REFLECTOR:Lycoming IO-540 - very low oil pressure after flight.
Jim Sower
reflector@tvbf.org
Fri, 20 Feb 2004 09:12:33 -0600
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That said, I'm of a mind to measure the oil pressure at the worst place rather than at
the best place. Put my transducer toward the end of the oil galley rather than right
at the beginning. Actually, I think if I had solid state engine monitor instead of
steam gauges, I'd measure at both places and compare the difference. Quoting oil
pressures at the top of the system has all the intellectual allure of quoting engine
weight with no oil in it.
Just a theory .... Jim S.
Scott Baker wrote:
> 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
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > To change your email address, visit
> http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
> >
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> > Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
> > Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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--
Jim Sower ... Destiny's Plaything
Crossville, TN; Chapter 5
Long-EZ N83RT, Velocity N4095T
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That said, I'm of a mind to measure the oil pressure at the <b>worst</b>
place rather than at the <b>best</b> place. Put my transducer toward
the <b>end</b> of the oil galley rather than right at the beginning.
Actually, I think if I had solid state engine monitor instead of steam
gauges, I'd measure at both places and compare the difference. Quoting
oil pressures at the top of the system has all the intellectual allure
of quoting engine weight with no oil in it.
<br>Just a theory .... Jim S.
<br>
<p>Scott Baker wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>John,
<br>What you describe is normal.
<br>Warmed oil often drops below the "green" (normal operating) pressure
range
<br>during taxi (low rpm operations). Important note: the "green
arc" or in
<br>your case, the programmed pressure range is pertinent when the aircraft
is
<br>operating at normal power settings (flight) and it is routine for oil
<br>pressure to drop well below the "green" during taxi (especially when
the
<br>engine oil is hot). Consult the Lycoming "pink" handbook.
If the oil
<br>pressure goes back into the "green" when you run the engine up to your
<br>normal run-up rpm (1800 to 1900 rpm) - you're fine.
<br>Best regards,
<br>SB
<p>----- Original Message -----
<br>From: "John Cervini" <john@johnsonlane.com>
<br>To: <reflector@tvbf.org>
<br>Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 12:07 AM
<br>Subject: REFLECTOR:Lycoming IO-540 - very low oil pressure after flight.
<p>> I have a 1000 hr TT IO-540, the top end has been rebuilt to 0 hrs
by a
<br>> reputable company in Florida (my location).
<br>> I have about 18 running hrs on it so far.
<br>>
<br>> It starts fine and really gets my XL-RG off the ground nicely - plenty
of
<br>> power. I registered the aircraft in November and I have had
8 flights in
<br>> phase 1.
<br>> CHT max is around 365 on climb to a few thousand feet. Upon
startup the
<br>oil
<br>> pressure is around 95 psi then quicky starts to drop to normal range
when
<br>> the engine gets to operating temp. It's around 50-60 psi by
the time I am
<br>> taxiing. However, when I land, with the throttle at minimum
position, the
<br>> oil pressure drops to a low value, so low that the Micro Vision indicator
<br>> goes into alarm (below 18-20 psi). By design the oil pressure
display
<br>goes
<br>> blank to indicate a low pressure warning - which is not a nice thing
to
<br>see.
<br>>
<br>> I imagine the engine as being a metal balloon filled with pressurized
oil
<br>> (while running). For the pressure to drop, basically there
should be a
<br>> leak. Since I don't see any oil squirting out of any holes
in the engine
<br>I
<br>> don't know what to look at first. (very simple analogy on my
part)
<br>>
<br>> Any ideas.
<br>>
<br>>
<br>> john cervini
<br>> N444GX
<br>>
<br>>
<br>>
<br>>
<br>> _______________________________________________
<br>> To change your email address, visit
<br><a href="http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector">http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector</a>
<br>>
<br>> Visit the gallery! www.tvbf.org/gallery
<br>> user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
<br>> Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
<br>> Check old archives: <a href="http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html">http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html</a>
<br>>
<p>_______________________________________________
<br>To change your email address, visit <a href="http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector">http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector</a>
<p>Visit the gallery! www.tvbf.org/gallery
<br>user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
<br>Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
<br>Check old archives: <a href="http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html">http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html</a></blockquote>
<p>--
<br>Jim Sower ... Destiny's Plaything
<br>Crossville, TN; Chapter 5
<br>Long-EZ N83RT, Velocity N4095T
<br> </html>
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