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  #1  
Old 04-21-2012, 09:28 AM
RVFlyer RVFlyer is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockwall, TX
Posts: 103
Default HELP! Grounded in Taos NM

I'm putting out a call for help. After a couple of days enjoying Taos NM, including a sight-seeing flight yesterday, I came out to a small puddle of oil under my RV4 (O-320). Pulled the cowl, searched around, put a wrench on fittings (all tight), cleaned it up and decided to do a runup to try to determine source of problem.

Ran rough. Yes I leaned it for the high altitude...got a nice smooth increase in power there but otherwise moderate roughness. The oil pressure took just a second or two longer than normal to come up. When it did, it was significantly lower than usual. Normal is top of the green, 80#, now all it can do is 60# (bottom of green).

I am beyond my level of expertise so I need help. There are no A&Ps on the field. Closest according to lineguys are in Alamosa or Santa Fe. Any and all help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated (and financially compensated)!!

Cell 620-755-3883.
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Tom Chandler,
AOPA Regional Manager - Central Southwest
RV-4 bought it, sold it, bought it back, storm totaled it
ATP, CFII

Last edited by RVFlyer : 04-21-2012 at 09:43 AM.
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  #2  
Old 04-21-2012, 09:33 AM
bkthomps bkthomps is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Destin
Posts: 1,543
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someone go help this man!
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  #3  
Old 04-21-2012, 09:41 AM
aerhed aerhed is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Big Sandy, WY
Posts: 2,567
Default

If you can't find a leak, look again. If you still can't find one, then it may be coming from your breather. If so, pull your bottom plugs and look for one soaked in oil. That will at least isolate you to one cylinder hopefully.
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  #4  
Old 04-21-2012, 09:43 AM
bkthomps bkthomps is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Destin
Posts: 1,543
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aerhed View Post
If you can't find a leak, look again. If you still can't find one, then it may be coming from your breather. If so, pull your bottom plugs and look for one soaked in oil. That will at least isolate you to one cylinder hopefully.
i am betting he doesn't have many tools, someone nearby should offer to bring him a set
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  #5  
Old 04-21-2012, 09:45 AM
RVFlyer RVFlyer is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockwall, TX
Posts: 103
Default Will try it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by aerhed View Post
If you can't find a leak, look again. If you still can't find one, then it may be coming from your breather. If so, pull your bottom plugs and look for one soaked in oil. That will at least isolate you to one cylinder hopefully.
Thanks for the quick reply. I'm going out to pull the oil screen so I'll do the plugs as well. Good advice.
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Tom Chandler,
AOPA Regional Manager - Central Southwest
RV-4 bought it, sold it, bought it back, storm totaled it
ATP, CFII
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  #6  
Old 04-21-2012, 10:03 AM
RVFlyer RVFlyer is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockwall, TX
Posts: 103
Default tools okay

Quote:
Originally Posted by bkthomps View Post
i am betting he doesn't have many tools, someone nearby should offer to bring him a set
Good thought Brian. Fortunately I lucked into a guy who opened his pretty well equipped hangar to me, so I'm fairly well set on the tool front. Thanks.
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Tom Chandler,
AOPA Regional Manager - Central Southwest
RV-4 bought it, sold it, bought it back, storm totaled it
ATP, CFII
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  #7  
Old 04-21-2012, 10:50 AM
RVFlyer RVFlyer is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockwall, TX
Posts: 103
Default More ideas?

I checked the plugs....all okay. That wouldn't explain the oil pressure decrease anyway but it at least kept me from stressing about the whole deal for awhile.

I'm trying to dig up a new gasket before I pull the oil screen. Being as it is one of those days, I'm not trusting myself to avoid tearing it. Gotta find one and check it before flying again.
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Tom Chandler,
AOPA Regional Manager - Central Southwest
RV-4 bought it, sold it, bought it back, storm totaled it
ATP, CFII
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  #8  
Old 04-21-2012, 03:09 PM
jrs14855 jrs14855 is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lake Havasu City AZ
Posts: 2,393
Default oil

Better check the lower oil screen in the sump too. That will probably show metal, if there is any, before the accy case screen.
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  #9  
Old 04-21-2012, 03:32 PM
kholsinger kholsinger is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 18
Default

There is a good mechanic at Alamosa with a lot of experience with RVs. Can't recall his name but he is hearing impaired. The phone number there is 719-589-9100.
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  #10  
Old 04-21-2012, 06:55 PM
RVFlyer RVFlyer is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockwall, TX
Posts: 103
Default Back in business...I think

Thank you to everyone who replied or called with ideas. VAF rocks.

It appears that it is fixed. The bad news is, I'm not sure what went wrong. The most popular guess is something stuck in the oil pressure adjustment plus a burp by the oil/air separator. I spent all day trouble shooting... Cleaned accy screen, changed oil, nothing suspicious in either one. Did multiple runups with good oil pressure, followed by cleaning up of random oil splatters that migrated from everywhere. In the end, I have it all cleaned, can't find any leaks, and it's running well.

Pretty soon I was out of reasons to not fly it so I put the cowl back on and took it for a test flight. All was well. Too tired to head home so I'll enjoy another evening in Taos and head home in the morning (unless the puddle re-appears or something else is amiss). I plan to stay out of the mountains and follow major highways, along with multiple stops to check on things.

Thanks again for the help guys! As is my tradition when VAF really comes through, a bonus donation will be sent to Doug in your honor.

Time for a beer, a steak, and a good night's sleep.
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Tom Chandler,
AOPA Regional Manager - Central Southwest
RV-4 bought it, sold it, bought it back, storm totaled it
ATP, CFII
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