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ENGINE OIL INCREASING ABOVE MAX

in General Tech Discussion 12 years ago

  • Re: ENGINE OIL INCREASING ABOVE MAX

    by » 12 years ago

    Hi Michele,

    Just a thought.
    Sometimes when checking the oil level after rotating the prop the oil level can lie to you. I have seen many times when it seems lower and some high. So my question is, If you check the oil over 6 different times (not the same day) is the oil level always consistent or does it change. Is it always high or does it ever drop down on another day? Does it always stay above the high mark? Do you gurgle the engine oil before changes and do you add just 3 liters?

    Sorry for the basic question, but if we are to find a cause they all need to be ask and ruled in or out for a diagnosis.

    Roger Lee
    LSRM-A & Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
    Tucson, AZ Ryan Airfield (KRYN)
    520-349-7056 Cell

      
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  • Re: ENGINE OIL INCREASING ABOVE MAX

    by » 12 years ago

    Roger,
    thanks for the effort you are putting into this and don't be afraid of asking even what seem a basic question (that, for an engine rookie like me may be not basic at all).
    The maintenance of my engine (including the oil change) is carried out by a Rotax certified mechanics (I'm not enough skilled to put my hands on the engine:)).
    Whenever I check the oil level I turn the prop several times until I hear the ususal "gurgling" sound from the oil bowl before checking the level and I have to say that I always found it pretty consistent over time until that damned flight of January the 1st where I checked the level before the first flight of the day as usual (and found it normal at 2/3 of the min-max interval) and then, during flight, observed wild oil pressure fluctuations that made be think there was something wrong with the oil. Once on the ground I checked again after making the engine "burp" as always and found the level almost at the dip stick handle.
    Now I don't know if the oil pressure fluctuations are related or are just a coincidence.
    Another thing that it's worth being noted is that the following week (after the engine remained stopped for the week) I made the usual oil level check but I observed that the "gurgle" sound that usually takes almost 10 turns of the prop on my engine, occurred much sooner as if there was less oil in the crankcase or if the oil viscosity was much lower than normal.
    I start to be really puzzled. :(
      
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  • Re: ENGINE OIL INCREASING ABOVE MAX

    by » 12 years ago

    Hi Michele,

    What you may be experiencing with the oil level may be normal. The level can change right after a flight compared to the cold check after rotating the prop before first start. You may not have an oil level issue at all, but a sender or grounding issue for the fluctuation and confusing the two. If it were me I would forget the level issue for the moment and test the oil pressure with a mechanical gauge against what you get in the cockpit. You might only have a sender problem and if the mechanical gauge is steady and the cockpit gauge is fluctuating then replace the sender and or tighten all your grounds. For me all grounds are considered loose until I put a wrench on them. They may be hand tight, but wrench loose. We need to rule out each item one by one until there is nothing left to suspect. If we bounce around in pure speculation you could miss or being pulling your hair out for some time.

    Roger Lee
    LSRM-A & Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
    Tucson, AZ Ryan Airfield (KRYN)
    520-349-7056 Cell

      
    Report

  • Re: ENGINE OIL INCREASING ABOVE MAX

    by » 12 years ago

    Thanks Roger,
    I will put the oil level issue aside for the moment and concentrate on the oil pressure fluctuation by checking the wiring and the grounds first and inspecting the sender.
    I'll keep you posted on the outcome.
      
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  • Re: ENGINE OIL INCREASING ABOVE MAX

    by » 12 years ago

    Michele

    Did you watch the following Rotax-Owner video on fluctuating oil pressure?

    http://www.rotax-owner.com/information-reg/elearning-videos-reg/254-oil-press
      
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