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c/aircraft-mechanics•simonl49simonl49•23d ago

Update: Spent two whole days chasing a phantom oil leak on a Cessna 172 at our field in Boise

Turns out it was a tiny, hairline crack in the oil cooler line fitting that only seeped under full pressure. We must have wiped it clean a dozen times before we saw the faintest wet spot after a proper run-up. Anyone else had a leak hide like that? What's your go-to method for finding the really sneaky ones?
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3 Comments
jamiemiller
Oh man, that's the worst kind of leak. Reminds me of a Cherokee we had that kept losing a quart between flights. We finally dusted the whole belly with baby powder and ran it. Found a tiny spray from a cracked weld on the oil return line that only showed under power.
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campbell.robin
Ugh, those tiny pressure leaks are the worst! It's funny how the smallest cracks always cause the biggest headaches, just like a slow drip from a faucet that drives you crazy.
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jason112
jason1129d ago
Seriously, baby powder works for finding those sneaky leaks.
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