Air Oil Separators

[Cris]

I will get my Eagle out of the paint shop in the next day or so & would like to keep the oil off of the belly. Does anyone have experience with the air/oil separators specifically for the Continentals? If so what Mfg's would you suggest? Thanks

[butchgilbert]

I have an M20 Air Oil Seperator that over the last 10 years never seemed to work right.  At Osh Kosh this year I bought an Air Wolf mini-seperator.  Having it installed next week.  I think it will work great.  IMHO.

[Cris]

Give us a pirep when it is complete. I understand that the M20 (according to Aviation Consumer) needs to be installed very carefully since it uses gravity to drain the oil back into the crankcase. That was the one I was leaning towards so I will be interested in your update.

[fantom]

Cris...a little oil on your belly won't hurt your nice new paint, and without it you'll lose at least 2 knots!

[Cris]

Yeaa but then I gots to get my fat belly under the plane to keep it nice & clean. If it were just oil it would be faster but all that dirt & grime ie parasitic drag really slows me down. let's see 2 knots x's x hrs divided by gph x's cost of fuel. Yikes I could just pay for the separator in a what 3-4 years!!

[Cris]

Yeaa

[bnicolette]

I have a an M20 seperator installed on my airplane but it is a Lycoming.  I also have nothing to compare it to since I purchased the plane with it already installed.  However, I don't get ANY oil on the belly of the airplane.  Just residue from the exhaust.

[Ned Gravel]

Quote: butchgilbert

I have an M20 Air Oil Seperator that over the last 10 years never seemed to work right.  At Osh Kosh this year I bought an Air Wolf mini-seperator.  Having it installed next week.  I think it will work great.  IMHO.

[Piloto]

I have the M20 oil separator and so far has kept the belly clear of oil. Because it works by gravity it is important the intake be installed above the cranckase breather outlet. Also there should be no holes on the vent tube to insure no back pressure. Some mechanic drill holes on the tube as an alternate venting if icing occurs. The truth is that the engine area is too warm for any icing to occur. Mine drains into the cylinder valve cover.

José

[Piloto]

I have the M20 oil separator and so far has kept the belly clear of oil. Because it works by gravity it is important the intake be installed above the cranckase breather outlet. Also there should be no holes on the vent tube to insure no back pressure. Some mechanic drill holes on the tube as an alternate venting if icing occurs. The truth is that the engine area is too warm for any icing to occur. Mine drains into the cylinder valve cover.

José

[butchgilbert]

UPDATE:  Flew Sunday morning with the new Air Wolf Mini-Sep, worked great.  I had owned an M20 Oil Seperator for over 10 years and it never worked right (probably due to the back pressure due to the holes drilled in the vent tube to prevent blockage in case of icing. Since I live in Florida and never fly in ice, that may have been the issue the whole time!).

Back in the chocks, no oil out the breather tube, no oil on the belly, very little oil consumption ( a big benefit of this mod is now I can REALLY determine if I am burning oil or pushing it over the side).

The Air Wolf Seperators work on the oily breather tube air condensing the oil on the stainless steel (looks like steel wool) inside the seperator and then draining it back to the engine.  So far I'm impressed. Wish I had done this earlier. Note: I have a dry vacuum pump, my buddy who owns an Mooney Eagle has his Air Wolf to lubricate his wet vacuum pump, great installation idea.  It also does a good job keeping the belly clean.

Butch