Oil Levels

rwenner · #1 03-13-05, 07:28 PM

I have recently purchased a 67 Turbo with TSIO 360 A/B. I've been watching oil consumption and noted about 1 qt / 7 hrs. however if I let the level go to six qts it seems to stay right there.
Is this too low ? What are some of you seeing ? Where does your oil level stabilize?

kevin · #2 03-13-05, 08:13 PM

In both of my Skymasters, if I filled it above six, it just tossed it. I would add a quart at five (to get it back to six again) unless I was planning a long flight, in which case I might overfill it to 6.5. My instructor told me this was common for 337s.

Kevin

Ernie Martin · #3 03-13-05, 10:09 PM

I have the same experience as Kevin -- in Miami's heat, without a problem.

Ernie

Rickskymaster · #4 03-14-05, 01:11 AM

I ditto Kevin, anymore than six and it seems to just throw it out.
I am burning around a quart every 12 hours.
I do get some wierd readings, if the plane is not level.
If it is noise high at all, the readings will be off; ie low.
Rick

rwenner · #5 03-14-05, 04:48 AM

Thanks guys, its nice to be able to confirm findings like this. It will also bring consumption down to the 1qt in 15 hrs range. (it took me a while and several qts to catch on)

SkyKing · #6 03-15-05, 03:35 PM

Ah-HUM! It may very well be that you're not burning any oil at all!

Suggest a reading of the POH, Section 8 on "Handling, Service & Maintenance," which discusses the oil issue in detail.

Also, some of the 337's were not equipped with oil separators on the breather tube and their addition will minimize excess oil overboard. You might want to also make sure the whistle hole on the breather line is not obstucted.

SkyKing

KyleTownsend · #7 03-15-05, 06:37 PM

I have had the same experience.

I find that oil consumption is pretty stable at 5 3/4 qt on the rear engine and 6 qt on the front engine. Above this, the oil is quickly thrown out.

CPA has a tech-note on this. They recommend reducing the amount of oil until consumption stabilizes and using that point as your reference. Obviously, when doing this, you should keep a close eye on oil temps to make sure they do not rise. If the temps are stable, then you still have plenty of oil.

CPA indicates that, in their experience, the absolute level indicated by the dipstick is fairly inaccurate, and that the measure should be used as a relative reference.

Don Hickman · #8 03-16-05, 01:04 AM

Ditto on the oil levels.

Took me a couple of years before I finally figured out that I shouldn't add above the 6 quart level on the dipstick. I previously thought that I should keep it up to the 8 quart level. Wasted a lot of oil and spent a lot of time cleaning the belly and rear of the plane! Now I add a quart when it gets to 5 to bring it back to 6 and it runs fine. Belly and tail are a LOT cleaner too!

Sometimes I wonder if they should still let me fly. I mean, how long should it take someone to figure this out when after each oil change the dipstick showed 6 when I had just put in 8? Duh!

Kim Geyer · #9 03-19-05, 08:45 PM

I have remarked the dip sticks on all 4 of our skymasters.
At an oil change I put in 8 qts. and remark the stick. Some are close to the 6 line but most are @where 7 should be. If the pilot keep the level close to my 8 qt. line they don't appear to use much oil at all. On the factory 8 qt. line and you might as well pour it on the ground.
Kim