Lycoming Mandatory SB 612 IO-360-M Series
 

Lycoming put out a "Mandatory" service bulletin No. 612, dated 5 April 2016, that requires replacing dipstick P/N LW-16783-18 with PN LW-14760 as the original dipstick "incorrectly gives higher oil level indication when the oil level is actually less than 5 quarts (5 liters)."

SB 612
 

Sounds as though they might help with cost. Will post result for my IO-360 Exp M1B by Lycon...

Would the dipstick reading vary between a TD and nose wheel RV due to the angle of the fuselage on the ground?

What angle does Lycoming assume the engine is at when you check it?

Interesting!
 

My vintage 2007 Mattituck M1B clone came with an unmarked dipstick. I had to level the airplane, account for the filter volume and then add oil two quarts at a time and mark the stick at various levels myself. I'd be interested to compare my dipstick to one of the recommended ones as well as the older factory marked ones.

Joe

Why on earth would you level the airplane first? If you had a tailwheel or trike (on a level floor) with properly serviced tires and struts as applicable, it would make sense to mark the dipstick.

I'm not leveling a tailwheel or trike airplane to check the oil before flight....


When I calibrated the a digital fuel gauge in a C177, I leveled the airplane on jacks. When I fabricated the fuel tank dipstick, It was on level ground with properly serviced tires & strut.

SB 612
 

Just spoke with Mark @Lycoming tech support. He was very pleasant and suggested checking with Lycon to see what they have for info on dipstick they installed. Also will check part # on the dipstick I have; may save a call. Mark did not rule out warranty coverage if I have the original part # (LW 1`6783-18). Will follow up.

I was surprised to find very little difference when I did this a few years back.

I saw this earlier today and took a few minutes in a hectic day to call Vans to see if they would be the "authorized Lycoming distributor" since I bought it through them. Barb had not heard of the issue yet and was appreciative of the heads up. I could not stay on the phone long enough to get a formal answer since she needed to check with others. I hope to check in with her Thursday.

I have a couple of questions yet to be answered.

1) The SB says to identify the current part. So....how do I do that? Is the part number actually embossed on it somewhere? I have not been to the plane yet to see for myself.

2) How much of a level change is this really? I have not noticed any descrepancies in level indication after the 12 oil changes I have done so far. It shows what I put in and then drops a bit when I fill the new filter after the first start. Exactly as I would expect. Far from clear to me that the current dipstick in my YIO-360-M1B is actually wrong.

That is correct, I am not at the hanger to look at it now but I have seen the part number on it, at least on the stick portion but can't recall if there is any part number on the cap portion. I will be checking mine this weekend and it would be great if VANs can provide it since I bought my engine thru them too.

Yep...it's embossed on the stick. Stopped by the hangar to verify I have the one that needs replacement.

Please let us know what Van's says, as I also bought mine through Van's as part of the engine/prop combination deal.

Like others, I'm a bit stymied as to how far off the measurement could actually be...plus I always add a quart when it gets down around 5 quarts, anyway (more than 6 and it just dumps it out the breather). Oil analyses are always great, so I must be doing something right :).