Laying up an aircraft

[skippydiesel]

Rotax and other advisers on preserving your aircraft engine refer to the use of a a generic product called Preserving/Preservation Oil/Fluid. Available in the UK/USA but so far I have not been able to find any such product in Australia.

 

My search will continue tomorrow with a call to AeroShell about a product known as AeroShell Fluid 2XN which seems to be the aforementioned preserving substance. Can be used concentrated or diluted in engine oil, depending on circumstances.

 

Anyone on the Forum able to advise on supply of this type of product?

[facthunter]

If you turn your engine with a plug out of each cylinder, it won't return any oil Treat exhaust ports and valve springs as well as the cylinders.. Wrap the whole thing in a plastic bag and seal it and you can place some hygroscopic substance in there as well. Nev

[Old Koreelah]

I guess this all depends on how long till you expect to reawaken your engine. A three-month seasonal lockdown, going OS for a year, or permanently grounded?

The extreme example comes from Neville Shute's On the Beach, where our car fanatic fills the cylinders with oil, just before all humanity dies from radiation.

[onetrack]

Temperature and humidity variations are the killers that cause corrosion and degradation. You will find that in every situation where items must be preserved, both temperature and humidity are tightly controlled.

 

Keep the engine at a steady temperature that is high enough to prevent condensation. You can do this with a simple heat source such as an incandescent light bulb inserted into areas where you don't want condensation to collect.

 

A good rule of thumb is to keep the temperature of your stored engine at least 5°C warmer than the surrounding air.

[facthunter]

One flake of rust on a valve spring makes it liable to break. That alone will fail the engine. Exhaust valve stem pitting and corrosion are an often not noticed problem in aero engines... Nev

[skippydiesel]

Hi All,

 

Been doing a heap of reserch into this Preserving /Preservation/ Oil/Fluid:

 

 

Rotax recommenced Aero Shell Fluid 2 XN (MIL C-6529 TY 1) .

• Aero Shell Fluid 2XN - As you might expect not available in AU. Apparently it was some time ago but due to very low demand Shell Au no longer keep any preservation oils.
  
• Castrol have a product - BRAY CO 481 - again not available in Au
  
• There is an Au company called VAPPRO, mainly supply the military, They have VAPPRO 850. Must be used at no more than 10% crankcase oil,. Unfortunately only available in 20 L/ $479.00 plus freight and I would only need 300 ml (anyone want to buy into this?)
  
• Aeroparts recommence using Philips Anti Rust 20 W 50 oil, 4 L @ $75.85 plus delivery
  
• Wal, of Bert Flood fame, recommends - "........ small amount of the engine oil (Aeroshell Sport plus 4 ) in the top spark plug hole and rotate the engine a few times.........Then once a month, rotate the engine a couple of times....."
   
   
   
   
  .
  

[facthunter]

The CASA used to have a heap on it, on their site. Castrol had one called "storage oil) It's not just the cylinders you need to worry about. Ina 912, they don't corrode anyhow Nev

[skippydiesel]

Thanks Nev - have read the CASA info and also talked to Castrol. CASA very generic but thats okay and Castrol no longer supply (see above comment 31 ref Castrol)

[facthunter]

I'm not familiar with what CASA NOW offer. It was very comprehensive when last I looked, (Years ago) even stating the legal requirements and how to put it back in service. Good thing it's being discussed. Very important. Nev

[onetrack]

Skippy, try some of these ....

 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/CORTEC-VcPI-105-Emitter-Vapor-Phase-Corrosion-Inhibitor-/173789831842?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

[onetrack]

Cortec are specialists in anti-corrosion products in every field. Here's the story of their aviation products.

 

https://www.cortecvci.com/Publications/Brochures/Aircraf_Brochure.pdf

 

You probably should vacuum-wrap your engine in a heavy-duty PVC film. I've seen some very large industrial equipment in an industrial yard wrapped this way - the equipment is seriously large mining equipment.

It's been vacuum wrapped for at least a couple of years that I know of, possibly longer.

[skippydiesel]

Thanks Onetrack - have used your information to write to Cortec

[Marty_d]

Thanks Onetrack - have used your information to write to Cortec

Skippy, I'd be very interested to hear what they advise too.