Oil Consumtion on RB211-22B
REALLY SORRY THIS POSTING IS SO LATE. I ONLY JUST DISCOVERED THE THREAD AND THIS ORIGINALLY CAME UP IN ABOUT MAY 2009.
I worked on the BA Tristars, as a lubricants specialist for a major supplier of Synthetic Gas Turbine Lubricants, and back in the late 70's high oil consumption was an issue on some engines. Normal oil consumtion ran at anything up to a pint an hour per engine. Some engines were maintained to a high standard and burned considerably less, others were way up there at a pint and more.
Every once in a while, an engine would suddenly start to burn oil in quantity, requiring a manual shutdown. It transpired, the engine had a habit of producing flash fires within the oil system, ie: internal. This essentially burned off the oil vapour, creating very fine soot which eventually blocked the scavenge filters. When this happened the oil pump merrily bashed on, filled the bearing housings and eventually, quite quickly actually, vented the oil out of the bearing housing vents and over the side. The F/E would notice high oil consumtion from the rapid depletion of engine oil, resulting in a manual engine shutdown.
The cause of the flash fires was discovered on the test beds at Derby and an engineeriung fix quickly solved the problem once and for all.
So those posting personal knowledge of high oil consumption may well have been flying at a time when this problem was around. Those who have never seen it may well have experience with the type since about 1980.
I hope this helps.
On a nostalgic note a trip to RAF Brize Norton is always a treat. L1011 flying DLC and VC10 flying in one place on the same day. Pure joy!!