Oil Leak

[TheTurtle]

How much leaking oil is normal?  Do these engines blow off oil?

I cleaned my copilot side front gear door completely.  Flew less than an hour and checked the gear door after landing.  Had a decent amount of oil spray/drip on it.

I've had the same 6.5 qts of oil in it in the 3ish hours I've flown it so its not leaking majorly it seems.

[TheTurtle]

burning I understand.  Burning oil shouldnt leave streaks on my gear door though right?

[Bob_Belville]

Many here will confirm that "excess" oil increases the amount that exits through the breather hose and lube the gear doors, cowl flaps, and the belly.. 

Excess for some is over 7 qts,, others don't want much more than 6 qts feeling more than that just gets blown out.

But there are other sources of a little oil which is all it takes to make a mess. Changing the oil filter is good for some. The plastic filler tube easily get loose and weeps a little oil where it goes into the case. Take it off, clean it and put DC-4 on the washer and torque it pretty tight before your safety wire it. always consult manual and consult with your A&P if you want to do it yourself.  

[TheTurtle]

Just now, Bob_Belville said:

Many here will confirm that "excess" oil increases the amount that exits through the breather hose and lube the gear doors, cowl flaps, and the belly.. 

Excess for some is over 7 qts,, others don't want much more than 6 qts feeling more than that just gets blown out.

But there are other sources of a little oil which is all it takes to make a mess. Changing the oil filter is good for some. The plastic filler tube easily get loose and weeps a little oil where it goes into the case. Take it off, clean it and put DC-4 on the washer and torque it pretty tight before your safety wire it. always consult manual and consult with your A&P if you want to do it yourself.  

great info thanks!  I was going to pull the cowl and take a look once it gets under 1000 degs this evening. 

[Bob_Belville]

Just now, TheTurtle said:

great info thanks!  I was going to pull the cowl and take a look once it gets under 1000 degs this evening. 

I remember another little project I took on in the first year owning my E. There are oil return lines, perhaps 3-4" long with hose clamps. Look up under the headers with a flashlight to see if they're all secure and not leaking oil. 

Again, consult your A&P for what you are allowed to do and what he will sign off on if you are not one. 

[Yetti]

May mean that you spilled some while filling.   Mine is about 2 quarts in 10 hours

[DXB]

6 hours ago, TheTurtle said:

How much leaking oil is normal?  Do these engines blow off oil?

I cleaned my copilot side front gear door completely.  Flew less than an hour and checked the gear door after landing.  Had a decent amount of oil spray/drip on it.

I've had the same 6.5 qts of oil in it in the 3ish hours I've flown it so its not leaking majorly it seems.

Normally it's only the pilot side nose gear door that gets oily, because the breather vent tube exits the left cowl flap (at least in my C- I imagine the F is the same?).   But in the first couple of hours right after oil change, i get bits of oil coming out in other places - I'm guessing this is what you have.   This is stuff spilled during the oil filter change, and it happens no matter how careful I am in changing it or how meticulously I clean up any spills inside the cowl.

[carusoam]

Leaking out of the engine comes in various ways...

1) breather tube is the most normal way excess oil departs the plane...

2) oil return tubes are a common way oil doesn't get back to where it belongs.  Each cylinder head has these things.

3) gaskets earn a special place in the Mooney owner's heart.  From the prop, to things at the back of the engine case have seals.  Proper seals with expected lifetimes.  All usually easy to replace.

4) ^ss pains have a special who'da thunk-it quality...  There is a thin silk(?) seal between case halves that has let some pilots down...  There are cracks in the case that have been known to develop over time.  These often require serious / expensive fixes...

Start with how to measure oil loss and then work your way to where it is coming from and going to.  A quart every ten hours or so is near normal for an IO360...

PP experience, not a mechanic...

Best regards,

-a-