Bruce Napier wrote: > After 6000 hours and a recent drive plate change, my PRM 150 > has started getting through the oil: half a litre in the 50 > hours since my last engine service. > > I can't see any obvious loss from the pipes leading to/from > the oil cooler, or anywhere else, for that matter. > > Any suggestions as to where it is going or what I'm facing by > way of repairs?
Was the gearbox oil drained down when the drive plate was replaced? If so, are you sure it was properly filled again afterwards, including the oil cooler and pipework? If it was just filled to the line on the dipstick without running the engine, you probably lost half a litre into the oil cooler and pipework when the engine was first run. Alternatively, is there a leaking drainplug in the bottom of the gearbox? Otherwise, if you can't see a leak, that would suggest oil is leaking from the front of the gearbox into the bell housing, and presumably then down into the engine bilge. Perhaps the oil seal around the gearbox input shaft got damaged during the process of splitting/rejoining the engine and gearbox when the drive plate was renewed. David Mack
