SixPapaCharlie
May the force be with you
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- Aug 8, 2013
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Sixer
Flying a rented 172 on Sunday, everything seemed fine.
~2 hr flight and no issues to speak of.
My parents landed about 10 min before me.
I landed and my mom asks "What's all over the plane?"
I take a look and the entire left side and bottom of the plane are coated in a thick layer of oil. real thick.
My first thought was I forgot to put the oil cap back on.
I open the cowl and the cap is on nice and tight.
The entire inside of the cowl is coated in oil.
I grabbed the dip stick and it felt like it wasn't seated all the way.
Checked and it showed 3 quarts
I filled it up to 6 prior to departing. Never had any indication of low oil pressure or temp issues.
I cleaned the plane up and filled it back up with oil and flew it back to its owner (15 min away) That flight, everything was normal as well.
I spoke to the owner and he said it needed an oil change anyway so they changed it, cleaned it up and so far, no leaks detected.
Couple questions.
The dipstick was in place but it is "in" but push harder and it goes in more.
Could a lose dipstick cause 3 quarts of oil to come out?
Should there have been some indication via gauges? pressure or temp?
I saw none. At what point do those start indicating an issue. I would have thought at 1/2 recommended level, I would have seen something.
Was it stupid to fill it back up w/ oil and fly it home (the 15 min flight)?
This is an older plane 1964 C-172 (E I think)
~2 hr flight and no issues to speak of.
My parents landed about 10 min before me.
I landed and my mom asks "What's all over the plane?"
I take a look and the entire left side and bottom of the plane are coated in a thick layer of oil. real thick.
My first thought was I forgot to put the oil cap back on.
I open the cowl and the cap is on nice and tight.
The entire inside of the cowl is coated in oil.
I grabbed the dip stick and it felt like it wasn't seated all the way.
Checked and it showed 3 quarts
I filled it up to 6 prior to departing. Never had any indication of low oil pressure or temp issues.
I cleaned the plane up and filled it back up with oil and flew it back to its owner (15 min away) That flight, everything was normal as well.
I spoke to the owner and he said it needed an oil change anyway so they changed it, cleaned it up and so far, no leaks detected.
Couple questions.
The dipstick was in place but it is "in" but push harder and it goes in more.
Could a lose dipstick cause 3 quarts of oil to come out?
Should there have been some indication via gauges? pressure or temp?
I saw none. At what point do those start indicating an issue. I would have thought at 1/2 recommended level, I would have seen something.
Was it stupid to fill it back up w/ oil and fly it home (the 15 min flight)?
This is an older plane 1964 C-172 (E I think)