How much oil do you fly with?

[aaronk25]

Not to start the whole debate on Oil separators but, was searching around on experimental fourms and some guy had pics that prove what came back out of the oil separator was healthy looking oil.

I'm a mike fan, but he does a lot of theorizing. So far no one has been able to show a bad oil analysis or anything else resulting from the separator.

I have a larger one and it works great I had no difference in oil analysis before or after.

[DonMuncy]

I am a big Mike Busch fan, and believe almost everything he says. However, I think I disagree with him on this. As I understand it, the air/oil separator takes the vapors (presumably containing acids, water and oil vapor) and separates it into liquids and vapors. The vapor is blown out and the liquids are returned to the crankcase. If some of the water has condensed back to liquid, it would go back in the engine, but (in my view) likely not in greater quantities than already existing in the oil. Same with the acids (whatever they are).

I think keeping the oil, and not blowing it on the belly, is advantage enough to offset what little harm comes from recycling some minor amounts of bad stuff. 

[Hank]

Best thing I've found for cleaning the is belly the cheap white hand cleaner that has no pumice or grit of any kind. Gets the oil or lead off no problemo.

I use Aerocosmetics Wash n Wax, red for the belly and blue for everything else. Red is the degreaser; no effort required at all.

P.S.--I generally fly with either 1/2 or a full quart of oil in the back. Local flights often have nothing, but once I pour in a half quart, I keep the rest in the plane to prevent having several partial bottles in the hangar. Long trips always start with a full quart in the back.

[BigTex]

I am a big Mike Busch fan, and believe almost everything he says. However, I think I disagree with him on this. As I understand it, the air/oil separator takes the vapors (presumably containing acids, water and oil vapor) and separates it into liquids and vapors. The vapor is blown out and the liquids are returned to the crankcase. If some of the water has condensed back to liquid, it would go back in the engine, but (in my view) likely not in greater quantities than already existing in the oil. Same with the acids (whatever they are).

I think keeping the oil, and not blowing it on the belly, is advantage enough to offset what little harm comes from recycling some minor amounts of bad stuff. 

 

Same here... I hear Mike's very graphic description of what this is like if a human had one installed but not sure I buy it completely.  It would be nice to see some sort of study if there's actually any volatility in what Mike states.

[Guest]

If humans had one installed, it would at least result in some bad breath. Hence I don't have one installed.

Clarence

[wishboneash]

Between 5.5 and 6 qts. 

[PaulB]

Same here... I hear Mike's very graphic description of what this is like if a human had one installed but not sure I buy it completely. It would be nice to see some sort of study if there's actually any volatility in what Mike states.

I think a more proper analogy is the kidneys. Keeps the blood in and gets the trash out. Sticking a hose in your butt would be like taking the exhaust pipe and sticking it in the air intake. But I digress.

[scottfromiowa]

Six plus one. Six in engine. One in baggage ready to go if below six.

[Piloto]

Tim

 

I heard those stories about the M20 separator. But the fact is that I have used the same one on two engines that reached TBO with high compressions, low oil consumption and no belly stains. The principle of operation is like a vapor condenser were you recover the oil instead of water. The condensing effect also happens inside the crankcase when the vapors reach the top.

 

José   

[BigTex]

Six plus one. Six in engine. One in baggage ready to go if below six.

+1... Same here.

[HRM]

+1... Same here.

 

...und hier.