Return-Path: Sender: (Marvin Kaye) To: lml Date: Sun, 04 May 2003 20:43:59 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from [207.71.36.250] (HELO rad1.ktc.com) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.1b4) with SMTP id 2331472 for lml@lancaironline.net; Sat, 03 May 2003 00:07:57 -0400 Received: (qmail 28046 invoked from network); 3 May 2003 04:07:55 -0000 Received: from ptp-224-krv.ktc.com (HELO 4tnf901.ktc.com) (209.163.199.224) by rad1.ktc.com with SMTP; 3 May 2003 04:07:55 -0000 X-Original-Message-Id: <5.2.0.9.0.20030502223706.00a6f978@pop3.ktc.com> X-Sender: swking@pop3.ktc.com X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.2.0.9 X-Original-Date: Fri, 02 May 2003 23:10:05 -0500 X-Original-To: "Lancair Mailing List" From: Stephen King Subject: Oil quantity In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed I don't know the proper level to run in an engine but I can relate an experience concerning this subject. Sever or eight years ago I had the pleasure of riding co-pilot in what I consider one of the fastest 320/360 ever built, for the Sun-n-Fun race. We were zipping along on course indicating about 250-260+ mph and had just passed the first or second turn when all of a sudden it felt as if someone had kicked the gears into neutral and we slowed instantly about 50 knots. A glance at the showed the tach running up at 3000++++++ and the prop in flat pitch. We pulled up for altitude and retarded the throttle. About the time we leveled off the prop switched from no pitch to a bunch of pitch and we applied power again to keep from coming to a complete stop. From then on all worked as normal. We headed by for Lakeland and landed safely. The MT 3-blade was serviced and found in good condition. We were running 6 quarts and Lycoming reps. on location said the oil may have been low enough in those conditions to cause cavitation allowing the prop to starve. I don't know what caused it but he ran 8 quarts from then on and I will never forget my life flashing before me for an instant.