REFLECTOR:Lycoming IO-540 - very low oil pressure after flight.

[Scott Baker]

John,
What you describe is normal.
Warmed oil often drops below the "green" (normal operating) pressure range
during taxi (low rpm operations).  Important note: the "green arc" or in
your case, the programmed pressure range is pertinent when the aircraft is
operating at normal power settings (flight) and it is routine for oil
pressure to drop well below the "green" during taxi (especially when the
engine oil is hot).  Consult the Lycoming "pink" handbook.  If the oil
pressure goes back into the "green" when you run the engine up to your
normal run-up rpm (1800 to 1900 rpm) - you're fine.
Best regards,
SB

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Cervini" <john@johnsonlane.com>
To: <reflector@tvbf.org>
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 12:07 AM
Subject: REFLECTOR:Lycoming IO-540 - very low oil pressure after flight.


> I have a 1000 hr TT IO-540, the top end has been rebuilt to 0 hrs by a
> reputable company in Florida (my location).
> I have about 18 running hrs on it so far.
>
> It starts fine and really gets my XL-RG off the ground nicely - plenty of
> power.  I registered the aircraft in November and I have had 8 flights in
> phase 1.
> CHT max is around 365 on climb to a few thousand feet.  Upon startup the
oil
> pressure is around 95 psi then quicky starts to drop to normal range when
> the engine gets to operating temp.  It's around 50-60 psi by the time I am
> taxiing.  However, when I land, with the throttle at minimum position, the
> oil pressure drops to a low value, so low that the Micro Vision indicator
> goes into alarm (below 18-20 psi).  By design the oil pressure display
goes
> blank to indicate a low pressure warning - which is not a nice thing to
see.
>
> I imagine the engine as being a metal balloon filled with pressurized oil
> (while running).  For the pressure to drop, basically there should be a
> leak.  Since I don't see any oil squirting out of any holes in the engine
I
> don't know what to look at first.  (very simple analogy on my part)
>
> Any ideas.
>
>
> john cervini
> N444GX
>
>
>
>
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