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04-21-2012, 09:28 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockwall, TX
Posts: 103
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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.
__________________
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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04-21-2012, 09:33 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Destin
Posts: 1,543
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someone go help this man!
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04-21-2012, 09:41 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Big Sandy, WY
Posts: 2,567
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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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Actual repeat offender.
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04-21-2012, 09:43 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Destin
Posts: 1,543
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aerhed
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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i am betting he doesn't have many tools, someone nearby should offer to bring him a set
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04-21-2012, 09:45 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockwall, TX
Posts: 103
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Will try it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by aerhed
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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Thanks for the quick reply. I'm going out to pull the oil screen so I'll do the plugs as well. Good advice.
__________________
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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04-21-2012, 10:03 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockwall, TX
Posts: 103
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tools okay
Quote:
Originally Posted by bkthomps
i am betting he doesn't have many tools, someone nearby should offer to bring him a set
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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.
__________________
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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04-21-2012, 10:50 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockwall, TX
Posts: 103
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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.
__________________
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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04-21-2012, 03:09 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lake Havasu City AZ
Posts: 2,393
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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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04-21-2012, 03:32 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 18
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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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04-21-2012, 06:55 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockwall, TX
Posts: 103
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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.
__________________
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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