Turbine Storage
 

A while ago there was a post here or maybe on the jet list stating that one should run turbine oil thru the engine before storing it for an extended length of time.

I ran into Rei at Deland and asked him about this. His reply was that NO WAY should you do this, as it would gum up the injectors. He said that algae were not going to grow inside the engine, and that if you were worried about keeping the injectors clean, you could add some automotive injector cleaner to the fuel. How much, I don't know, probably just a few ounces per 5 gallons of fuel would be my guess.

Extended Turbine Storage
 

Brian, Just a brief note on extended storage.
After the storage period, make sure that the engine is not allowed to be started without priming the fuel pump and watching to be certain that fuel is all the way into the engine before attempting the first start.
When the engine has been stored for any length of time, the bearings will be pretty dry, and should get fuel/lubricant as quickly as possible after starting rotation. If allowed to spin up dry for more than a few seconds, the bearings could be trashed.

When I refuel the aircraft prior to the first flight of the day, I open the ball valve very slightly, and watch the fuel move down the line through the engine pump, and go all the way into the engine. Then, I close the valve and continue fueling up.
During the starting procedure, the engine runs on propane until sufficient EGT is attained before the ECU ramps up the fuel. During this time, there is no lubrication. As soon as the pump is turned on, lubricating fuel is already at the engine, because I primed the fuel pump and line as I fueled up.
The short version:
Whenever the engine is rotated without fuel pressure present, no lubricant is being delivered to the bearings.
The new RAM ECU has a pump and line priming feature that can save the bearings if properly utilized.
Rei's comments are correct.
Good luck,
Harley Condra
BVM REP
RAM REP
Buy American!!!!!!

1010 oil
 

When I worked on helicopter turboshaft engines (National Guard), there was this stuff I only remember as 1010 oil.
When the parts of the fuel system were to be "preserved" all fuel was drained and the fuel control an d lines were filled with this stuff. I only found one reference on the web.

http://www.bmpcoe.org/bestpractices/.../nadep_15.html

Jim in Chicagoland

Engine preservation
 

Flatfour,
You are correct. In the USAF, we called it "pickleing oil", but it is officially called Mil-PRF-8188D Preservation Oil.
We don't need it in our model turbine engines as we don't have any carbon seals to protect with an oil film, no labyrinth seals to keep from drying out, no very small chambers and passages and spring loaded ball check valves in our fuel controls that should not get gummed up, etc. that most all the big engines have. Preservation oil also helps prevent bimetallic corrosion.
The vaporization/injector tubes in our engines are a very small bore diameter, and could become plugged if filled with oil. Uneven running and high startup temperatures can result if a tube(s) became plugged. That is why Rei told you not to fill them with oil.
In my humble opinion, if we can lube the bearings early in the start-up process, engine life will be extended. No other preservation is necessary, except to keep it clean, and in a temperature stable, moisture free area.
Harley Condra
BVM REP
RAM REP
Buy American!!!!!!

Confusion
 

Gentlemen,
I asked this same question about 2 weeks ago and got some great answers. One answer I got was DO NOT INJECT OIL INTO THE TURBINE FOR STORAGE!!! I was just out on the RAM site and pulled up the new manual for their remote start and at the very end under maintenance this paragraph is in the manual:

If RAM themselves are telling people not to do this then they should be informed of the mistake in the manual.

Patrick.

Turbine Storage
 

I spoke to Rei last year at a Jet Rally and he told me to do exactly what sirron quoted from the manual. inject turbine oil into the fuel feed line while the turbine is vertical, intake up. If this has changed I would really like to know.

Veritech

Turbine Storage
 

I believe Ray Davis said that the AMT guys are storing there engines upright and loaded with turbine oil. Ray are you out there?

storage
 

Chris,

you are correct. inject about 5cc of aeroshell 500 (a guess, reference the manual )between the fuel nipple and the lubrication inlet nipple on the front of the engine. spin the rotor several times by hand or by using 1 second blast of compressed air. place the engine in a vertical position compressor upwards and let any excess oil drain out for about 15 minutes. reconnect the tube between oil and fuel nipples. place the inlet and exhaust cover caps and put the engine to bed.

any doubts, contact the engine manufacturer.

have fun,

buck

Turbine Storage
 

Thanks Buck,
that's what I did. I think the gumming problem is with 2380 oil, it gums the injectors up. Since then I've switched over to Aeroshell 500.

Turbine Storage
 

Re RAM engines storage procedure:

Gentlemen

I discussed the procedure with Albert at RAM this morning. As it is stated in the manual - is correct. This procedure is not ABSOLUTELY necessary and will not void your warranty if it is not done however, IT MAY prolong bearing life in engines that are seldom run. We will add a note in a tips section on the website later this week regarding this. Sorry for any confusion. Again please check the website later this week.


Dean Wichmann
Marketing Director
R.A. Microjets

Storing RAM Turbines
 

Confused? Yes, indeed. Rei says no, do not run turbine oil thru the engine. The manual says, sure, go ahead and do it. So who do we believe? Until we get an final statement on this, my stored RAMs get no oil run thru them.

RAM Website
 

In answer to these storage questions, RAM has now posted the "Official" scoop on this. Bottomline, oiling the engine is fine, but the real concern is dry bearings when you do run the engine. Check this news out along with other great news at ramicrojets.com