Oil Leak in TR182

I have an ongoing, frustrating oil leak that four mechanics have looked at,
"fixed", charged me over $1,000, and have not made a dent in stopping.

So here are the clues I can offer. Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

1) I am going through a quart every 2-3 hours

2) The oil is getting down into the belly. When I lower my gear after a 2-4
hour flight the left gear is streaked with oil. Oil also drips from the
belly.

3) So far I have removed and checked the lines from the M20 oil-air
separater, checked all the lines to and from the breather.

4) Like all '79 TR182s, the oil runs hot, especially on climb out. I have
replaced the valve that opens the flow through the oil cooler (can't
remember what it is called - a "verner valve ?") and that helped
significantly.

5) Compression is good on 5 cylinders, marginal on one.

6) I keep the oil at about 6 quarts. If I fill it to 8 I just blow out the
top two qts.

7) The engine has about 900 hours.

8) There is no leaking visible or residue anywhere around the top of the
engine, filler, the dipstick, or the pan.

Thanks in advance for any ideas. Not even sure where to start trouble
shooting next.

Michael

I don't know if this is of any help but, our M20E has just started a nasty
oil leak. No where near the rate of yours (yet). We found we have a prop
governor leaking. It is on the back of the engine and the oil progresses
down the firewall. Ultimately it drips off of the nose gear door and the
plane is getting an oil covered belly.

Good luck!


"Michael 182" wrote in message
news:qKO%a.139814$Oz4.29765@rwcrnsc54...
I have an ongoing, frustrating oil leak that four mechanics have looked
at,
"fixed", charged me over $1,000, and have not made a dent in stopping.

So here are the clues I can offer. Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

1) I am going through a quart every 2-3 hours

2) The oil is getting down into the belly. When I lower my gear after a
2-4
hour flight the left gear is streaked with oil. Oil also drips from the
belly.

3) So far I have removed and checked the lines from the M20 oil-air
separater, checked all the lines to and from the breather.

4) Like all '79 TR182s, the oil runs hot, especially on climb out. I have
replaced the valve that opens the flow through the oil cooler (can't
remember what it is called - a "verner valve ?") and that helped
significantly.

5) Compression is good on 5 cylinders, marginal on one.

6) I keep the oil at about 6 quarts. If I fill it to 8 I just blow out the
top two qts.

7) The engine has about 900 hours.

8) There is no leaking visible or residue anywhere around the top of the
engine, filler, the dipstick, or the pan.

Thanks in advance for any ideas. Not even sure where to start trouble
shooting next.

Michael

Michael 182 wrote:
I have an ongoing, frustrating oil leak that four mechanics have looked at,
"fixed", charged me over $1,000, and have not made a dent in stopping.
/snip/

Michael,

What were the four "fixes" that didn't fix the leak?

1 quart every 2-3 hours sounds A LOT like blowby in a bad jug (or two or
three). What is the compression in your "marginal" cylinder? My first
inclination here is that the case is being pressurized by excessive
blowby, and your oil mess is coming from the breather exhaust, as well
as from any other outlet the oil vapor can find it's way through. This
type of leakage can be hard to visually pinpoint.

BTW, are you sure about the oil sump capacity you quoted (8 qts)? I
read the specs for the O-540 L3C5D @ 12 qts. I suspect running this
engine with 6 qts could contribute to an oil temperature issue. The
Vernatherm valve would probably be giving the cooler full flow at all times.

Hope this helps, keep us posted on your progress.

Happy Flying!
Scott Skylane
N92054