Engine protection during major panel job

[DXB]

My plane will be down approx. 3 weeks in August to get the panel redone.   I'm wondering how much I should do to protect the engine (O-360-A1D) during this time. I've had the plane 6 months, and the engine has 670 hrs SMOH in 2000 with new Millenium cylinders..  It sat some early its its life and then was flown more regularly before I got it.  Pulling #1 jug off after I bought it (IRAN related to an exhaust valve guide) showed some shallow pits on the cam but no spalling of cam or lifters.  I've flown weekly since I've gotten it - 70 hrs total with 3 oil changes, and it's done great- runs smooth, no hint of ferrous or nonferrous metal in filter (examined visually, cutting and running magnet, soaking in solvent and running through coffee filter), good oil analyses, using 1 quart every 10 hrs consistently.  So I'm really starting to trust this engine to be with me for a while, and I don't want to blow it by letting it sit. But i also don't want to spend 1K for the top of line engine dehydrator.  This weekend I changed the oil and filter (Aeroshell 100W + Camguard) and this oil will have <10hrs on it when it goes to the shop. I'm not aware of any benefit to storage oil over this. 

 

Should I put dessicant plugs in tail pipe and breather?  Lower spark plugs? Top plugs as well (more of a pain)?   Can the intake be blocked off?  Various other commercial dehydrator products?  What's an effective middle ground here, without going over the top?  

It will be down for <1 month most likely.  Do avionics shops ever tend to the engine this way during long jobs?

 

 

[rbridges]

I doubt that sitting for 4 weeks is going to make a difference, especially with you running it fairly regular before and after.  Just be ready to enjoy your new panel.

[PTK]

I also don't think that a few weeks will make a difference.

You should definitely consider an engine dehydrator however. It will protect your engine a lot better than camguard because it addresses the root cause of the problem. That being relative humidity in the engine.

http://www.reiffpreheat.com/Article-Sutton.pdf

It does not cost 1K$ either. Search on the internet. You can make one yourself for under 50$.

[pinerunner]

I agree with the folks above that 3-4 weeks is a short time to be worried about it. If you want to be super conservative you could use dessicator plugs in the spark plug holes (but be careful taking them out; I had one open up and spill its silica beads so now I have to take that jug off to be sure no beads down inside). A heated hangar or workshop would help (to help fight dew in the morning). If money were no object I'd want a heated hangar with a dehumidifier going.

 

4 weeks isn't very long so I'd be cautious about trying something new.

[ArtVandelay]

You could change the oil if you are worried.

[DXB]

This looks uber cheap, simple, really easy to make with excellent directions, and may be very effective:

http://www.barkeraircraft.com/files/Engine_Dryer_Sport_Avi.pdf

I don't see potential to cause harm.  Downside is no data on efficacy.  Will probably go with it, unless there are good opinions against it.

 

I'm less fond of these two commercial options:

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/eppages/tempestAA1000.php

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/eppages/engsaver.php?recfer=6868

Despite being more costly, they only pump air into oil filler or breather without recovering on the other side.  Closing off both and continuously circulating air between them just makes much more sense to me than pulling outside air into the system - i would think it would saturate the desiccant much faster.  

 

The only one I could find that plugs off both ends is Tanis:

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pdf/08-07105.pdf

Looks like a very nice design but is pricely and no longer appears to be on the market.

 

Risks of the spark plug desiccants from pinerunner above are duly noted- I'll stay away.

[DXB]

Also there's this:

http://www.barkeraircraft.com/Engine-dryer-kit.html

Looks sophisticated and cheap, but I'm not too excited about soldering my own circuit board...

[N201MKTurbo]

Don't worry about it!

[Seth]

Send Jet Driven a message - Bryon has a lot of good experience with dehumidifiers.

 

-Seth

[ALP]

Don't worry about it, especially if it will be inside the avionics hanger. 4 weeks is nothing considering we leave our boats, motorcycles and lawnmowers sit all winter.

[N601RX]

As long as it doesn't turn into this you should be ok.

http://sss-mag.com/fernhill/airplane.html

[DXB]

As long as it doesn't turn into this you should be ok.

http://sss-mag.com/fernhill/airplane.html

OMG. Expletive. Expletive. OMG.   I'm told mine will be in a hangar the whole time but will make sure.

[PTK]

As long as it doesn't turn into this you should be ok.

http://sss-mag.com/fernhill/airplane.html

 

 

 

Horrible.

 

But who prepays 100% upfront to a shop with negative reviews and to someone they don't know!

 

Really!

[mike_elliott]

Don't worry about it, especially if it will be inside the avionics hanger. 4 weeks is nothing considering we leave our boats, motorcycles and lawnmowers sit all winter.

They don't have Lycoming corrodomatic cams in them  Personally, I agree, 4 weeks would not warrant pickling the engine.