"They will find you"
Show notes
The right oil temp, inop and new equipment, and oily turbos are on tap for this episode.
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Full episode notes below:
Grace’s engine runs rough above about 2,000 rpm. She currently has a single probe monitor, and is waiting to install a more comprehensive engine monitor. She’s worried about running too cold, given that her oil temp is relatively low, even in the Pennsylvania summer. It’s not too low in her 180-horsepower Sundowner, Paul said. She’s unsure what’s too cool and how to check to see if there’s too much moisture in the oil, which would indicate it’s not running hot enough to burn off the moisture. Mike said that an oil analysis is the best way to tell, and so far hers have been consistently good.
Boris is looking deep into the regs and is wondering about equipment failures. He has a friend with a Piper Seminole and the manifold pressure gauge was inop. The gauge isn’t listed in the type certificate, minimum equipment list, etc. The current Part 23 doesn’t specifically require a manifold pressure gauge with a controllable pitch propeller. However, 91.113(d) says that the equipment must be operational as originally certified, and Part 23 at the time required a manifold pressure gauge for an engine with a controllable pitch propeller.
Mark is wondering how turbos impact oil. Mike had written that the ratio of displacement to oil capacity is an indicator of how long you can go between changes. An IO-550 with a small sump calls for more frequent oil changes, for example. The other thing Mark has heard is that an airplane with a turbo should have more frequent oil changes, and he’s wondering if that’s true. The turbocharger doesn’t make the oil dirty, Mike says. If the oil cooler is working properly it also shouldn’t make the oil run hotter. Paul also said not to worry because it doesn’t seem to make a difference. Mike said he’s seen really poor oil analysis reports with Cirrus that run to around 75 hours.
Jacob is a new A&P and he’s trying to figure out some of the ELT installation regulations. He’s unsure whether the remote audio and controller is a different installation for the purpose of the STC, regs, logbook, etc. The hosts agree that the TSO that form the basis of the ELT certification requires the remote switch.