TKS System

[Danb]

Operational and regular preflight and maintenance of TKS System.

I’m new to the system and seek information on amount of fluid content  recommended for summer or when I ring isn’t forecast.

How often do you check the operation and do you check it on the ground or while flying.

What do you clean or rinse off the surfaces after testing the unit.

I currently have 3 gallons on board is that acceptable when not expecting to use the system

Any operational tips and usage would be helpful 

DB 

[mike_elliott]

Dan, might I suggest when flying thru a wet cloud, do an ops check. This will help clean the glycol off. To keep the system healthy, check it monthly. Use only tks fluid or 100 LL to clean the bugs etc off the titanium weeping surface. 

 

[Boilermonkey]

Every month or two run the system on the ground.   Check for good flow on all surfaces.   At the beginning of the ice season I do one in-flight to make sure that it flows well against the airstream.

I haven't cleaned after use, but not a bad idea if anyone has ideas.  The challenge is that TKS by itself is not corrosive, however, it bonds with water, which is.   So, rinsing it off might now be a good idea?  I don't know.

Carrying around a gallon or two is fine.  I don't let it go empty as I don't want the seals to become dry.

Make sure your A&P checks all the fittings every annual.  If they are loosened or disconnected they must be replaced.  They can be tightened, but if taken apart must be replaced.

This year we had a leak in the tank, which CAV says happens every once and awhile.   In order to repair they had to remove the tank which involved drilling out the rivets in the rear seat pan, remove, fix, and then re-rivet.   I guess that's my only design complaint with Mooneys in many years of ownership.   

[ilovecornfields]

1 hour ago, Danb said:

Operational and regular preflight and maintenance of TKS System.

I’m new to the system and seek information on amount of fluid content  recommended for summer or when I ring isn’t forecast.

How often do you check the operation and do you check it on the ground or while flying.

What do you clean or rinse off the surfaces after testing the unit.

I currently have 3 gallons on board is that acceptable when not expecting to use the system

Any operational tips and usage would be helpful 

DB 

Try reading the supplement in the POH or calling @CAV Ice. They’re usually really helpful and occasionally show up here.

Some people (myself included) spray corrosion-x in the tail after running the TKS system to keep everything lubricated back there. At least on mine the fluid runs down the vertical stabilizer and into the tail then drips out the bottom. I was told this was normal.

[Fritz1]

yes to all, run system once a month 5-10 min, cycle all pumps, use sponge and small container with TKS fluid on dry or slow spots, squeeze the TKS fluid into the dry or slow spots to wet the intermediate membrane, tail gets much more flow per foot than wing, needs more since nose radius sharper, once it stops dripping on the hangar floor it is time to re-prime, biggest lesson learnt in 6 years of use, the system really works reliably in moderate icing conditions, lots of FBOs, however don't carry the fluid, can't be shipped air, most surprising even FBOs in Juneau AK and Fairbanks AK did not carry fluid, it pays to call ahead and when in doubt carry a jug in the trunk which also helps to wipe off frost from airplane parked outside, take belly panel off once in a while, clean up splattered fluid inside and figure a way so seal the belly panel with CS tank sealant, put on fuselage contact surfaces and put plenty of release wax on the belly panel so you can get it off again, when using system run stop watch, float in storage tank sticks sometimes, with a FIKI system leave yourself a way out, 1000 ft ceiling may be a good limit, don't use speed brakes when TKS system was used, one or both may not retract, stay away from anything that is forecast to be more than moderate icing, watch pireps continuously when in flight, draw yourself a clear line when to get out, I have seen icing in clouds at temps as low as -25 C, when in doubt below freezing the only safe spot is above or below cloud, the system is designed to allow safe passage of moderate icing layers which are typically 2000-3000 ft thick and thus take 5-6 min to pass, the system does that very well, study the AFM supplement, expect the unexpected

[mike_elliott]

One more thing, Dan, after using your tks, keep a garden sprayer with water in your hangar to really clean off the rear tail and areas the fluid could blow into. Maxwell showed me some corrosion back there caused by tks not being cleaned off

[GeeBee]

Minimum dispatch into icing conditions is 3.75 gallons. It is in your POH supplement. 

I run mine at least once a month. If I do a data base revision, I run the system, all pumps

I always bathe my airplane in clear water after running the system. 

In addition to TKS fluid and 100LL you can use isopropyl alcohol to clean the leading edges. I use it as it is less messy than the other two.

 

[Boilermonkey]

While we are on the topic:

Under what conditions do you run the TKS in advance of encountering ice versus waiting for some signs?

[ilovecornfields]

8 minutes ago, Boilermonkey said:

While we are on the topic:

Under what conditions do you run the TKS in advance of encountering ice versus waiting for some signs?

Mine takes about 5 min to “warm up” so if I think I might encounter ice I run it for about 5 min after takeoff and then put it on low if I’m going to go through an area where I expect to encounter ice. If you don’t prime it or turn it on until you get ice it can take a while for it to come off.

[Fly Boomer]

7 hours ago, Danb said:

Operational and regular preflight and maintenance of TKS System.

I’m new to the system and seek information on amount of fluid content  recommended for summer or when I ring isn’t forecast.

How often do you check the operation and do you check it on the ground or while flying.

What do you clean or rinse off the surfaces after testing the unit.

I currently have 3 gallons on board is that acceptable when not expecting to use the system

Any operational tips and usage would be helpful 

DB 

As others have said above, think "anti-ice", not "de-ice".

[CAV Ice]

We recommend you run the system at least once per month.  Start by exercising the windshield pump.  This pulls fluid from your tank through your main metering pump(s).  Then run your main pump until the panels wet out sufficiently.  We run ours when we take trips.  Run it in cruise, let it drip on the ramp, don't run it on the way home and it should be fairly dry once you get home.  You should be able to see fluid all the way down the wing in flight.  See attached picture. @Danb I sent you a PM with my contact details if you have any questions.

[Fly Boomer]

3 minutes ago, CAV Ice said:

We recommend you run the system at least once per month.  Start by exercising the windshield pump.  This pulls fluid from your tank through your main metering pump(s).  Then run your main pump until the panels wet out sufficiently.  We run ours when we take trips.  Run it in cruise, let it drip on the ramp, don't run it on the way home and it should be fairly dry once you get home.  You should be able to see fluid all the way down the wing in flight. 

Thanks for monitoring MooneySpace, and sharing these tips!