Oil Leak

[Bob Eilers]

I have replaced every gasket on the back of my C-85 and have eliminated all leaks except one. I noticed that when my oil is topped off at 4 qts I will get a leak - down and around the oil reservoir bowl. When the oil level gets down to 3.5 the leak stops. I am planning on taking the Champ to Larry at Gold Coast Aviation - Salinas, on Friday. He suspects the leak may be the result of a cracked oil reservoir bowl gasket. I need to have him replace my prop shaft seal anyway - that's something I don't want to tackle. Has anyone experienced a similar leak or experienced a cracked oil reservoir bowl gasket?

How was the Cactus Fly-in? Had to miss it.

[Mikek]

[quote="Bob Eilers"]I have replaced every gasket on the back of my C-85 and have eliminated all leaks except one.]

If your down to one thats not bad but that little drip needs to go. Have not had a crack in the tank but a leak in the gasket might be from the tank mounting flange not being flat.

Mike Kne

[Lowell Sterchi]

Bob, have you checked the gasket at the oil stick? As stated above, the
steel tank flanges will warp. Just lapped one for a friend. It was almost
1/64" between holes. Also found a 1/4" crack at the flange-to-tank weld.
I use Tite-Seal on the gasket.

[Ron Babos]

Oil tank flange cracks are common on the a-65s. Adding the four support tubes from the tank to the flange like on the 0200 will usually put an end to this. Use die pen on the inside of the tank, at the flange and you will see the crack. They are hard to see. As mentioned in a previous thread , level the flange prior to reinstalling it. Weld with steel, not brazing, as this butchery will totally screw the tank up for a future steel weld repairs down the road. Can't see the gasket as having a crack in it as it is quite beefy, but I suppose it could happen. Ron

[Bob Eilers]

Thanks for all the advice. I decided to let Larry Lujan at Gold Coast take a look at it.