Since first flight five months ago, I've managed to log 60 enjoyable hours in my new RV-12. 22 of these hours were spent flying from Washington to Alabama in early August with my dad; a wonderul trip.
Last Saturday on full power climbout, the Dynon Skyview oil pressure gauge began to fluctuate and dropped down into the mid-20's; the yellow zone. this had never happened before. I immediately pulled back on power and the oil pressure rose back into the mid-50's range. When I pushed the throttle in, the oil pressure dropped. Back off the power and the oil pressure rose. I landed as quickly as possible and assumed it was a malfunctioning sensor that was being adversely affected by vibration at full power setting.
Last night I plumbed up a mechanical gauge to the port adjacent to the oil pressure sensor on the crankcase. With the mechanical gauge lying in the passenger seat, I ran the engine with the wheels chocked to compare readings. Both the Dynon and mechanical gauge mirrored each other precisely throughout the rpm range, and I never could get the pressure to fluctuate and drop into the hellow zone. At one point, the pressure began to fluctuate a little and, most interestingly, both gauges flucutated together.
I'm coming to the conclusion this is not another failing oil pressure sensor.
Has anyone else out there experienced dropping oil pressure a full throttle? I really want to get to the bottom of this.
Thanks,
Jerry Gaulden
Last Saturday on full power climbout, the Dynon Skyview oil pressure gauge began to fluctuate and dropped down into the mid-20's; the yellow zone. this had never happened before. I immediately pulled back on power and the oil pressure rose back into the mid-50's range. When I pushed the throttle in, the oil pressure dropped. Back off the power and the oil pressure rose. I landed as quickly as possible and assumed it was a malfunctioning sensor that was being adversely affected by vibration at full power setting.
Last night I plumbed up a mechanical gauge to the port adjacent to the oil pressure sensor on the crankcase. With the mechanical gauge lying in the passenger seat, I ran the engine with the wheels chocked to compare readings. Both the Dynon and mechanical gauge mirrored each other precisely throughout the rpm range, and I never could get the pressure to fluctuate and drop into the hellow zone. At one point, the pressure began to fluctuate a little and, most interestingly, both gauges flucutated together.
I'm coming to the conclusion this is not another failing oil pressure sensor.
Has anyone else out there experienced dropping oil pressure a full throttle? I really want to get to the bottom of this.
Thanks,
Jerry Gaulden