Veetail88
Well Known Member
Folks,
I have an IO-360 in my 8 and had an oil pressure event a few weeks ago and haven't seen it since, although I'v only done a few short local flights since.
I was on my way back to 57C (East Troy WI) from KMGM (Montgomery AL), flying along at 6500' about 2 hours into the flight when my AFS 4500 sounded an oil pressure alert. Looking down it was indicating the pressure was 117 PSI, where normally it's around 86.
I was probably 40 or 50 miles from the nearest airport so the pucker factor went way up.
So I decided to keep going while constantly looking for emergency landing sites (slim pickins there) and stayed pretty keenly focused on the motor parameters. My oil temp stayed put in the green and none of the other temps were abnormal.
As I went, the pressure very slowly came down to about 95 psi which made me feel quite a bit better and so I flew past the first landing spot. By now I was getting pretty close to Louisville (I was pushed well east avoiding a convective system moving across the area) and airports were more plentiful so I kept going.
The oil pressure climbed again to around 112 and slowly went down again and kept fluctuating between around 99 and 110 psi. Again, everything else stayed normal. I sort of thought I might have a sending unit problem, but the pressure kept fluctuating and didn't just go to some out of range point so I'm not too sure one way or the other.
I kept going, navigating the front edge of the weather which started getting me closer to my acceptable minimums and together with the oil pressure problem I was thinking I'd better get her on the ground as I was up to two strikes!
I squeezed between the nasty weather and the Cleveland Class Bravo and set my sights on KMIE (Muncie IN) for a stop, fuel, investigate the oil problem and lunch. (there is a very nice restaurant right next to the FBO).
Safely on the ground I checked over everything I could see and found nothing out of the ordinary. Oil level fine, no oil on anything under the cowl, not a clue about anything.
With a full belly, full fuel and about a 1 hour leg left I launched, figuring I'd again keep a very close eye on things.
Well the oil pressure went to 86 PSI and stayed right there until I got home. I've done a couple of short local flights since and again, everything stays normal.
Anyone able to postulate on this?
Thanks for any help.
I have an IO-360 in my 8 and had an oil pressure event a few weeks ago and haven't seen it since, although I'v only done a few short local flights since.
I was on my way back to 57C (East Troy WI) from KMGM (Montgomery AL), flying along at 6500' about 2 hours into the flight when my AFS 4500 sounded an oil pressure alert. Looking down it was indicating the pressure was 117 PSI, where normally it's around 86.
I was probably 40 or 50 miles from the nearest airport so the pucker factor went way up.
So I decided to keep going while constantly looking for emergency landing sites (slim pickins there) and stayed pretty keenly focused on the motor parameters. My oil temp stayed put in the green and none of the other temps were abnormal.
As I went, the pressure very slowly came down to about 95 psi which made me feel quite a bit better and so I flew past the first landing spot. By now I was getting pretty close to Louisville (I was pushed well east avoiding a convective system moving across the area) and airports were more plentiful so I kept going.
The oil pressure climbed again to around 112 and slowly went down again and kept fluctuating between around 99 and 110 psi. Again, everything else stayed normal. I sort of thought I might have a sending unit problem, but the pressure kept fluctuating and didn't just go to some out of range point so I'm not too sure one way or the other.
I kept going, navigating the front edge of the weather which started getting me closer to my acceptable minimums and together with the oil pressure problem I was thinking I'd better get her on the ground as I was up to two strikes!
I squeezed between the nasty weather and the Cleveland Class Bravo and set my sights on KMIE (Muncie IN) for a stop, fuel, investigate the oil problem and lunch. (there is a very nice restaurant right next to the FBO).
Safely on the ground I checked over everything I could see and found nothing out of the ordinary. Oil level fine, no oil on anything under the cowl, not a clue about anything.
With a full belly, full fuel and about a 1 hour leg left I launched, figuring I'd again keep a very close eye on things.
Well the oil pressure went to 86 PSI and stayed right there until I got home. I've done a couple of short local flights since and again, everything stays normal.
Anyone able to postulate on this?
Thanks for any help.