BeechTalk - BT - Lancair IV-p

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Nov 2016, 10:20

Username Protected wrote:

One more weekend pearl. After talking to a Malibu/Cirrus owner with basically the same motor, he suggested running 6 quarts in the motor rather than 9. Sure enough, the Cirrus manual says run 5-6 quarts max.

Are we putting too much oil in our big Continentals? I think so.

we aren't, but it sounds like you are- there are two different size oil pans for the IO-550- you have the 8 quart pan, 6quarts is the low mark on your dipstick, 8 quarts is the high mark on your dipstick, when doing an oil change, you'll need 9 quarts (one quart in filter/cooler)

The other oil pan is 10-12quarts, and is not found on any lancair (it would not clear the gear mechanism among other things)

curious what your airplane's specific POH says?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Nov 2016, 11:02

Username Protected wrote:

I also hooked the bird up to my 10 gallon shop vac and pressurized the cabin looking for leaks. I definitely fixed some good leaks but more work needs to be done to reach max diff of 5.5psi. I think I'm at 3.8. It's harder to do this on the Lancair because there's a switch in the landing gear lever that dumps the outflow valve open so it's pissing a lot of pressure out the valve in the hangar. Any ideas are appreciated!
U

Set the controller as low as it goes. Wait for the motor in the valve to run all the way down. Then unhook the connector. The valve will stay closed then. Usually takes 2 shopvacs hooked together to provide enough airflow to close the poppet valve.
Do you still have the compensator and rubber boot control rod seals?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Nov 2016, 11:08

Username Protected wrote:

I also hooked the bird up to my 10 gallon shop vac and pressurized the cabin looking for leaks. I definitely fixed some good leaks but more work needs to be done to reach max diff of 5.5psi. I think I'm at 3.8. It's harder to do this on the Lancair because there's a switch in the landing gear lever that dumps the outflow valve open so it's pissing a lot of pressure out the valve in the hangar. Any ideas are appreciated!
U

Set the controller as low as it goes. Wait for the motor in the valve to run all the way down. Then unhook the connector. The valve will stay closed then. Usually takes 2 shopvacs hooked together to provide enough airflow to close the poppet valve.
Do you still have the compensator and rubber boot control rod seals?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Nov 2016, 11:28

Username Protected wrote:

One more weekend pearl. After talking to a Malibu/Cirrus owner with basically the same motor, he suggested running 6 quarts in the motor rather than 9. Sure enough, the Cirrus manual says run 5-6 quarts max.

Are we putting too much oil in our big Continentals? I think so.

we aren't, but it sounds like you are- there are two different size oil pans for the IO-550- you have the 8 quart pan, 6quarts is the low mark on your dipstick, 8 quarts is the high mark on your dipstick, when doing an oil change, you'll need 9 quarts (one quart in filter/cooler)

The other oil pan is 10-12quarts, and is not found on any lancair (it would not clear the gear mechanism among other things)

curious what your airplane's specific POH says?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Nov 2016, 11:30

The little plastic valve is the emergency over pressure valve.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Nov 2016, 11:45

Todd,

Do you have an oil quick drain on your bird? Is there clearance for one with the gear?

Mike

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Nov 2016, 11:59

There is 1 special oil drain that will fit. I don't have it. Regular quick drain are a huge No no. Won't fit when gear retracts. As you found probably the oil is a pain to drain. The gear is in the way. I made a channel to catch it and drain it over to the bucket. Still makes a mess. And the filter? Forget about even trying to keep it clean. Even the ziploc trick is half worthless.
Have you done a gps run to confirm the TAS? Many Lancairs read 8kias high or more in cruise. Due to static error. This has nothing to do with the pitot static test results. It also means your altimeter will be off in flight.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Nov 2016, 12:07

Username Protected wrote:

Todd,

Do you have an oil quick drain on your bird? Is there clearance for one with the gear?

Mike

Which filter are you running?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Nov 2016, 12:40

A 48108 I think, any other suggestions?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Nov 2016, 17:22

Not unless you have a remote filter adapter somewhere. Unfortunately the 48108 does not have a max flow rate to match the 550e max oil flow. It's possible that some goes into bypass at times. For flow the 48109 is the correct filter. But due to the environmental system parts won't fit.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Nov 2016, 18:23

Username Protected wrote:

Not unless you have a remote filter adapter somewhere. Unfortunately the 48108 does not have a max flow rate to match the 550e max oil flow. It's possible that some goes into bypass at times. For flow the 48109 is the correct filter. But due to the environmental system parts won't fit.

I do have the remote adapter and appreciate the suggestion on the 109 filter (that's the long one right?)

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Nov 2016, 19:48

Yes that is the bigger one. Most put the 08 in but ts the wrong size specs. Remote adapter is a good update. Sounds like you are pretty well set up? Have you done the gps-TAS test?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Nov 2016, 20:44

I'll do it this weekend. I think it's close as TAS and GPS speed seem fairly close at sea level in various directions.

Going to Brad Simmons after my Thanksgiving trip to AZ for Air Conditioning, some maintenance and more importantly a new 2 screen G3X touch system! My wife wants the ThermX deice system and I might comply with the request.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Nov 2016, 21:06

Username Protected wrote:

I'll do it this weekend. I think it's close as TAS and GPS speed seem fairly close at sea level in various directions.

Going to Brad Simmons after my Thanksgiving trip to AZ for Air Conditioning, some maintenance and more importantly a new 2 screen G3X touch system! My wife wants the ThermX deice system and I might comply with the request.

It's more work but consider tks too. Better system. Have brad install the panels flush by creating a new LE section. Souldn't be a big speed penalty then. I'd trust tks way more. The therm-X is better now. But still doesn't have the service history or protect beyond its coverage area.
Either way you live in Florida. Unless you plan to fly north just stay below freezing level when conditions warrant. The speed penalty and 35-50k cost exceeds speed penalty of flying a little lower.
I live up in MN. So it would change my dispatch ability. Not that I'd blast in icing conditions. But could climb or descend through the layers in the winter here that are a few thousand feet thick.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Nov 2016, 21:13

I ice up once or twice a year, usually going to AZ to visit the inlaws. Maybe a cheaper strategy is just fly low or go around it? It's such a pretty wing, I hate the thought of sticking deice on it if I don't really need to. But if you need it once to save your skin then its money well spent.