Oil Pressure....again!

[Larry]

Got the Champ (C-85-8) out of winter storage and flew today. Outside air temp around 75 F and right after start the oil pressure peggs above 60 psi. After 10 minutes of ground run, the oil temp starts to rise and the oil pressure comes down below 60 at idle.

During the first take off, the oil pressure was up around 55 and a few minutes later at cruise the oil temp stabilized at 170 F with oil pressure on 40 psi (2200 RPM).

After landing, at idle, oil temp still 170 F, the oil pressure drops to 10 psi.

Seems to me that this is a large range from cold to hot, low RPM to high RPM. I can see 30 or 40 psi difference. Normal for this engine? Is this what everyone else is seeing in the cool spring tempertures?

Thanks for your input.

[MikeB]

I'd say it's fairly normal. The L16 manual list oil pressure at 25-35 psi normal pressure. The Lasher book indicates 30-60 psi with minimum idle of 10 psi. So many things can affect oil pressure such as cam bore wear, bearings, etc. that there seems to be a wide variation between hot and cold oil temperature. If the screen or filter isn't showing any metal I wouldn't worry about it.

My A65 (for example) has ran up to 50 psi cold and usually runs slightly less than 30 hot and at 2150 rpm. It idles around 15 psi. I'd like to see over 30 at operating temperature but it's been like that for 300 hours no matter what I tried (short of reworking the crankcase) so I just put up with it. The screen is always clean.

MikeB

[joea]

Would agree with Mike. Believe that 60 is a bit high but with cold oil...

Once back on the ground if you revved the engine up what did the pressure do? If it came back up to 30+ would be happy with it.

[Larry]

Thanks Joe.

Any chance you are flying up to Show Low for the EAA pancake breakfast next Saturday, June 5?

[joea]

Larry,

Was thinking about flying up and I might come up but it all depends on if I get called for any work (am still unemployed and doing contract flying when I can) and, and this is a big and.... if the temps are reasonable.

Just got the forcast for the next week or so and if its really going to be 107 on Saturday and 111 on Sunday then its doubtful that I will make it up there. Or if I come it would be early in the morning and hustle back home before its really hot. I usually do not fly the Aeronca a whole bunch when its above 105... just a bit warm for me!

Joe

[chump7ac]

Is there a flyin at Springerville June 5 also ?

[joea]

Good way to stay on top of these things is:

The Phoenix Pilot group: http://aviation.meetup.com/76/

[Larry]

The Springerville Airport web site: http://www.springervilleair.com/
Shows a fly-in June 5 at 0700.

Show Low EAA pancake breakfast starts at 0700, June 5. Also Young Eagle flights with the goal of flying 100 kids. This fly-in is tied to "Show Low Days" classic car show and other events in town. I will have one of our company Super Huey helicopters on display and I might even do a flight demo.

My Champ will be on the flight line too.

Forecast for Saturday in Show Low is 90F with a field elevation of 6400 MSL.

[MikeB]

Hmmm! What's worse? 107 in Arizonia or -20 degrees in Wisconsin? Something to ponder...

MIkeB

[joea]

Mike,

Its easy to shovel heat, you just turn on the switch marked "A/C" and enjoy life.

Then we have 9 months of paradise where its sunny and warm and anywhere from 70-80 degrees.

Take your pick but I have had enough snow (unless its on a mountain where I can ski) for a lifetime!

Joe A

[MikeB]

The youngest and his family live in the San Antonio area. I got to admit it beats the weather up here in January/Feburary, etc. Although, the hottest I can ever remember was basic training at Lackland (June, July, August ...1957) and the old WW2 barracks with no AC. Of course, from there they sent me to Northern Michigan and then Alaska.
Well, it's nice up here for about 6 months anyway.

Mike