We’ve been chasing a tiny oil leak for a little over a year and about 400 hours or so, and replaced the oil return lines last week. Post maintenance check flight didn’t turn up anything new, good or bad. Still a tiny leak somewhere. By tiny, I mean we’ve been loosing well less than a quart every 10 hrs.
Saturday, a partner flew a 3.5hr XC, noticed the leak was still there and put the plane to bed. Sunday, during preflight, I noticed this
Well, that’s new so I took a look under the nose and found this.
The belly was also pretty well coated with probably a couple ounces of oil. Since this was a significant change in the leak characteristics, I abandoned the pre-flight and put the plane back in the hangar.
Went out this morning with our partner who’s an IA and did some detecting.
That’s the #2 cylinder. I’ve got quote requests out right now, but with 1973SMOH and multiple OHs, we’re going the exchange route.
Saturday, a partner flew a 3.5hr XC, noticed the leak was still there and put the plane to bed. Sunday, during preflight, I noticed this
![13813b45957f84c52f12297beea97e93.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20231211%2F13813b45957f84c52f12297beea97e93.jpg&hash=3175601c7df92682e0f62446cca3ce13)
Well, that’s new so I took a look under the nose and found this.
![547378a58f7358cfa467e0e1bb514fdf.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20231211%2F547378a58f7358cfa467e0e1bb514fdf.jpg&hash=9b0cec52762842394a5dc598fac59319)
The belly was also pretty well coated with probably a couple ounces of oil. Since this was a significant change in the leak characteristics, I abandoned the pre-flight and put the plane back in the hangar.
Went out this morning with our partner who’s an IA and did some detecting.
![ab9b4bbd4d1f13d3563f08fefe88d919.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20231211%2Fab9b4bbd4d1f13d3563f08fefe88d919.jpg&hash=ee35a1bee8c170bdf2c4c25384c64e23)
That’s the #2 cylinder. I’ve got quote requests out right now, but with 1973SMOH and multiple OHs, we’re going the exchange route.