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- Jan 6, 2015
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It is better to find an engine problem while you're on the ground than when you're in the air. N6238C is making metal in the oil screen. Lots of it. IO-540-E4C5 Lycoming. The photo shows the screen after 22 hours operation since the condition inspection in Nov last year.
This is not unexpected. The engine had the following numbers when it was installed in the plane in 1996:
2563.4 TT
768.4 SMOH
0 Top OH (rebuilt cylinders)
Since that time the engine only had 92 hours between 1996 and 2015 when I purchased it. There was a period of about 8 years when the plane didn't fly at all.
The odd thing is the condition inspections from 2010 - 2015 show no contaminants in the oil screen. Prior to that there is no mention of the oil screen one way or another. I just don't understand how the engine could make NO metal during those 5 years. The plane flew very little during that time just 4-5 hours per year. Hard on the engine for sure. How could it not make metal and then all the sudden this huge amount?
Anyway, I'm looking at a bottom end rebuild. Or I might consider installing a good used engine if I can find one and sell this one as a core. Anyone who runs across a used parallel valve Lycoming IO-540 give me holler.
Thanks folks,
Paul Klusman
This is not unexpected. The engine had the following numbers when it was installed in the plane in 1996:
2563.4 TT
768.4 SMOH
0 Top OH (rebuilt cylinders)
Since that time the engine only had 92 hours between 1996 and 2015 when I purchased it. There was a period of about 8 years when the plane didn't fly at all.
The odd thing is the condition inspections from 2010 - 2015 show no contaminants in the oil screen. Prior to that there is no mention of the oil screen one way or another. I just don't understand how the engine could make NO metal during those 5 years. The plane flew very little during that time just 4-5 hours per year. Hard on the engine for sure. How could it not make metal and then all the sudden this huge amount?
Anyway, I'm looking at a bottom end rebuild. Or I might consider installing a good used engine if I can find one and sell this one as a core. Anyone who runs across a used parallel valve Lycoming IO-540 give me holler.
Thanks folks,
Paul Klusman
