REFLECTOR:Oil Leak Detective
Chuck Jensen
reflector@tvbf.org
Tue, 30 Sep 2003 08:03:41 -0400
Chris,
If you want to talk about college football or women's basketball, I'm from
East Tennesse. If you want to talk about the state educational system, I'm
from somewhere else and moved here and it's not mi fualt!
Chuck Jensen
Diversified Technologies
2680 Westcott Blvd
Knoxville, TN 37931
Phn: 865-539-9000 x25
Cell: 865-406-9001
Fax: 865-539-9001
cjensen@dts9000.com
-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-admin@tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-admin@tvbf.org]On
Behalf Of Chris Martin
Sent: Monday, September 29, 2003 8:19 PM
To: reflector@tvbf.org
Subject: RE: REFLECTOR:Oil Leak Detective
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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