Oil Pickup Screen

[The-sky-captain]

Where is the oil pickup screen for my 77' J located? I've got a maint manuel on cd but can't seem to track the location down. Changing the oil tomorrow and want to pull it for inspection per Mike Busch's recommendations on Lycomings.

[laytonl]

It is on the right rear side of the oil pan.  Look at the engine data plate on the right side and then move back and down to the oil pan and you should be able to (barely) see it.  It is a PITA to remove and re-safety.  Therefore, I only pull it at annual.  Also, I have not found a perfect way to remove the oil filter without making a mess.  Sometimes I succeed, most times I make a mess.  A one-liter plastic coke bottle can be cut and fashioned under the oil filter to catch the oil spill.  I suggest a lot of newspapers stuffed under the oil filter before you start.  Let us know how it goes.

Lee

[The-sky-captain]

Laytonl- Thanks for the heads up on the screen location. I've always changed my oil, I have just been rather lazy about pulling the screen to check for the big, scary chunks that don't make it to the spin on filter.

As to not making a mess.... I have been using a product called form-a-funnel, manufactured by a company called New Pig, and I have not spilled a drop in over a year since I have been using the product. I use it for pulling the filter and for pulling the quick drain and walking away for a few hours while it drains. Get the 2' one as it seems to work better than the shorter versions. Here's a clip showing it in use...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43h8fZ-65PY

[Stefanovm]

I use a piece of hard corrugated plastic. Mine came from a left over poly roofing sheet. I push it under the filter and out to the pilot side and catch in a cup. I could not make a coke bottle fit. Next time I wll try to take a picture. The only item that gets oily, only a few drops, are the two bundled spark plug wires that run rather close to the underside of the filter. The form a funnel looks like a real good investment.

[Ned Gravel]

One other good idea I have seen is to cut an empty quart oil container in half lengthwise, keeping the spout, and using the spout to connect to some sort of hose so it drains into the same container as the one catching the oil from the oil drain valve.

Slip the cut container under the spin-on filter and it catches everything.  Same sort of idea as the "forming funnel."

 

[laytonl]

I do have a form-a-funnel and seem to make a mess with it too.  

Mooney's are just tight to work on.  I can change the oil filter in a Cherokee without spilling a drop.

Lee

 

[OR75]

The bolt type plug that covers the oil screen has 2 wires coming out of it. Anyone knows what those are ?

Oil temperature sensors maybe  ?

The screen is indeed difficult to see and a pain in the neck to reach .