why oil in the nose wheel well?

[RobertE]

I've got an '81 M20J that, since its purchase a few years ago, has a nose wheel well that shows evidence of engine oil having coated the various struts and components in there.  It's black enough to be from the engine with use, not an intentional spray coating.  I figured it was nothing - maybe spray from the breather tube - but looking at the location of the breather tube I wonder if that could possibly explain it?

 

Is this a condition that others have?  Anyone got any idea what might be the source?

 

I don't have an oil consumption problem.  The amount of oil that seems to have gone in there is about an ounce or so.  But it's fresh enough that I suspect there is some continuing source.

 

Thanks.

[Marauder]

Robert -- the oil breather is probably not the cause. My oil breather tube will allow oil on the left gear door and run down that side of the fuselage. There is another set of tubes on my F near the center line and I have seen fluid in that area.

[carusoam]

Do you have a picture?

The thought being, if your breather tube has been shortened, compromised or re-routed compared to others...

Best regards,

-a-

[takair]

Did you have an oil change done recently? When removing the filter, if not drained, it could drip and find its way to the top of the gear pucks, puddle there and then when gear is retracted it finds its way out. On my E, I also get a light coating of used oil that I attribute to the vent and the lower pressure in the wheel well.

[larryb]

Mine does it too. I haven't worried about it. I've heard that if a lycoming isn't leaking oil, there is none inside.

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[Guest]

There should be no oil in the wheel well or leaking in the engine compartment. In many cases oil in the wheel well is from careless oil changes allowing oil to run down the firewall, then behind the lower firewall extension covering the steering Tee.

Clarence

[MooneyBob]

My propeler governor is leaking a little and it comes down to the nose gear well.

Also, once my hose from the breather got disconnected from the pipe on the end and the oil went everywhere except out under the belly.

[BigTex]

I had my front seal go out and it showed up as oil dripping off my mags... Might be something like that.

[gjensen]

Recent oil change?

[DrBill]

I had the same thing and my A&P saw it at annual and made it a passion to find and fix.  Turned out to be a loose fitting on one of the prop governor hose fittings (the 45 deg adapter where the hose connects to the governor, was loose on the gov side).  Was not easy to find.  He wrapped paper towels around various hoses and connectors then we would go fly for a while.

After we found it, flew 2.5 hrs without a drop !

BILL

[DAVIDWH]

Sounds like the big radials.

 

Probably nothing to worry about, just marking its territory.

[N201MKTurbo]

That is the nose gear automatic lubrication system. Have you noticed how smoothly your gear works?

 

People like M20Doc have to go up there every year and lubricate their nose gear. So sad....

[Guest]

I mistakenly thought oil was for lubricating the inside of the engine. Silly me!

Clarence

[Will W]

@N4352H just had this come up. It's hoses leaking and any Mooney expert shop will know what it is right away and fix it for you. Its a common issue with the M20J. It will leak after flight but not after sitting for days, correct?

[John Pleisse]

The nose wheel is centered under the fire wall and thus the accessory case too. I'd check for leaks. My nose gear well was filthy with oil. It is usually from past or current engine issues and not excessive gear lube leak.

[marks]

I have had the same problem and it turned out to be the engine through-bolts down low.  It's not much, but that was what it was.

[RobertE]

Thanks, guys. This is such a handy source of info. My guess is a really sloppy oil change (so that's where all the oil went!) but I'll check out the other sources mentioned as well. Merry Christmas.