REFLECTOR:Oil Leak Detective

Chris Martin reflector@tvbf.org
Mon, 29 Sep 2003 18:18:37 -0700


Chuck,

Where are you located? I'm in Los Angeles at El Monte Field (EMT).

Chris


> [Original Message]
> From: Chuck Jensen <cjensen@dts9000.com>
> To: reflector@tvbf.org <reflector@tvbf.org>
> Date: 9/28/2003 5:40:43 PM
> Subject: RE: REFLECTOR:Oil Leak Detective
>
> Chris,
>
> Good stuff.  As soon as you get that done, you'll be so good taht you'll
> probably want to do another just to show off how much you've learned,
> right??
>
> It's good to hear that the UV trick works well.  I think I'll try it.
> Fortunately, my leak is much more limited.  No pooling or anything.  I
> probably loose a couple oz. every couple weeks or more. Just enough to
soil
> the lower cowling and a light mist on the prop.  Just to let me know there
> is oil in the engine.  Lycomings must be like old BMW motorcyles (or
> anything British for that matter).  You could always tell where one
parked.
>
> I'll wear the Buck Rogers goggles and dress out in nuclear PCs (protective
> clothing--white suit, booties, the works).  I'll find out right shortly if
> airport security really has improved!!
>
> Chuck Jensen
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reflector-admin@tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-admin@tvbf.org]On
> Behalf Of Chris Martin
> Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2003 2:18 PM
> To: reflector@tvbf.org; reflector@tvbf.org
> Subject: RE: REFLECTOR:Oil Leak Detective
>
>
> Chuck,
>
> This is the text of a follow up I wrote in December of 2002. While I was
> able to greatly reduce the leaks following the procedure that I described
> here in, the leaks came back after 100 hours. I've come to live with the
> leaks. As one person said, "If your Lycoming leaks, it means it has oil in
> it."
>
>
>
> [reprint from December 2002]
> About a month ago we had a thread about oil leaks and how to find them and
> repair them. In that I was one of the many caught up in the Lycoming AD
for
> the crank shaft gear retaining bolt, I knew I was elected by fate to take
> my engine out. Might as well fix the leaks while I'm at it. 
>  
> I choose to try the oil dye with the ultraviolet lamp approach. The dye
and
> lamp are available at most auto supply stores. Pep Boys here in the LA
area
> had it on the shelf for 19.00. The kit includes Yellow goggles and a 12
> volt lamp. I purchased two small bottles of dye for 4.95. The process I
> used was this. I added one small bottle of the dye to the engine and flew
> for about 15 minutes to distribute the oil. The next day, I removed the
> cowlings and the plenum and thoroughly washed the engine and dried it with
> compressed air. I then went around with a rag and removed any trace of oil
> on the engine. It was clean, spotless to say the least. I then started the
> engine and ran it at 1800 RPM for 1 minute, shut it down and moved it into
> the hanger, shut the doors and turned off all but one small light in the
> corner of the hanger.
>  
> Now, donning my cool looking Buck Rogers orange goggles and the even
cooler
> looking purple flashlight, I turned the black light onto the engine. Ah
> ha.... green glowing phosphorescent alien cracks began to appear in the
> most unusual places. The oil glowed like green night crawlers wiggling up
> out of the hidden leaks. The engine gurgled quietly as the oil in the
> galleys slowly leaked back down into the sump and the glowing leaks grew.
> Within 30 minutes the oil had dribbled down the sides of the case and
> around all convenient edges. Effectively disguising their origins. But, I
> had carefully marked out the origins on a engine diagram at the start of
> the process. Mystery solved.
>  
> In all there were 10 leaks most minor and 2 major. Prior to this I had
been
> convinced that I had a leak at the barrel seal to the case on the number 3
> cylinder but, it turned out to be a leak from one of the case bolts
wicking
> into the joint of the barrel and case. Two of the push rod tube seals were
> leaking, 3 of the 1/4" case bolts and 2 of the large case bolts. The worst
> leak which contributed more than all the rest put together was the large
> top case bolt that is only accessible after removing the prop and fly
> wheel. All 6 of the rubber drain hoses from the rocker cover to the sump
> showed signs of minor leaks.
>  
> Now, with the leaks thoroughly mapped out. I preceded to pull the engine
> and get on with the process of changing out the crank shaft gear retaining
> bolt. Hopefully, I can get it back together this next weekend.
>  
> Chris Martin
> Velocity XL RG 265 hours
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: Chuck Jensen <cjensen@dts9000.com>
> > To: reflector@tvbf.org <reflector@tvbf.org>
> > Date: 9/28/2003 9:22:39 AM
> > Subject: REFLECTOR:Oil Leak Detective
> >
> > I've had a chronic, if small, oil leak for the last few dozen hours of
op.
> > Two mechanics have looked at it and haven't spotted anything.  The leak
is
> > small, just barely enough to mark the lower cowling and form an
occasional
> > oil droplet where the lower cowl meets the body.  
> >
> > I consistantly operate at "9" on the dipstick and doesn't seem to be
blow
> > over.  The leakage is small enough that it doesn't makes any difference
in
> > oil consumption for the engine.  The general area of the leakage seems
to
> be
> > in the middle, back of the engine, but given the squirrelly air flows,
et
> > al, it's always a little difficult to say with certainty.  I keep
> suspecting
> > the oil filter area but that hasn't been productive so far.  Naturally,
> the
> > suspect area(s) are also the hardest to get to, look at and are the most
> > congested.  Background: IO-540.
> >
> > From time to time, a whitish spray-on material has been mentioned for
> > tracking down oil leaks. Can any one expound on the materials, where to
> buy,
> > how it's used and the pros/cons of different detection techniques?
> >
> > In checking the web, Tracerline UV/dye system seems to have a lot of
buzz,
> > but adding anything to the oil, no matter how innocuous that it's
alleged
> to
> > be, always gives pause.  Anyone ever use it?
> >
> > Chuck Jensen, in East Tennessee looking for a "0" leak engine.
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>
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