TSIO-360 - Push Rod Seal Leaks

[FlyWalt]

Since we have had this engine overhauled in Sept 2014, she has flown about 150 hours. I have been plagued with push rod seal leaks, and a few minor valve cover seal leaks. These leaks are usually on the left side. Although I see cyl 2 and 4 are both culprits.

Since leaving the overhaul shop I have had push rod seal leaks repaired over 4 times now.

Am I the only one? Should I be calling Continential? Is it possible that people are using cheap aftermarket seals?

If I wanted to see oil on my engine and hangar floor then I would have bought a Stearman or DC-3   :-)

 

[kortopates]

You could be describing at the crankcase or at the cylinder. Especially at the crankcase they need to be coated with DC-4 to prevent leakage - if only oil was used they tend to leak. If at the cylinder make sure the leaky seal is making a good fit. Sometimes the hole is a bit oversize and needs a Al washer to seal it better. 

[Guest]

I would have the crankcase pressure checked.  Excess case pressure can cause annoying leaks.  Case pressure should not exceed 4" H2O.

Clarence

[jrwilson]

5 hours ago, FlyWalt said:

Since we have had this engine overhauled in Sept 2014, she has flown about 150 hours. I have been plagued with push rod seal leaks, and a few minor valve cover seal leaks. These leaks are usually on the left side. Although I see cyl 2 and 4 are both culprits.

Since leaving the overhaul shop I have had push rod seal leaks repaired over 4 times now.

Am I the only one? Should I be calling Continential? Is it possible that people are using cheap aftermarket seals?

If I wanted to see oil on my engine and hangar floor then I would have bought a Stearman or DC-3   :-)

 

My pushrods do the same on the left, after 4 reseals and using the real seal brand.  It has improved a bit with the newer seals.  Tsio360lb 200 hours smoh late 2014 oh

Minor valve cover leaks too, but those were solved w upgraded gasket covers 

 

Edited August 3, 2017 by jrwilson

[LANCECASPER]

13 hours ago, M20Doc said:

I would have the crankcase pressure checked.  Excess case pressure can cause annoying leaks.  Case pressure should not exceed 4" H2O.

Clarence

How do you check crankcase pressure and what do you do to lower it?

[Guest]

8 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

How do you check crankcase pressure and what do you do to lower it?

We use a replacement oil cap with a fitting soldered to it, to that we connect a pressure gauge or an airspeed indicator.  90 mph equals 4" H2O.  High pressure is a indication of a blocked breather vent or high blow by.

Clarence

[LANCECASPER]

6 hours ago, M20Doc said:

We use a replacement oil cap with a fitting soldered to it, to that we connect a pressure gauge or an airspeed indicator.  90 mph equals 4" H2O.  High pressure is a indication of a blocked breather vent or high blow by.

Clarence

Thanks!

[Piloto]

I had the same problem on mine. I cleaned and coated with PRC 1422 A1 all around the seal area with a small brush. After 7 years not a drop of leak. For the valve covers gaskets I replaced them with the orange silicone ones. Not a drop. in 7 years.

José

[Firebird2xc]

On 8/3/2017 at 2:12 PM, FlyWalt said:

Since we have had this engine overhauled in Sept 2014, she has flown about 150 hours. I have been plagued with push rod seal leaks, and a few minor valve cover seal leaks. These leaks are usually on the left side. Although I see cyl 2 and 4 are both culprits.

Since leaving the overhaul shop I have had push rod seal leaks repaired over 4 times now.

Am I the only one? Should I be calling Continential? Is it possible that people are using cheap aftermarket seals?

If I wanted to see oil on my engine and hangar floor then I would have bought a Stearman or DC-3   :-)

 

Oil leaks, and a general sense that 140 hours in 10 years is much too low recency of time.  It's apparent that the airplane sits a lot, and the oil slick I found post-flight under the airframe ran as far back as the ADF antenna.  Small wonder the ADF was inoperative...  A conversation with a pre-buy mechanic got a strong recommendation to either get a much lower price or not buy the airplane.  I'm willing to get work done to get an airplane to where I wanted it to be, but it seemed like this plane had immediate problems.