My experience with getting TKS to wet panels (I'm an idiot!)

[redbaron1982]

So, I was fighting for several months trying to make the TKS wet the panels on my M20J. Many of you know that my airplane was down for more than a year because of some extensive repairs.

So initially only the root of the wings were getting wet. I kept running the pumps for several hours (it was summer and I understand that can take some time for the fluid to reach all the extents of the wings).

The TKS panel indicated 1.8 gal, which is above the 1 gal lower limit to consider the system fully operational.

Last weekend I opened up the belly to see if there was anything that could explain the issue and to see how I could eventually hook up the device to test the panels when I saw that the hose at the exit of both tanks was empty.

I bought 5 gal. of fluid, and put 4 gal. into the tank, now the level indicator is showing 5.8 gals. I turned on the windshield pump, in 30s it was getting fluid out into the windshield. I then ran the airframe pump in de-ice mode and in about 5 minutes all panels were dripping to their full extent. No area was dried. I made a mess in my hangar with all the TKS fluid dripping on the floor.

So, the lesson learned for me is if TKS fluid is not coming out extensively in the panels in 5 minutes, it's not a matter of purging the system, but something is wrong, in my case, no fluid and a bad level indication.

My main concern now is how much I wore out the airframe pump by running it for several hours without fluid. Also, how to fix the level indication to read correctly.

On my next flight I'm going to use the system to check visually that all surfaces are getting wet.

 

 

[Fritz1]

The level indicator can get stuck on the ground without the engine running, rocking the airframe shakes it loose most of the time, call CAV regarding dry running the pumps extensively

[redbaron1982]

38 minutes ago, Fritz1 said:

The level indicator can get stuck on the ground without the engine running, rocking the airframe shakes it loose most of the time, call CAV regarding dry running the pumps extensively

The level indicator read 1.8 gal for months and many, many hours of flying. 

What should I ask CAV regarding running the pumps dry? I mean, doesn't make sense calling them and saying "Hey, just FYI, I run my pumps dry"

[Fly Boomer]

58 minutes ago, Fritz1 said:

The level indicator can get stuck on the ground without the engine running, rocking the airframe shakes it loose most of the time, call CAV regarding dry running the pumps extensively

Let's see if the CAV guys @CAV Ice and @CAV Ice Protection can comment.

[CAV Ice]

@redbaron1982 I sent you my contact information.  Feel free to reach out and discuss the fluid quantity issue.

 

Level senders can stick if the system is not run frequently, but the more common issue is the float filling up with fluid and sinking to the bottom of the tank.  This doesn't occur often, but we have seen it happen.