RCFan-RCU

I have an Avistar trainer with an OS 40LA. It's been flown 6-7 times. I keep it sitting on it's gear on my work bench and noticed some oil had dripped onto the tabletop. I had been turning the prop slightly (checking the position it came to rest). I am unable to tell where the oil came from although there appears to be a small amount collected on the undersurface of the engine.

It's never been crashed. The worst that occured was I shattered a prop when I was pulling back onto the runway (asphalt) and knicked the surface with the tip of the prop.

Is this a normal occurence or do I have a problem?

If normal, I was considering making a wall rack to hang the plane (nose down). Will it just leak on my floor?

Need help.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

What?? A 2-stroke engine leaking oil!!??

NOOOOOO! It CAN'T BE!!!!!

Don't worry RCFan, keeping engines from leaking oil is just about impossible. A lot of it may be coming from your muffler. Usually, I wad up a tissue or napkin and plug the muffler hole before bringing them into the house. Some people go to the extreem (IMHO) of bagging the nose of the plane with a plastic bag.

In any case, it's nothing to worry about.

LesUyeda

What ever you do, don't hang it over the windshield of your wife's car. Don't ask how I come to that determination.

Les

Rodney

All the model engines I have ever seen (1000's) all leak oil to a degree, mostly around the area that the crankshaft enters the case for two strokes. As the engine wears, this leak will increase. some clearance in this area is necessary for the engine to work properly. On 4 strokes, you will also get some leakage at the crankcase breather tube. Just a comment; per Clarance Lee of RCM fame, do not store your planes nose down or hanging from the tail. Check his column in the previous month issue of RCM for the reasons.

psk560

My Feedback: (12)

Ok, you got me interested. I don't get RCM. Why not store your
planes vertically? I thought that was the way you kept the oil on
the bearings.

Hate to sound stupid, but i gotta know.

Craig

TerrellFlyer

it,s normal,I cover the nose of my planes with left over plastic grocery bags.

RCFan-RCU

Thanks guys. You've put my mind at rest.

I'll take the advice on not hanging it over my wife's car to heart. LOL.

This is one of the most useful websites I've seen.

LoboFlyer

My plane drips a little oil/fuel from the underside sometimes too. Its a relatively new engine, so I doubt there is much to leak, but my thinking is that I just forget to clean the underside of the engine after flight. Its amazing where you end up with exhaust oil when those buggers are running.