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Ron's Web Site
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Date: 2-27-2011
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Number of Hours: 3.50
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: Flight 5 (Almost) - Low Oil Pressure
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I was getting ready for flight #5, engine start normal, finished the runup, and was about ready to start takeoff, and the AFS EFIS "Bitchin' Betty" start saying "Warning - Low Oil Pressure". As Kelley Babin says, a warning like that is worth the cost of an EFIS, as the next time I was going to check oil pressure was when I was airborne. Sure enough, the pressure was down to the twenties at idle, where as it had been 55 when I started. It responded to some degree to RPM, but wasn't as high as normal. I aborted the takeoff and trundled back to the hangar, watching the pressure slowly decline further. I shut down, found no external leaks, put a couple quarts in, and checked the oil pressure wiring, and restarted with an initial pressure of 15. I then drained the oil and pulled the suction screen and found a fair amount of RTV and minimal metal. I cut open the oil filter and found minimal metal dust and a some additional RTV flakes. I contacted Bob Barrows, the engine builder, and per his suggestion removed the oil temp thermostat and placed a nipple and hose into the port, and blew into it. There was resistance, suggesting there is no significant internal leak. I connected an Autozone mechanical oil pressure gauge to the port, reinstalled the suction screen and put in a new oil filter. I put 10 quarts of mineral oil into the crankcase, and ran the engine up, letting it idle for 5 minutes. Oil pressure was normal on both the EFIS and the mechanical gauge, implying that cleaning the filters solved the problem. The most likely cause is probable blockage of the restrictor oil fitting going to the oil pressure gauge, as it has only a #60 drill hole. Nevertheless, the next few flights will be right over the airport at altitude.
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Suction screen and cap
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Cut-open oil filter
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Close-up of pleats.
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