In the November 2015 issue of Aviation Consumer, we reported on Continental Motors’ acquisition of competitor and aftermarket supplier ECi, a buy which eliminated the aftermarket Titan cylinder line.
While Continental admitted that it wouldn’t retain many of ECi’s products, it also said it was considering a corrosion treatment for its existing line of factory cylinders, and now follows through with the NiC3 line.
Continental’s Emmanuel Davidson told us the new NiC3 cylinders are aimed at owners concerned about corrosion in engines that sit for even short periods of time. This may include aircraft based in maritime locations and those parked outside in severe climates.
Continental’s NiC3 cylinders are Nickel Silicon Carbide-coated (creating a hardened barrier inside the cylinder wall) and are available now for all of the cylinders Continental produces. This includes cylinders for a wide range of Continental engines, on the PMA cylinder line for Lycoming engines and also the Titan line of experimental and ASTM-certified engines, which the company acquired from ECi.
The NiC3 line are not newly designed cylinders. Continental is simply coating its existing ones. Incidentally, only 52 percent of the respondents in our cylinder survey were happy or satisfied with their Continental cylinders.
The trademarked NiC3 treatment will carry a price premium over non-coated cylinders, of course. Continental’s Davidson told us to expect an approximate premium of $175 per cylinder, above the retail price of a non-coated Continental, Titan or PMA cylinders.
Worth noting is that 73 percent of ECi cylinder owners in our survey were either happy or satisfied with them. Some of that had to do with ECi’s proprietary Nickel+Carbide anti-corrosion treatment.
Continental is providing an additional warranty for NiC3 cylinders, which covers the cylinder barrel for abnormal wear and corrosion for five years. Contact Continental Motors here.
