Found an oil leak, seems to be a strange place

[WaynePierce]

Plane is in Annual since yesterday, my A&P helped me find a leak that has been plaguing me. It seems to be leaking in front of the oil filter. It is not the oil filter or the are where the oil filter seals against the engine. Have any of you experienced this? My guy says he's never seen one leaking from there, have you? And if you have is it fixable without pulling the (I forget what the technical name of this part of the engine) gear housing?

[PT20J]

The IO-360–A3B6D has an adapter for the spin on filter that has a rubber gasket attached. The adapter is attached to the accessory case by the threaded nipple that the filter screws onto. Sometimes the filter sticks to the adapter and causes it to loosen. You should remove the adapter and check that the gasket isn’t damaged. 

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[WaynePierce]

2 minutes ago, PT20J said:

The IO-360–A3B6D has an adapter for the spin on filter that has a rubber gasket attached. The adapter is attached to the accessory case by the threaded nipple that the filter screws onto. Sometimes the filter sticks to the adapter and causes it to loosen. You should remove the adapter and check that the gasket isn’t damaged. 

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And this is why I love this place!

 

[Guest]

AD 2002-12-07 pertains to the oil filter plate gasket, assuming the OP has a D series engine

[WaynePierce]

Thank you Clarence, I do indeed have the -D series and looking through the Engine Log books I have at home in a moment... I've checked the Engine Log books 1 and 2, and no mention of this AD. I see AD 2002 26-01 has been inspected along with "All AD's researched and found to be up to date" noted. But nothing on AD 2002-12-07. Now it might be in my ADLOG book that is with the plane at annual, the last entry I have is dated 3/28/08.

Newbie question... How does one look up an AD? I tried Googling it and nothing returned then I looked at the "Dynamic Regulatory System" and still cant find this AD. I'd like to read it.

[PT20J]

1 hour ago, WaynePierce said:

Newbie question... How does one look up an AD? I tried Googling it and nothing returned then I looked at the "Dynamic Regulatory System" and still cant find this AD. I'd like to read it.

Go here and enter 2002-12-07 in the search box https://drs.faa.gov/browse

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[mooniac15u]

2 hours ago, WaynePierce said:

Thank you Clarence, I do indeed have the -D series and looking through the Engine Log books I have at home in a moment... I've checked the Engine Log books 1 and 2, and no mention of this AD. I see AD 2002 26-01 has been inspected along with "All AD's researched and found to be up to date" noted. But nothing on AD 2002-12-07. Now it might be in my ADLOG book that is with the plane at annual, the last entry I have is dated 3/28/08.

Newbie question... How does one look up an AD? I tried Googling it and nothing returned then I looked at the "Dynamic Regulatory System" and still cant find this AD. I'd like to read it.

There's a related Lycoming service bulletin (543A) dated August 30, 2000.  If your engine was assembled/overhauled after that then there shouldn't have been any AD action needed.

[dzeleski]

My engine had this AD marked as complied with and the gasket recently failed, I had oil spraying everywhere. So obviously make sure the AD is done and the correct part number is used for the gasket but it can fail from age in either case.

[PT20J]

I didn't know about the AD because it came out long after I had sold my 1978 J. But I remember replacing that gasket twice. Sounds like even after complying with the AD it would be good to inspect carefully at each oil change and keep a couple of spare gaskets on hand.

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[Guest]

7 hours ago, mooniac15u said:

There's a related Lycoming service bulletin (543A) dated August 30, 2000.  If your engine was assembled/overhauled after that then there shouldn't have been any AD action needed.

While the AD may not apply, it doesn’t mean it can’t have issues later.  Nothing is certain in these engines.

[mooniac15u]

13 hours ago, M20Doc said:

While the AD may not apply, it doesn’t mean it can’t have issues later.  Nothing is certain in these engines.

You're absolutely right, as always.  I was just commenting on the fact that he hadn't seen any record of AD compliance in his logbook.

[WaynePierce]

5 hours ago, mooniac15u said:

You're absolutely right, as always.  I was just commenting on the fact that he hadn't seen any record of AD compliance in his logbook.

At least in the log books I have here at the house. The ADLOG started fairly soon after this AD would have been noted. I'll be curious to see if it was included in the AD's the ADLOG company supplied with the folders.