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11-17-2016, 12:44 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Granbury Texas
Posts: 1,136
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IO360 oil leak/blow by
Been struggling to find the source of about a tablespoon of oil on my belly after every flight. This engine has about 58 hours on it. I brought the oil level down to about 6.5 and still have oil. I can find no sign of any leak (yes it's a Lycoming) around the engine so assuming it's blow by. No staining on the top of the exhaust were the blow by tube is located so that's interesting. This engine also has an oil separator.
Thoughts would be appreciated.
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Built, RV 8, RV8A, RV 10, RV12, Purchased RV7A
Restored J3Cub and PA28R180
Pecan Plantation
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11-17-2016, 01:33 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Green Bay WI
Posts: 89
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Oil leak
Have you checked the crush washer on the oil screen at the rear of the engine and the plug is tight enough.
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11-17-2016, 01:42 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Asheville, NC
Posts: 2,104
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Rocker Cover gaskets?
I chased an oil leak for months and even went so far as to add fluorescent dye to the oil to try and pin down the source. It turned out to be one of the rocker cover gaskets.
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11-17-2016, 02:43 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: St. Paul, MN.
Posts: 4,792
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How's your breather tube look?
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11-17-2016, 03:05 PM
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Super Moderator
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Locust Grove, GA
Posts: 2,626
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Don't hesitate to run it BETWEEN 5-6 quarts. I find that over 6 qts and it will blow out.
And with only 58 hours you might still be getting some blowby past the rings.
Vic
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 Vic Syracuse
Built RV-4, RV-6, 2-RV-10's, RV-7A, RV-8, Prescott Pusher, Kitfox Model II, Kitfox Speedster, Kitfox 7 Super Sport, Just Superstol, DAR, A&P/IA, EAA Tech Counselor/Flight Advisor, CFII-ASMEL/ASES
Kitplanes "Unairworthy" monthly feature
EAA Sport Aviation "Checkpoints" column
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Author "Pre-Buy Guide for Amateur-Built Aircraft"
www.Baselegaviation.com
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11-18-2016, 06:58 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Hatton, ND
Posts: 124
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Oil level.
Lycoming says 4 quarts is minimum.
Like Vic said,
Mine likes it best at 6 quarts. Add at 5 quarts.
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Edson Grindeland
Hatton, ND
RV-8 Flying
http://www.hattonflyingcircus.com
You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
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11-18-2016, 08:12 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mojave
Posts: 4,652
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Just as a data point, I consider 6 qts "full" on a 360, and only add oil when it gets down to 4.
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WARNING! Incorrect design and/or fabrication of aircraft and/or components may result in injury or death. Information presented in this post is based on my own experience - Reader has sole responsibility for determining accuracy or suitability for use.
Michael Robinson
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Harmon Rocket II -SDS EFI
RV-8 - SDS CPI
1940 Taylorcraft BL-65
1984 L39C
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11-18-2016, 08:47 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 3,351
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This is all good info for me, for the first year or two I would add oil when I got to about 7 Qt, now I add oil when I get to 6. Maybe I should let it go farther down. I don't have awful a lot of oil on the belly but recently seen a small strain of oil that I can not find the source.
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Mehrdad
N825SM RV7A - IO360M1B - SOLD
N825MS RV14A - IO390 - Flying
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11-18-2016, 09:38 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: 57AZ - NW Tucson area
Posts: 10,011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edsong
Lycoming says 4 quarts is minimum.
Like Vic said,
Mine likes it best at 6 quarts. Add at 5 quarts.
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Unless you have a IO-360-M1A/B or HIO-360-G1A Lyc 360, the actual specification given by Lycoming is only 2 qts. minimum.
I also find my O-360 is happier at 6 qts. Any more and it seems to auto-correct to the 6 qts. number anyway... 
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Gil Alexander
EAA Technical Counselor, Airframe Mechanic
Half completed RV-10 QB purchased
RV-6A N61GX - finally flying
Grumman Tiger N12GA - flying
La Cholla Airpark (57AZ) Tucson AZ
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11-18-2016, 09:39 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dothan, Alabama
Posts: 1,487
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat Stewart
Been struggling to find the source of about a tablespoon of oil on my belly after every flight. This engine has about 58 hours on it. I brought the oil level down to about 6.5 and still have oil. I can find no sign of any leak (yes it's a Lycoming) around the engine so assuming it's blow by. No staining on the top of the exhaust were the blow by tube is located so that's interesting. This engine also has an oil separator.
Thoughts would be appreciated.
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I finally figured out and got comfortable with 6 quarts in my RV7A/IO360M1B.
Very stable there. More than that, it just blows out the vent. I also have a oil separator.
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Alton DeWeese
N526RV RV7A Tip Up, IO360 180 W/Hartzel BA prop.
Flying ~950 hours since Aug 2010
N4IDH
Construction Log
?The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.?
?Mark Twain
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