Condensation in Oil Vent Tube
in General Tech Discussion
10 years ago
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Re: Condensation in Oil Vent Tube
by David HEAL » 10 years ago
I would consider doing a soft pickle (my term :P ). I would research what ROTAX recommends for long-term storage. Some things I might consider:
-- Change oil before long-term storage. There are special "pickling" oils on the market, but they are generally used for storage involving many months/ years and may not be suitable for our ROTAX 912 engines.
-- Drain all fuel from aircraft and engine.
-- Disconnect battery.
-- Remove spark plugs and spray some oil in cylinders and install desiccant plugs.
-- Install desiccant plugs in exhaust outlets. Note that some owners have installed desiccant air pumps to dry the air inside their stored engines.
-- Cover carb intakes.
-- Do NOT turn the engine or prop once it is pickled.
Others may chime in as to how sensitive 912s are to internal rust/corrosion. It is my understanding that the 912's nickel-plated cylinder walls tend to resist rust/corrosion better than plain steel cylinder walls.
Anyways, those are my thoughts.
ps - Most aircraft engine manufacturers I am aware of do not recommend running engines on the ground for long periods of time in an effort to heat up the oil. Apparently, this could lead to hot spots within the engine that don't adequately cool.
Thank you said by: Eric Nakamoto
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Re: Condensation in Oil Vent Tube
by Eric Nakamoto » 10 years ago
David,
I appreciate the time you took to educate me. What you said really makes sense and there is much to consider when an aircraft engine sits. I know it's the worst thing we can all do to this engine and that's letting it sit! I will copy these notes and archive them with my other engine preservation notes. Mahalo David!
--Eric (Hang Gliding Hawaii)
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Re: Condensation in Oil Vent Tube
by Rob Seaton » 10 years ago
I recommend leaving the fuel system completely full of avgas (or ethanol-free autogas with stabilizer additive). Avgas is best as it is very stable over long periods of time.
If you empty the fuel, all the internal parts will be exposed to air/moisture/pollution. The insides of the carbs will look bad after sitting empty and if you have any metal parts such as fuel quantity senders they will corrode.
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