Some questions about oil filters and oil

Hi, your English is very good. The photo appears to show moisture in the oil. This is common if the oil temperature is too low in flight. Ideally you want the oil temperature to exceed 100 degrees Celsius for at least part of the flight to boil off any moisture in the engine, otherwise it will condense out in the oil tank and you will see it on the lid.

I didn’t quite understand the problem with tightening the oil filter. When the oil filter is changed during a service, the new filter should be tightened so that it touches the mating surface and then a further 270 degrees. This is all written in the Rotax maintenance manual that you can download. 

Thank you very much for your reply. My colleague only tightened the oil filter with an oil filter wrench and did not work according to the method specified in the MML manual. I don't know whether this will cause some leakage hazards.

Hello sangheios

It is important not to over tighten the filter.  if excessive pressure is put on the filter, beyond the 270 degree rotation called for, the gasket surface of the filter may bend.  This can lead to an oil leak of the gasket causing oil lose.  The other issue is the filter may bind and not release at your oil change interval.  

Cheers

Hi Sanghelios,

If your colleague has over tightened the oil filter, the result will be difficulty removing it, when the time comes to do so. 

It is unlikely that there will be an oil leak.

As Kevin Stewart (above) suggested follow the Rotax manual.

Some Rotax owners lack confidence in the security of the oil filter and add a large diameter hose clamp, to the filter casing, to which a safety wire is attached. The image, below, is for a motorcycle - shows the concept.

Thank you very much for your answer. I will report this to my colleagues to correct this incorrect practice.