I remember the first day of A&P school, old man stood up and said "You know how to tell a mechanic from a pilot? Mechanic washes his hands before he takes a leak. Pilot, well, he washes his hands after."
How do I know a pilot brought the plane to the hangar for the night? Radios and mags were left on, engine is 2 quarts low on oil, and the nose wheel pant is filthy.How do I know a mechanic has worked on our plane?
All of the cockpit switches are in the "off" position, and/or not where I left them or where they should be.
How do I know a pilot brought the plane to the hangar for the night? Radios and mags were left on, engine is 2 quarts low on oil, and the nose wheel pant is filthy.
I meant two quarts below normal...ie 7-8 quarts in an IO540 (max capacity 12).2 quarts low is about exactly right. Full means I burn 2 quarts in the next 15 minutes...
I meant two quarts below normal...ie 7-8 quarts in an IO540 (max capacity 12).
You say oil pressure is low in climb. Does that mean specifically at climb power, specifically at low airspeed, specifically at high pitch attitudes, or some combination thereof? What grade of oil are you using?Yeah, 7 in the IO540 I would worry. I shoot for between 8 -9.
BTW, got a 540 question (we just bought a new one in crate, old one still flying). The oil pressure is always looking just low enough to scare me in climb 35-40lbs). Gets up to 70 at speed. 0 at idle. Engine has been like that for 2000+ hours, clearly pumping oil.
Why is it like that? Much hangar speculation about improving the gauge reading.
You say oil pressure is low in climb. Does that mean specifically at climb power, specifically at low airspeed, specifically at high pitch attitudes, or some combination thereof? What grade of oil are you using?
That sounds like high oil temp. I'd have to look again at the exact routing of the oil through an IO540 but I'd guess that even if your oil temp indication is normal the heating of the oil downstream of the temp probe might be enough to thin it out and reduce the pressure. If its that much of a concern you might try changing to a thicker oil but honestly as long as it meets Lycoming's specifications I wouldn't worry myself too much about it.Aero-shell ashless normal for FL. Low in climb (full power & sloooow). With a glider behind, that's 15kts above stall or so
That sounds like high oil temp. I'd have to look again at the exact routing of the oil through an IO540 but I'd guess that even if your oil temp indication is normal the heating of the oil downstream of the temp probe might be enough to thin it out and reduce the pressure. If its that much of a concern you might try changing to a thicker oil but honestly as long as it meets Lycoming's specifications I wouldn't worry myself too much about it.
That's been the consensus of the A&P's so far. Temp is usually 190-210 or so
That sounds about right. What kind of temp are you running in cruise?That's been the consensus of the A&P's so far. Temp is usually 190-210 or so
That sounds about right. What kind of temp are you running in cruise?