mschmuff

Thanks for all of the input here....I definitely think I have a cylinder issue whether it be that they were not broken in properly or a craked/broken ring, oil seal or something. I just flew from DC to SC - 5 hours round trip in 2 days and went through 3qrts of oil. I am 15 hours from my last oil change which ironically I didn't need to add oil until 6 hours. I go into annual this wednesday and most likely will start pulling cylinders after the compression check. I did pick up a tanis heater for it but am holding off on any other upgrades until I figure this oil consumption issue out. ....oh yeah, to add insult to injury I got with my mechanic last week to make sure we had everything ready to do the annual and it turns out I already have an air/oil seperator....and am still going though that much oil. On a better note, the flight to SC was great, 6500ft and 7500ft 24"MP 2400RPM - 175kts southbound, 165kts northbound.

Yes - oil turns black quickly.... The engine has 200hrs on it but the overhaul was done 12years ago and it was it's first overhaul.

Any idea what the engine problem may be because I keep it at 6qts and am definitely going through 3.5qts per hour. All compressions are good - 75/76/78/78. It does have chrome cylinders - don't know if that makes a difference.

It's been a while since I have been on here but the new Mooney has been great and I have updated a bunch of stuff on it. Alternator conversion, high speed starter, LEDs all around and cleaned up the dash wiring / mic jacks, etc. This plane is awesome - so happy I'm outta that cherokee!! I was hoping to get some insight on a couple of "upgrades" from the people who know - that would be you guys! 1. I tear through oil about 1 quart every 3.5 hours after the first 6 hours after oil change. Is an air oil separator worth the install? I change the oil between 25 and 30 hours and the filter between 50 and 60 hours with Phillips 20-50. 2. I fly the plane to work and we are a 10a-10p shift at this base so I am flying a lot at night. I was considering the oil cooler relo and 2nd landing light/taxi light mod. I already changed out the current landing light for the LED PAR46. 3. Coming into winter I definitely need some type of engine heater. Do I go with the $30 stick to the bottom of the oil pan or the Tanis for big $$$?? Thanks for your input - love this website! And for the guys I have talked to through messaging - just an update...I finally got that transfer and am back at home in Maryland flying for MedSTAR!!

I saw that on barnstormers as well and was wondering the same thing. I did see on LASAR's website their 1 piece belly increases 6mph at a cost of 70 hours of labor!! The equipment could be free and to me it still isn't worth that money!!

My first question would be "when was the engine overhauled and by whom?" 130SMOH sounds great but not when it was done in 1995! The AOPA Vref is in the $50k ballpark as equiped but that number can come down quickly depending on that engine. Paint and Interior look "ok".....No IFR GPS let alone a 430. No auto pilot, just a wing leveler. $40k sounds like a reasonable number to me. You are in CA and this thing is in Baltimore....long way to go for a plane! Thats just me talking out loud.....

All great points fellas! Thanks for contributing! To be honest this damage was not a deal breaker, the fact that the guy lied about it and said the only damage was to the wing, then got pissy when the truth came out is why I walked away. If he would have been honest from the start and said "here are the facts, its been flying for 35 years since" I may have had a mechanic go over it with a fine tooth comb and bought it but my gut said if this guy lied about these two what didn't I find?!?! Thanks again - it's been an education!!

The runway incursion said "substancial damage"! My issue was that nothing was documented, no 337's so how do I know it was even repaired properly. Also, if that was left out, what else may be left out....

Help me out John, I'm new....Wah???

Just a head's up to anyone looking at this aircraft, I just wasted 2 months of looking, a trip to NY, 2 oil samples, 1 title search and 4 hours of a mechanic's time. I was cashier's check in hand 12 hours before going to pick up the aircraft when the title search came in. Owner claimed only damage history was a car hitting the wing when it was tied down. NTSB report has runway incursion in '76 and title search had gear up in '72......Nothing in the logbooks!! I get that the $1,000 I spent saved me from owning something that would be extremely difficult to sell among other things. I just hope this thread saves others their $1,000 and time!!! Mike EMS RW Pilot CFI/CFII RW, CFI FW Prior PA28-180

I have been searching for an M20F and a friend asked if I had looked at a 177RG Cardinal. I did all my commercial and CFI work in a 182RG but never flew or even heard of a 177. Any thoughts/issues? No leaking wings? Two doors, not as fast...Fuel burn? performance?

Ok folks, I need some advice. I am looking at a '69 F in NY - it's on trade-a-plane. He is asking $43,900. Engine is solid and just had a new crankcase because the old one developed a crack. So new bearings as well....so some fresh internal parts....assume TBO+ should be no problem to achieve. Good mods but needs an IFR GPS.....comes with a 396. Brittain auto pilot probably needs servicing. Here's the catch - undocumented damage history from 1976. 432AE - you can google it. Runway incursion. There is a log book entry clearing it to fly to another airport "only" less than 30days after incident. But no record of a repair. Is this a deal breaker? It's had 36 annuals and a new engine since. If it's not a deal breaker what is a fair price? Thanks

Yeah I saw that turbo in TX - way out of my price range....As for the "E" the corrsion scares me..a lot! It will usually be only me flying it but I will take the wife and daughter places. I don't want to limit myself...and my daughter will eventually grow! I also notice there are a ton of "E"s for sale so resale may be more of an issue with an "E" than an "F". I'll probably still go down and look at it...The guy definitely put some money into it.

I have two F's I am looking at but just found an "E" in Maryland. Its on the controller. Looks like the guy put a ton of work into it. Electric gear on a '65 and a WAAS 430. It had corrosion at the spar which I thought was basically a reason to total the aircraft. Any ideas on that? This is one I could just drive over and take a look at for little to no expense. Is the "E" that much smaller than the "F"?? I am coming off a Cherokee 180 and I have a student that I am instructing in a Grumman AA5....am I really gonna notice a difference?

I am finding that a lot!! Aircraft has 550hrs SMOH (in 1993 which you don't find out until you look at the log books)!! And it hasn't been annual'd in the last 4 years!! Its amazing how good a plane can look in an ad and then you start digging into the log books and you are staring at something that is going to cost you a ton in maintenance in the first two years!! That has become my first question on the phone!! A M20F just came on the market on Barnstormers for $46,500 OBO in Calif. It looks great but CA is just too far!

Great feedback folks!! I get that limiting myself to the East Coast is a killer but when you start flying all over the country and paying for pre-buys the price tag jumps quickly! I have definitely dropped paint and interior to the bottome of "my list" - At 145kts and 9,000ft, that paint looks great!!! Auto pilot, an HSI and avionics have moved to the top of the list along with the prop AD done, good maintenance and a couple speed mods. Aerobat95 - I didn't mean I could get a "J" with new P&I, avionics, etc for $70k - I know better...but I would rather have a "J" with bad P&I, old avionics and a midlife engine for high $70's than an "F" with those things for the same price. I have the cash and am ready to go so I think I will start making some offers and see what happens....all they can say is "NO"!!!!