PA28 Archer: engine write-off at 1200hr
 

Hi all,

I recently had a nasty surprise when metal was detected in the engine oil of my archer 2. Further inspection showed that the engine was done for. The cause was pointed out to have originated in the crankshaft where some of the cams started to wear. This happened a little over half-life.

I'm curious about your opinions of what may have caused the problem in the first place and whether this is a common occurence.

Thanks.
Mak

Sounds like a lubrication problem somewhere. Were you mixing oils? Possible filter breakdown? Blocked oilways? A local high temp somewhere in the engine breaking down the oil? A thorough forensic analysis of the contents of the sump could reveal a lot.

How often was the aircraft operated? Cam lobes in Lycomings are sometimes prone to rust in humid environments if the engine's not run regularly. (Say, once a week)

Vector4Fun: the a/c is operated several times per week so it is unlikely corrosion is the source of the trouble.

Using Exxon Ellite Oil by any chance?


CC

PA28 Archer: engine write-off at 1200hr
 

Due to the poor location of the cam on top of the engine in a Lycoming, the oil drains from the cam and then it starts to rust.

One of the many design features of a Lycoming, to shorten its life.

Also there was some pre 1972 narrow width cams that wear quickly and are only TBOed for 1400 hours.

Lycoming say their engines have to be run 40 hours a month to make TBO and any failures are due to poor engine managment.

Not their poor design. They would say that
Note, all the design comes from the 1920s.

We lost an engine 240 hours with just about everything internaly
worn or breaking up, but it ran nicely, luckly found when pulled to check out a centre bearing crankcase oil leak.

We think we had an oil break down, running for the last 140 hours on Exxon Elite, I trhink the stuff is marginal and to thin.

Brian