possible oil problem
 

im flying my tt 46 pro and ive noticed that there is oil leaking out the nose landing gear hole. which seems odd. i am also noticing oil on the opposite side from the muffler. could the needle valve or carb or fuel line be leaking or is it normal for oil to be in these spots?

RE: possible oil problem
 

Well, if it's 'oil', it is probably coming out of the exhaust system somehow.. slightly loose muffler bolts, loose muffler, or perhaps a loose or broken tank pressure fitting?

If it's a four stroke engine, the engine discharge vent on the bottom may be disconnected (if you ran a tube from it to the outside of the fuselage. Just a few.. maybe someone else has other ideas.

RE: possible oil problem
 

ya but the oil/fuel is on the opposite side of the engine from the muffler. all around the carb and under the needle valve and the bottom left of engine.

RE: possible oil problem
 

My question would be - How much?

A little is normal (That's why we fuel proof the engine compartment) If it's running out after each flight, that's worth looking into.

RE: possible oil problem
 

Might not have a good seal between the carb and the engine body. Howerver it could also be leaking from the front barings and being blown back by the prop.

If it isn't exhibiting any other problem I wouldn't worry to much about it other then checking the barings. After a day of flying my engines are pretty slimy.:D

RE: possible oil problem
 

You originally said 'oil' so I assumed that was what you meant. If it is fuel/oil, then this could be any of a number of things. If it is running good, then I would not suspect a leak in the primary fuel line because it would tend ot run lean. Others suggested bearings, and so on.. but they also said some oil/fuel is normal.

My new OS46ASX leaked like hell at the muffler pressure tube but the engine ran fine. It ended up being a loose through bolt that holds the muffler halves together. Another engine, a Super Tigre 75 leaked like hell at the engine/muffler bolt points. That was a matter of tightening the bolts that hold the muffler to the engine. Also, the oil was sort of brown in color indicating that it had gone through the normal fuel/oil burn cycle and was a normal exhaust residue.

Some oil is normal, some fuel is normal. But as someone else suggested, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

RE: possible oil problem
 

Both TT Pro 46 and OS 46FX/AX (and other engines) spit A LOT of fuel from their carbs - not due to a leak but to their timing. In flight the methanol and nitromethane would evaporate leaving the oil. This doesn't indicate a problem - it's just how they work.

RE: possible oil problem
 

If it's running well, don't try to "fix" anything -- just wipe off the goo & keep flying.

RE: possible oil problem
 

Now that you mention it, Jcankur, my OS 46 does in fact spit some fuel from the carb. Thanks for that info.. I usually just ignored it in lieu of the mess that comes out of the muffler.. [sm=surprised.gif]

RE: possible oil problem
 

I have a 46 AX from OS as well and I've seen the fuel spitting out of the carb when running the engine up on the ground. Yep, it's quite a bit! Engine runs fine.