"Large cylinder" behind an IO-540

MachFly

MachFly

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MachFly
Does anyone know what is the white cylinder looking thing (with 3 large black hoses attached to it) behind the right cylinder bank?

The engine is a Thunderbolt (Lycoming) AEIO-540-D4A5.

0709%20Red%20Bull%20Lycoming.jpg



Thanks
 
Inverted oil system
 
Pretty sure that's the oil tank.

AEIO-540Normally aspirated engine with fuel injection and inverted lubrication for Aerobatic use.
 
Appreciate the quick replies.


I though it could have been a dry sump oil system at first, but dismissed the idea because I figured the oil system should be smaller.
 
MachFly said:
Appreciate the quick replies.


I though it could have been a dry sump oil system at first, but dismissed the idea because I figured the oil system should be smaller.
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It's not really a dry-sump as the engine does have a sump that contains oil. That tank turns what is pretty much foam back into oil that the oil-pump can push back into the engine.
 
weilke said:
It's not really a dry-sump as the engine does have a sump that contains oil. That tank turns what is pretty much foam back into oil that the oil-pump can push back into the engine.
Click to expand...

Why would it turn into foam in the first place?
The way I understand it the oil should always stay at the same viscosity.
 
MachFly said:
Why would it turn into foam in the first place?
The way I understand it the oil should always stay at the same viscosity.
Click to expand...

Not exactly foam but lots of bubbles. The acro-tank not only ensures that oil is available with the plane upside down, it also de-bubbles the oil that comes from the return lines.
 
MachFly said:
Why would it turn into foam in the first place?
The way I understand it the oil should always stay at the same viscosity.
Click to expand...

Windage. The oil slinging around in the crankcase runs into a lot of recip metal stuff that tends to aerate it. It's not really a foam per-se, but that's a common term for it.
 
weilke said:
Not exactly foam but lots of bubbles. The acro-tank not only ensures that oil is available with the plane upside down, it also de-bubbles the oil that comes from the return lines.
Click to expand...

docmirror said:
Windage. The oil slinging around in the crankcase runs into a lot of recip metal stuff that tends to aerate it. It's not really a foam per-se, but that's a common term for it.
Click to expand...


Okay yeah I know exactly what your talking about, wasn't aware that it's called "foam."
 
The Lycoming aerobatic sump is basically a wet sump that works right side up or upside down. A gravity valve determines where the oil is sourced from to make sure it draws oil and not air. It's really a simple system, but seems to work.

I thought that particular engine looked familiar. The guys who built it build good engines.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
The Lycoming aerobatic sump is basically a wet sump that works right side up or upside down. A gravity valve determines where the oil is sourced from to make sure it draws oil and not air. It's really a simple system, but seems to work.

I thought that particular engine looked familiar. The guys who built it build good engines.
Click to expand...

Are there transfer pumps to move the oil from the crank-case into the aerobatic sump thing ?
 
weilke said:
Are there transfer pumps to move the oil from the crank-case into the aerobatic sump thing ?
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Not that I recall, but I could be wrong. It's been a few years and I mainly dealt with running those engines.
 
Filthy. You'd think Mike's guys would keep the engine a little cleaner. :)
 
Looks just like the engine in my Pathfinder...only shinier. :lol:

What's the hose going into the front-most exhaust pipe? Smoke system?
 
Jay Honeck said:
Looks just like the engine in my Pathfinder...only shinier. :lol:
Click to expand...

Except that the angle-valve heads do not look much at all like the parallel-valve heads in your Pathfinder. ;)
 
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