X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Thu, 10 Oct 2013 15:48:05 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from mail-pd0-f172.google.com ([209.85.192.172] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 6.0.7) with ESMTPS id 6510157 for lml@lancaironline.net; Thu, 10 Oct 2013 13:10:33 -0400 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=209.85.192.172; envelope-from=legacyl2k@gmail.com Received: by mail-pd0-f172.google.com with SMTP id z10so2919238pdj.31 for ; Thu, 10 Oct 2013 10:09:57 -0700 (PDT) MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Received: by 10.68.225.42 with SMTP id rh10mr10408201pbc.176.1381424997670; Thu, 10 Oct 2013 10:09:57 -0700 (PDT) Received: by 10.70.5.161 with HTTP; Thu, 10 Oct 2013 10:09:57 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: References: X-Original-Date: Thu, 10 Oct 2013 10:09:57 -0700 X-Original-Message-ID: Subject: Re: [LML] Air/Oil Separator on IO-550N Engine? From: Mike Larkin X-Original-To: Lancair Mailing List Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=e89a8ff243c145284704e86612c0 --e89a8ff243c145284704e86612c0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Valin, Some of my clients have them and some don't. I do not have one on my Legacy. What I have noticed is if you like to run the airplane with the oil near full the air/oil separator helps. Some of the reasons guys want to run very full oil is to keep the engine oil temp lower (masking a problem IMO). What I have found, if you run the oil to its "happy level" and leave it there you will see very little oil overflow. For example, my engine likes 6.5 qts and will stay between 6~6.5 for about 25~30 hours. When the oil goes below the 6.0 mark I add a half of a quart. Now some of my clients will run to 7+ with an 8qt sump and it will pump oil out right away. One of my guys has a 12 qt sump and his airplane likes to stay around 9.5. He had a small air/oil separator early on. When he was trying to run at 11-12 qts he ended pumping oil out with the separator at about 1 qt every 5 hours. He then went to a large separator and that reduced the rate of oil going overboard but over 25 hours it would still pump oil until it got to it's "happy level." We went back to the small separator and got him to run max level at 9.5 and he uses very little oil now. One issue that I have noticed in the 550N world, the dip sticks are often wrong. It is important to calibrate the oil dip stick. I calibrate the dip stick to the amount in the sump not the complete engine. When you do your oil change and drain the oil, check the stick as you fill the sump. This way you know how much is in the sump. Every engine is different with respect to accessories. For example large oil filter, different prop, different governor, external oil filter, ect. So having a dip stick that is calibrated to include these items is not that important. This means once you run the engine after the oil change you will have to add oil to bring the sump back up to it's proper level. My opinion is that an oil separator just slows the rate down but doesn't eliminate oil overflow. If you like a really clean belly, I find running your oil at the "happy level" and a small separator will keep the belly completely clean. Mike Larkin 4LL On Thu, Oct 10, 2013 at 8:58 AM, Valin & Allyson Thorn < thorn@starflight.aero> wrote: > Hey LML gang, we=92re finalizing our firewall layout and the Lancair Lega= cy > manual says the Continental IO-550 engine does not require an air/oil > separator. Still, I=92ve noticed some IO-550=92s flying with them and so= me > without. Would appreciate advice from the community on whether we should > install one=85**** > > ** ** > > Thanks,**** > > ** ** > > Valin Thorn**** > > Legacy Project**** > > Boulder, Colorado**** > > ** ** > --=20 Mike Larkin LarkinAviationConsulting LegacyL2K@gmail.com 602-770-6054 --e89a8ff243c145284704e86612c0 Content-Type: text/html; charset=windows-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Valin,

Some of my clients have them and s= ome don't.=A0 I do not have one on my Legacy.=A0 What I have noticed is= if you like to run the airplane with the oil near full the air/oil separat= or helps.=A0 Some of the reasons guys want to run very full oil is to keep = the engine oil temp lower (masking a problem IMO).=A0 What I have found, if= you run the oil to its "happy level" and leave it there you will= see very little oil overflow.=A0 For example, my engine likes 6.5 qts and = will stay between 6~6.5 for about 25~30 hours.=A0 When the oil goes below t= he 6.0 mark I add a half of a quart.=A0 Now some of my clients will run to = 7+ with an 8qt sump and it will pump oil out right away.=A0 One of my guys = has a 12 qt sump and his airplane likes to stay around 9.5.=A0 He had a sma= ll air/oil separator early on.=A0 When he was trying to run at 11-12 qts he= ended pumping oil out with the separator at about 1 qt every 5 hours.=A0 H= e then went to a large separator and that reduced the rate of oil going ove= rboard but over 25 hours it would still pump oil until it got to it's &= quot;happy level."=A0=A0 We went back to the small separator and got h= im to run max level at 9.5 and he uses very little oil now.=A0

One issue that I have noticed in the 550N world, the dip sticks are oft= en wrong.=A0 It is important to calibrate the oil dip stick.=A0 I calibrate= the dip stick to the amount in the sump not the complete engine.=A0 When y= ou do your oil change and drain the oil, check the stick as you fill the su= mp.=A0 This way you know how much is in the sump.=A0 Every engine is differ= ent with respect to accessories.=A0 For example large oil filter, different= prop, different governor, external oil filter, ect.=A0 So having a dip sti= ck that is calibrated to include these items is not that important.=A0 This= means once you run the engine after the oil change you will have to add oi= l to bring the sump back up to it's proper level.

My opinion is that an oil separator just slows the rate down but doesn&= #39;t eliminate oil overflow.=A0 If you like a really clean belly, I find r= unning your oil at the "happy level" and a small separator will k= eep the belly completely clean.

Mike Larkin
4LL


=A0


On Thu= , Oct 10, 2013 at 8:58 AM, Valin & Allyson Thorn <= thorn@starflight= .aero> wrote:

He= y LML gang, we=92re finalizing our firewall layout and the Lancair Legacy m= anual says the Continental IO-550 engine does not require an air/oil separa= tor. =A0Still, I=92ve noticed some IO-550=92s flying with them= and some without.=A0 Would appreciate advice from the communi= ty on whether we should install one=85

=A0<= /span>

Thanks,<= u>

=A0<= /span>

Valin Th= orn

Legacy Project<= /u>

Boulder, Colorado

=A0<= /span>




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<= font style=3D"font-family:georgia,serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)" size=3D"4">Mike L= arkin
LarkinAviationConsulting
LegacyL2K@gmail.com
602-770-6054
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