Compressor Wash RR C250-20B
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
daily fresh water rinse
Lot's of good comments here. If you reference RR CSL 1235, the Note states that salt laden air may be encountered up to 75-150 miles inland. The operatior should use thier experience to determine the conditions they are operating in. Weather conditions including wind direction, temperature and humidity all have an effect on the amount of particulates in the air.
The fresh water rinses can also be good for the turbine as it rinses off salt particles, chemical an industrial stuff. However, if the bleed valve is not blocked shut like in a compressor/engine wash, it will take more time with the fresh water to get to the turbine.
The fresh water rinse is recommended at the end of the last flight of the day while the enigne is still warm is to rinse off particulates before the wheels are cooled. Once cooled, the fresh water is not as effective and once started again, the contamination can become baked onto the wheels.
Use your judgement and experience, every operational area can be differnt. The manufacture tries to provide the best information to maintain your enignes in all cirumstances.
The fresh water rinses can also be good for the turbine as it rinses off salt particles, chemical an industrial stuff. However, if the bleed valve is not blocked shut like in a compressor/engine wash, it will take more time with the fresh water to get to the turbine.
The fresh water rinse is recommended at the end of the last flight of the day while the enigne is still warm is to rinse off particulates before the wheels are cooled. Once cooled, the fresh water is not as effective and once started again, the contamination can become baked onto the wheels.
Use your judgement and experience, every operational area can be differnt. The manufacture tries to provide the best information to maintain your enignes in all cirumstances.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 601
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interesting topic. With helicopter gearboxes, the main cause of corrosion on steel gear/bearing surfaces is condensation of humid air inside the housing as the hot gearbox cools after shut down. The moisture condenses on the internal housing walls and collects on the steel gear/bearing surfaces, where it quickly produces surface corrosion pitting. In this regard, humid air is more of a problem than salt air.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi DK nice to hear from you as always good common sense, We bought our first JR from you and the second one. Regarding engine washes, the whole of the UK is considered a salt laden environment, but it is not always possible to carry out washes, not as per the book anyway, but I advised private owners to carry out the wash prior to flying saving engine starts, not as efficient as after flying but better than nothing, also try and do one once a week, As one of my old colleagues once said books are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of idiots, and we all have the choice , happy flying
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Brazil
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
C250 Wash
I have a Bell 206B based in the coast of Brazil, I use the helicopter 1 or 2 times per week and the compressor wash is taking a lot of time since If I use the helicopter on Sunday, I need to wash the compressor on Monday.
Would like to know the possibility to inject WD40 in the compressor on the same procedure as if I was making the rinse with Water(But wihtout starting the engine), but using WD 40 and then storing the helicopter and performing the complete wash with water and ardrox in the day I will use the helicopter.
Would like to know the possibility to inject WD40 in the compressor on the same procedure as if I was making the rinse with Water(But wihtout starting the engine), but using WD 40 and then storing the helicopter and performing the complete wash with water and ardrox in the day I will use the helicopter.
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Brazil
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
While I can appreciate the common practice of flushing RR 250 turboshaft engines operated in a marine environment with distilled water on a regular basis to comply with OEM warranty requirements, I don't see how it really reduces surface corrosion of compressor blades. Even after the compressor blades are washed with distilled water, in a marine environment they will still be exposed to more salt air unless the engine volume is purged and sealed.
A more serious problem presented by introducing water into the internal space of a shut-down turbine engine is migration of water past the seals and into the engine's lube system, where it will cause corrosion of bearings, shafts surfaces, etc. The labyrinth seals used in most turbine engines quit working when the flow of bleed air stops.
A more serious problem presented by introducing water into the internal space of a shut-down turbine engine is migration of water past the seals and into the engine's lube system, where it will cause corrosion of bearings, shafts surfaces, etc. The labyrinth seals used in most turbine engines quit working when the flow of bleed air stops.
