Bernard Hartnell
Active Member
While I see Vans sells an oil quick drain, has any 14A bought one. I don?t know if it will fit with the exhaust cross over just below the plug grain hole.
Both the RV-14 and 14A prototypes have oil quick drain valves installed.
They are used for convenience only and not to do oil changes without removing the cowl (full engine compartment inspections are done at every oil change).
I must be missing something > Even if someone wanted to change the oil without removing the cowling, how could that be done? Maybe some kind of in-place tubing line or a hole drilled in the bottom cowling under the quick drain.
Understand Scott, I’ve never done an oil change with the cowl on. I also always change the filter. I see the filter as cheep medicine given the overall cost of the motor. Even Walmart does this with their cheapest oil changes. So if that’s the standard for cars all the more reason to do it with my plane. Back to the quick drain; thanks for your thoughts ind info on the 14 tail dragger because I have the IO360 also but with the forward prop govenor. But our sumps May be different because the crossover exhaust is directly below the drain plug. Looks like about 3” below the drain hole. Should that distance be no factor for the Vans catolog quick drain?
One of the best decisions we made was the installation of camlocks on both the upper and lower cowls. Complete removal in less than 10 minutes. With a quick drain and flex funnel the oil is drained warm in another 10. We install our alternate set of spark plugs at every oil change.(50 hrs) Total job in an hour.
Hi Scott,
My engine is know unpacked and I started to prepare it (section 43). The ports are equipped but I didn't see any information about oil drain valve and where to install it, just about sniffle valve with small port. When I read Lycomming manual, the horizontal sump is not the same of mine and the manual version is 01/01/2017 !!!.
I missed something ?
I would like to hear what techniques, steps, lessons learned you may have for re-installing the RV-14a bottom cowling.
Was reading about quick oil drains and figured I'd add something to this ... our painter (Evoke Aviation/Plane Schemer) thought us a great technique.
You will need several plastic folders: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WKZ6KI4
Use these folders with some masking tape to create shaped templates for the various areas that may touch such as the cowl to spinner area.
These folders will not scratch your paint and provide a slick surface to work with.
The only other procedural thing they thought us is to pull the bottom canopy sides a bit and allow them to go past the fuselage on the sides. This lets you get a better angle. Use masking tape and/or folders on the fuse here to make sure you don't scratch anything.
These folders are also great for installing and removing the intersection fairings.