-Most interesting, thanks for that. Could you elaborate just where the leaking was happening? I mean like a loose fitting, cracked fuel pump housing, etc?
-- In [email protected], Larry Snyder <les...@...> wrote: > > I had sent out a note a week or so ago about a smell of fuel in the plane > whenever I was throttled back and descending. Today I taxied out with > intention of flying around a bit and experimenting with throttle settings, > attitudes, etc., to get more empirical data. I never made it to the runway! > The smell of fuel was overpowering. I taxied to the FBO and when I looked at > the plane I could see streaks of oil/fuel down both sides of the cowl. The > plane was clean when I left the hangar, so obviously fuel was washing oil off > all sorts of parts and creating the streaks down the side. The mechanic stood > in front of the plane as I cranked it over, and the fuel pump was squirting > fuel out the front. The prop was then distributing the fuel all over the > engine. > > I am assuming that in recent flights the leak was much less obvious, and the > air flow through the cabin was altered enough during descent to let some of > the smell of the leaking fuel get in. In normal flight, there was no smell. > Today it appeared that some gas had leaked into the oil, but not much. The > level did not appear higher, and the oil was still viscous, but I think it > was a bit thinner. > > We will replace and pump and change the oil and all should be well. Of > course, the pumps are insanely expensive. But then, it is an airplane. > > Larry > N99340 >
