---------------------------------------------------------- Stratus-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Wed 04/21/04: 3 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 06:51 PM - Oil Burn (Bill Morelli) 2. 07:32 PM - Re: Oil Burn (The Meiste's) 3. 08:01 PM - Re: Oil Burn (RLucka@aol.com) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 06:51:28 PM PST US From: "Bill Morelli" Subject: Stratus-List: Oil Burn --> Stratus-List message posted by: "Bill Morelli" Guys, I'm burning about 1 quart of oil every 6 to 7 hours of flying!!! Using castrol 20w-50 oil My compression is the same as it was when the engine was new. I perform a differential and regular compression check. Plugs all have a light tan color and never wet. No oil leaks anywhere. I did have seeping last year at both front and rear seals but I replaced both seals on my annual and there is now no leakage. I do have soot inside the exhaust stack that readily comes off on my finger. Bottom of fuselage gets a light coat of soot over time but I have always noticed that since day one. Don't mind putting oil in every 7 hours but just would like to know where it is going. Stratus now has 315.7 hours on it. Any thoughts???? Regards, Bill (N812BM - HDS - Tri - Stratus (RAM Heads) - Vermont - 315.7 flight hrs. - 434 landings, (1 ON ICE!!) web site -> http://homepages.together.net/~billvt/ | ---=( )=--- 0 0 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 07:32:28 PM PST US From: "The Meiste's" Subject: Re: Stratus-List: Oil Burn --> Stratus-List message posted by: "The Meiste's" Bill, That sounds a little high to me. Mine has always burned 1 or 2 ounces per hour, be it 20w-50 in summer or 10w-30 in winter. My plugs normally are looking a little darker than yours (I have moved my needle clip to one notch richer than stock). But my exhaust & bottom fuse seem the same as yours. Sorry I don't have an answer for you, possibly run it past Mykal & see if he has any thoughts. Kelly ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 08:01:21 PM PST US From: RLucka@aol.com Subject: Re: Stratus-List: Oil Burn --> Stratus-List message posted by: RLucka@aol.com Bill Your oil burn sounds quite high. I burn less than a quart every 40 hours, or at oil change time. Like you, I have a small amount of soot inside my exhause pipe but not enough to discolor the underside of my plane. The only thing I can think of is that some oil may be getting past a piston ring. I know you have good compression. Could it be that you may have too much oil in your oil pan such that the movement of the crankshaft might be splashing the excess oil into the bottom of the piston, etc.? My compression is also good, but I have an interesting puzzle to figure out. The plug from cylinder 1 is nice and tan, but the plug from cylinder 3 is wet and sooty. Engine runs fine, but this phenomina is puzzling! Dick (183 baby hours)