flyrotary@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

Message

Hi Rusty, there is no rule that states that you have to use engine oil, since you already have a pump to scavenge and you really don't need much oil pressure for a turbo, add a small sump and a little cooler perhaps, and your worries of an engine oil leak are over. The added advantage is that you can lubricate before start and cool after shutdown. For the record I know there is not much under cowl room, but you seem like a fellow bent on adventure ;-) -- Ian

For the record, I know it's hot :-)

So does this mean the compressor side can have a seal, since it's not 1600 degrees? Would you almost always lose the oil out the exhaust, and not into the intake? If you lost it into the intake, it could affect the way the engine runs, but if it goes into the exhaust side, it will just blow out the pipe.

This goes back to using an oil shutoff to stop the oil leak, but as we discussed before, you won't know this is happening unless you smell oil burning. I'm pretty well tuned into the smell of oil burning now though :-(

I still have the stock low oil sensor functional in the pan, and it lights a very bright LED on the panel. Perhaps that would be my only warning, but you'd have no idea of where the oil was really being lost from. You'd essentially have to be willing to waste the turbo for any oil loss just in case it was in the turbo.

By not planning to do this soon, it gives me time to think about all the options, and hopefully talk myself out of it :-)

Cheers,

Rusty (single rotor mount, take two)