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Posted for "Bob Pastusek" <rpastusek@htii.com>:
Bryan wrote:
"""
Changing the engine oil and the filter on the TSIO550E
engine can be a real mess. Can anyone make a recommendation on a quick
drain retrofit kit for the drain plug? Also, is there any remote oil filter
kit or other option to solve the problem with removing the upside down oil
filter and dumping oil all over the back of the engine and firewall .
"""
Jim White and I installed Airwolf remote oil filters on our IV-P's,
(Aircraft Spruce catalogue, page 267).
A couple of notes if you elect to go this route: ACS initially sent the
wrong engine adaptor--it's an aluminum machined part that screws on in place
of the current oil filter and is threaded for hoses that lead to the
remotely mounted filter. I called them and they exchanged the kits for the
correct ones and credited me with a small refund for the less expensive kits
needed for the TSIO 550--still an attention getting price, but about as
costly to make in small quantities.
The new Airwolf filter base (machined from aluminum billet) is designed to
mount on an "L" bracket to the firewall, and Airwolf includes the bracket. I
mounted the filter base directly to the firewall with 1/4" bolts and short
spacers--to keep from crushing the firewall blanket behind it--and also put
a .040 aluminum plate between the filter base and the firewall blanket.
Pictures of the uninstalled plate and the completed installation attached
below. As the firewall is tilted back about 30 degrees, the base of the
filter is lower than the closed end. The concept is to loosen the filter to
allow it to drain, catching the oil as it comes off the end of the plate.
The "completed installation" picture was made when mounted to the clear
plastic "dummy" firewall we built to check the fit and location of these
items, so it doesn't show the actual mounting location on the firewall.
Mount it just below the upper engine mount tube on the left side, about 2-3
inches inboard from the cowling flange. I don't seem to have a picture of
the completed installation on the "real" firewall, but there is plenty of
room for this mounting; just be sure to keep it well clear of the engine
mounting tube.
In addition to the Airwolf kit, you'll need two hoses to connect between the
engine and the remote filter. A number of sources, but I'd recommend
fire-shielded hoses, and the best you can buy--these are pretty critical
items in the scheme of things.
As to the quick drain--I haven't found any that wouldn't hit the nose gear
strut when retracted. I considered making a quick drain plug that fits up
into the engine sump--like some of the fuel quick-drains, but I was
concerned that it wouldn't be reliable enough without a "safety plug" on the
bottom anyway, and there just isn't room. My alternative was to pull the pan
off the engine and relocate the drain plug to one side sufficiently to allow
the Saf-Air quick drain (ACS page 268) to clear the nose strut. (Jim left
his oil pan unmodified, rather than pull it for this mod.) Draining oil is
not as messy as replacing the engine mounted filter, but draining the oil
from it's present exit point is still difficult and messy, and worth the mod
in my opinion.
Hope this helps!
Bob Pastusek
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