Date: Thu, 09 Jun 2005 14:05:41 -0400
From: Finn Lassen <finn.lassen@verizon.net>
Subject: Re: coolant leak
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Message-id: <42A884F5.9040508@verizon.net>
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David,
The "smoke-filled bubbles" may not be the answer. I even tried buying 
some of the fluid that's supposed to detect exhaust gasses in the 
coolant. No joy.
If the o-ring/groove-wall failure is in the compression area you won't 
detect any gasses.
If you remove spark plugs and see green (or red) stuff coming out when 
you turn over the engine, you have the problem. Overhaul time.

My temporary solution until it got so bad that the green stuff came out 
of the sparkplug holes, was to use a windshieldwiper bottle (uncluding 
the built-in pump) as the overflow bottle. The pump feeds a check valve 
threaded into the waterpump inlet.

I left it in place after the overhaul. Makes it easy to get the air out, 
start the pump, easy the pressure cap half-way off and lift up the tail 
of the airplane (I have high spots in hoses to radiators when tail is on 
the ground (RV-3).

Finn

David Leonard wrote:
 
Bob, I have heard that expansion is about 4-5% of the volume of coolant 
that you have.  Mine expands about 1.5 cups on 2 gal of coolant.
-- 
Dave Leonard