Fuel stain from this hole

[GeorgePerry]

Anyone seen this before? Blue fuel stain emanating from this hole

[N601RX]

The outboard fuel sender may need to be tightening up a little.

[carusoam]

1+ for what he said...^^^

Or the debate for various tank liners for Long Bodies needs to begin...

Best regards,

-a-

[GeorgePerry]

Ok. How does one check / tighten the outboard fuel sender?

[carusoam]

From the inspection panel to the outside of the last tank panel...

On your old Mooney, these would have been cork and were expected to leak after 40 years due to yielding under compression.

It would be expected to be similar even though the material has been modernized.

There is not a wide history of this that I am aware of with modern Mooneys. But, that is what I would expect it to look like.

As you know, I'm a PP, not a mechanic...

-a-

[N601RX]

When you remove the inspection panel mentioned above if the sender is the problem there will be blue stains coming from around it also. If not then the cost goes up.

[tankman]

If the tank sender was leaking that much, you would usually have drips back at the spar.  The rib on each side of this hole doesn't have any low passages to allow leaked fuel to travel on down the inside the wing.  The fuel would then run out near the belly pan joints.  The hole is sort of an emergency drain for if the tank leaks into this area.   This will allow the fuel to run out the hole and not accumulate in the wing.  There is probably a leak developing along the front wall of the tank. 

 

The gasket on the fuel tank sender is made of a rubber like material on the later models.  If it is leaking at the sender you can tighten the screws maybe a half turn to try and stop a leak.  I think they were priced at about $55 each when I inquired recently.

[Guest]

That's not fuel leaking out, it's money. Unfortunately it will take more money to stop the flow.

Clarence

[carusoam]

I'm betting George is going to have pictures posted of the offending device...

Best regards,

-a-

[GeorgePerry]

I've spoken with a few shops and shared the picture.  The story I get is all over the map.  tighten the outboard sender to full strip and reseal.  Costs range from $1-12K amu.  I wish O&N offered bladders for the long body.

[carusoam]

Any chance you can open the (non-tank) panel to get a look?

Get a look at the (non-tank) panel, it may be showing some blue as well?

Best regards,

-a-

[GeorgePerry]

Gunna try to do that tomorrow...

[carusoam]

Use extra caution...

Being upside down and backwards on a cold uncomfortable floor can lead to distraction..

An unknown amount of fuel can be waiting to pounce.

Sparks are easy to generate on cold dry days.

Having a fire extinguisher on hand before you need it, will probably keep you from needing it.

Have iPhone ready, snap a picture for posting....

Good luck,

-a-

[GeorgePerry]

Well it's not the outboard sender.  Looks like I'm taking a trip to MN soon 

[Marauder]

Well it's not the outboard sender. Looks like I'm taking a trip to MN soon

Bummer...

[Hank]

I can sympathize. I took my short body to FL, still had some original 1970 sealant in the tanks. Sandy, crumbly stuff . . .

Wishing you the best, and minimal paint damage around the drains.

[M20Kid]

George,

I just saw your post and I wanted to put a plug in for Weep No More - I assume that's the place you're talking about in MN.  I have a 231 that was showing the beginnings for fuel stains on one side.  Mine is a 1981 and I thought about trying to patch it, but just decided to do the job right the first time.  Paul had my airplane when you were posting about this issue so I didn't have a finished job to tell you about.  I just got my airplane back the day after Christmas and I couldn't be happier.  The work he did was first rate and I know I don't have to worry about that problem again for many years to come.

 

Good luck on your decision (perhaps you're already at Paul's shop getting the work done).

[GeorgePerry]

Good to know.  I've found that keeping the left tank about 3 gallons from being topped off has completely stopped the staining.  So that's were it stands now.  I have been talking with paul trying to work out schedules to get it in.  I need to circle back with him and firm up a date.

[Seth]

George -

 

I have the same issue with the top of my extended tanks.  If I leave a few gallons out of the Monroy extended range tanks, I'm fine.  if I top them off completely with the full 98 gallons, I get blue streaks. 

 

I spoke with Paul at Weep No More and for now I'm just going to only put the full 98 gallons in just before departing for a flight.  I know it is bad for the sealant, but there is no need to have 98 gallons in the wing all the time.  Otherwise, if a mission profile comes up and I need the four seats, I need to burn off some fuel (not too hard in the Missile - full power down low for two hours and I'm 40 gallons less). 

 

I usually keep 40-80 gallons in the aircraft when parked in the hanger.  If I get more leaks, I'll reseal the tanks.  My reseal cost is greater due to four bays resealed instead of two.  In the meantime, it's just not filling up those last few gallons when the aircraft is going to sit.  Before a long trip, where I need max range, I'll top off the tanks, start the engine, and go.

 

Good luck with your scheduling and upcoming reseal.  Your Eagle is in top shape and it's obvious you want to keep it that way (those pics were great that you posted last month).

 

-Seth

[Jeff_S]

Fuel tank gremlins are the most fun. I came back to the hangar on New Year's eve to do an Angel Flight. I had tankered up a week and half prior because the cost of fuel is going down, so the right side was at it's 44.5 gallon mark. Wouldn't you know there was a circular stain on the wing walk right over the fuel tank access panel that lurks underneath...even a little squishy with fuel. As I golfer I would have called it "casual water" (or "casual avgas" I guess).  Obviously one of those screws is seeping when under pressure. Who would ever think something can leak upward?!

 

The fix is easy..burn the right side first!  But one more thing to add to the squawk list.

[GeorgePerry]

I think paul is has an excellent business model.  Mooney factory produced a product that doesn't last very long (in airplane terms) so over time paul and his crew get to fix a fleet of airplanes.

[mike_elliott]

I think paul is has an excellent business model.  Mooney factory produced a product that doesn't last very long (in airplane terms) so over time paul and his crew get to fix a fleet of airplanes.

and I might add excellent business practices. One is hard pressed to find a more honest, competent craftsman in aviation. 

[triple8s]

I have to ask can anybody comment on what the paint around the access panels looks like when the reseal job is done? Just curious.

[mike_elliott]

I have to ask can anybody comment on what the paint around the access panels looks like when the reseal job is done? Just curious.

When I had Paul Beck reseal my 1970 F model tanks in 2004, minimal invasion of paint integrity took place. I was very impressed with that alone. Yes, I did use a bit of touch up around some of the screws where the bit took off the metallic red, but that was about it. Again, its his craftsmanship that sets him apart 

[M20Kid]

Yes, what Mike said.  Mine was fresh out of the paint shop and there was only minimal paint damage, mostly around the screw heads.  I had told my paint shop in advance that they needed to keep a bit of paint to do touchup work when I returned, but the damage was so slight that I haven't been feeling the rush to get back over to the paint shop.

 

Paul really does outstanding work.