There is a reason for my questions relating to the "paste" formed in the oil tanks resulting from excessive use of leaded fuel.
In a short while, I plan on a long cross country of well over 3000 (round trip) miles where only avgas will be available. I will be adding the suggested amount of Decalin whenever we refuel.
My concern is the amount of "lead paste" that will accumulate in the bottom of the oil tank before I have a chance to drain it. I'm not sure of the clearance from the bottom of the oil pick-up tube to the bottom of the oil tank, but I assume there can be a situation where the "paste" may accumulate deep enough to be above the bottom of the tube, particularly after the plane cools down and sits overnight.
Maybe I'm overthinking this, but here's what I'm picturing.
Starting off with only an hour on a fresh oil change (and freshly cleaned oil tank done IAW Mr. Lee's "line plugging" instructions) we commence on our trip doing about 9 hours a day @ 5200 RPM using only avgas w/Decalin at each stop. At the end of each day and after the engine cools, the lead "paste" begins to accumulate in the bottom of the tank. Eventually, it gets deep enough to cover the bottom of the oil pick-up tube so that when the engine is first started on the morning of the ? day, the entire amount of the paste above the bottom of the tube is pulled into the system and is the primary source of lubrication until the level of the paste drops below the end of the tube and oil begins circulating in its place.
I'm imagining the oil pump trying to push this high viscocity, off-white "goo" throughout the system and trying even harder to shove it through the oil filter.
Can any of this happen?
If so, any idea of how many hours it would take?
Are there any lubricating qualites in this junk?
Good luck and have fun on your journey.
You are in luck and you are over thinking the lead paste. It is a thin film on the bottom of the tank in 200 hours. It will never reach the degree you are worried about. Your 3000 miles is only about 30-40 hours worth of flying. Don't even give it a second thought.
Roger Lee LSRM-A & Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC Tucson, AZ Ryan Airfield (KRYN) 520-349-7056 Cell
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