#flying classics

If your oil pressure is acting up these days, and your Franklin is not covered in oil from an obvious leak, you need to stop, and pay attention. I spoke with Susan from Franklin Parts and Chris Collum from Airworx and got some great oil pressure input well worth sharing.

Susan says to Check your plunger If your plunger is marred up, chances are you have metal debris in the oil pump, marring it up, thus dropping the pressure.

Also inspect your bypass plate esp the inside wall, check your spring for weakness, oil filter (obviously)and always give your oil cooler a good flush!

Chris says the best information about your oil pressure is on the type certificate data sheet for you engine. Remember that they don't have POH's.

Climate can be a realistic factor in oil pressure issues. For example, you don't want to use an 80W oil in Florida!

Here is the big bomb Chris dropped on me about oil pressure!!

Pay attention to how much pressure you loose as your engine warms up. You will obviously loose some, but if there is a significant drop, and your engine isn't squirting oil from the crank plug like a water fountain,.....

There is a good chance your lower end bearings have too much clearance!!

This would mean that you are way overdue for an overhaul (stop what you are doing and get one asap!!!) or it means you have some metal in your oil destroying the bearings. 

Either way, time to take a look inside and see what is going on. 

Note: Low oil pressure is just an indicator of bad lower end bearing clearance, it could be a number of things.