-550-C: 350 hp (257 kW) at 2600 rpm, dry weight 546 lb (248 kg). Identical in construction to TSIOL-550-A with the exhaust system and the turbocharger attachment of TSIOL-550-B. The engine is prepared for the installation of a TA81 turbocharger and has neither an oil nor a water cooler.

Gearbox models

GIO-550-A: An engine especially for the RU-38 Twin Condor with a reduction gear with a reduction of 3: 2, which reduces the speed to 2267 revolutions.