Oil leak

[OR75]

Byron: the oil drain fitting on my aircraft is not safety wired (has been that way for about 8 years). Any reason that part would come undone if torqued properly (since it is at an end) ?

On the mag: it is always a good idea to open the top (and lower cowling) regularly to check for anything coming loose or chaffing or broken electric wires. You can also reach the mag from the oil door. You would think it would be an easy fix to keep that thing in place. Safety wire it somehow !!!.

[Tx_Aggie]

Where is the oil pan? And what do y’all clean the engine with? Hunting a leak in my 1980J, looks like some leaking between case half - or I don’t know what you call it. Drips only in certain places, clean every where else. 

[N201MKTurbo]

18 minutes ago, Tx_Aggie said:

Where is the oil pan? And what do y’all clean the engine with? Hunting a leak in my 1980J, looks like some leaking between case half - or I don’t know what you call it. Drips only in certain places, clean every where else. 

I clean the engine with mineral spirits (paint thinner). I suspect that leak is from one of your drain tubes.

[Tx_Aggie]

35 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said:

I clean the engine with mineral spirits (paint thinner). I suspect that leak is from one of your drain tubes.

Do you mean oil return line or is a drain tube something different?

[N201MKTurbo]

28 minutes ago, Tx_Aggie said:

Do you mean oil return line or is a drain tube something different?

Nope, same thing.

[A64Pilot]

Mineral spirits is a very good cleaner, but I use Gunk and a very cheap pressure washer and use it only to rinse, I don’t put any significant pressure on anything.

Mineral spirits is often used without a water rinse, that’s it’s advantage, it doesn’t require water.

Military we were only allowed to clean the engines with Mineral spirits, we weren’t allowed to use water.

Apply the gunk to a dry warm, not hot engine

A garden hose would be fine, you don’t want to put any significant water pressure on anything.

Don’t get any cleaner in your alternator and I stay away from the Mag (s) too 

On edit a solvent gun works well with Mineral spirits, just be wary because it’s very flammable, it’s charcoal starter fluid after all.

[Tx_Aggie]

Thanks and sorry for the novice question, where is the oil pan/what does it look like on the J?

[PT20J]

The IO-360 has an oil sump that is the casting on the bottom of the engine. The intake tubes pass through it on either side and the drain plug is on the bottom along with the sniffle valve. The fuel injector servo attaches to the front and the oil suction screen is at the right rear.