Animosity2k Posted November 11, 2019 Report Share Posted November 11, 2019 So I moved my airplane into my new hangar over the weekend and noticed a small puddle of orange looking liquid on the drip pan. I took a look into where the coolant reservoir is and noticed it was at the very bottom line. Is it still safe to fly with it here? I cannot tell where the drip came from however I have an annual coming up and plan to ask them to check it out then. Anyone have any ideas? What type of coolant does a 912is use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted November 11, 2019 Report Share Posted November 11, 2019 Coolant leaks are fairly common when it gets cold. Someplace there is a clamp that likely needs to be tightened a little. If it is at the bottom line, and not the bottom of the tank you are okay. You could always bring it up to the top line with a little Dex-Cool 50/50 premix coolant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrassStripFlyBoy Posted November 11, 2019 Report Share Posted November 11, 2019 Coolant is DexCool, search that word, or coolant, and there is a lot of detail on topic. Regarding the leak, I've seen a bit of that in my last 20 hours of hobbs time as new owner, with an eagle eye try to follow the path back to source, for me I had to snug up a couple clamps and back to no drips. I'd top fill up the reservoir to upper line prior to flying, simple enough to add some back in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animosity2k Posted November 12, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2019 When I look on Amazon for the dex cool I see a ton of different options. Do you know which ones correct? https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Dex-Cool+50%2F50+premix&ref=nb_sb_noss_2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted November 12, 2019 Report Share Posted November 12, 2019 Dex Cool is a coolant that is made to GM specifications. It is made by many different companies. I normally buy this at Wal-Mart. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Prestone-Dex-Cool-Extended-Life-Antifreeze-Coolant-Quickfill-1-Gallon/16889202?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=254&adid=22222222227017563314&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42977256752&wl4=aud-566049426705:pla-81469547432&wl5=9057595&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=16889202&veh=sem&gclid=CjwKCAiAzanuBRAZEiwA5yf4unRQUvWAXFhuAnnf1msL0H8N76skLgHTo4655o9sr_FqMTUBZybbAxoCxjkQAvD_BwE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animosity2k Posted November 12, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2019 20 minutes ago, Tom Baker said: Dex Cool is a coolant that is made to GM specifications. It is made by many different companies. I normally buy this at Wal-Mart. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Prestone-Dex-Cool-Extended-Life-Antifreeze-Coolant-Quickfill-1-Gallon/16889202?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=254&adid=22222222227017563314&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42977256752&wl4=aud-566049426705:pla-81469547432&wl5=9057595&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=16889202&veh=sem&gclid=CjwKCAiAzanuBRAZEiwA5yf4unRQUvWAXFhuAnnf1msL0H8N76skLgHTo4655o9sr_FqMTUBZybbAxoCxjkQAvD_BwE Tom is this the same orange color? Can I mix this with whats in it already? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted November 12, 2019 Report Share Posted November 12, 2019 Yes, it is the same orange color. You could check your logs just to be sure it is Dex Cool that they used, but as far as I know only the Dex Cool is orange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animosity2k Posted November 12, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2019 Also many of you mentioned its common to loose more coolant in the winter. Why is that the case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted November 12, 2019 Report Share Posted November 12, 2019 Aluminium, rubber, and stainless steel all have different coefficients of expansion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skunkworks85 Posted November 13, 2019 Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 Rubber actually expands when it gets colder! ... This occurs because of the unusual polymer structure of rubber. When the long chains get hotter and vibrate, they actually shorten, causing the material to contract. When the chains cool down, they relax and stretch out, causing the material to expand. Thus explaining why rubber hose connections are more prone to leaks in the winter. Side note: This is not 100% true for all rubbers, Some rubbers have specialized polymers that do not mimic this behavior. (Not sure if the Rotax rubber has these types of polymers.) But I'm sure it has something to do with What Tom said above, Couple this with the Expanding Rubber, and Contracting Aluminum nipples, Boom, Leak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animosity2k Posted November 13, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 And this all just goes away in the summer again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted November 13, 2019 Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 Yes, especially if you tighten the clamp that was causing the leak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warmi Posted November 13, 2019 Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 I have a similar , very tiny - sometimes just a few droplets, coolant leak which only happens when it gets cold. I tried to find the culprit tightening clamps here and there but by the time it gets warmer it just disappears and then I manage to forget about it ...... I until it gets down to about 40 degrees and then the leak is back I mean the thing is so tiny that it would probably take about 10 years or so for it to make a difference ..so I just tolerate it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okent Posted November 13, 2019 Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 I just went through the same thing: coolant level lower and drips on the floor. Had to tighten a few clamps and all good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animosity2k Posted November 14, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2019 37 minutes ago, okent said: I just went through the same thing: coolant level lower and drips on the floor. Had to tighten a few clamps and all good. To get to the clamps you tightened did you take the top and bottom cowling off or only top? Im so bad at working on things. It took me 45min to get my cowling off. Then an hour to get it back on. Then I wokeup realizing I had little to no coolant so I purchased a skinny funnel and some cooldex but now realize its not as simple to fill as untwisting the cap as that tubing is on it! I'm afraid once I take the tubing off the nipple in the lid of the coolant canister I'll never get it back on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okent Posted November 15, 2019 Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 I took both off so I could check all the clamps. Had my A&P with me. There are two on the backside of the engine that take an extension and a knuckle socket to get to, not easy. They just happened to be tight but he checked everything.(Retired F16 mechanic, he's awesome) We could see the one that was leaking and it was definitely a little loose. Did a runup the next day. The day after still dry. As long as you can find a place where it has been leaking just tighten what you can find and then check the next day. Eventually you'll get them all snugged up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted November 15, 2019 Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 Hey guys remember that the 912ULS and 912iS are set up a little different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okent Posted November 16, 2019 Report Share Posted November 16, 2019 Sorry, mine is a ULS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animosity2k Posted November 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2019 On 11/14/2019 at 9:38 PM, Tom Baker said: Hey guys remember that the 912ULS and 912iS are set up a little different. Tom, is it super difficult to get that tube back over the nipple on the coolant bottle once it's off? I know sometimes those fittings can be quite a pain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted November 18, 2019 Report Share Posted November 18, 2019 That clear hose is pretty flexible. You can twist it to remove the cap, then wind it up to reinstall the cap. It's not ideal, but it will work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animosity2k Posted November 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 2 hours ago, Tom Baker said: That clear hose is pretty flexible. You can twist it to remove the cap, then wind it up to reinstall the cap. It's not ideal, but it will work. I got two whole turns in and the cap still needed to be twisted. I was afraid of causing a small crack in the tubing and causing lack of "suction" I guess would be the right word. Your thinking no worries just keep twisting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted November 19, 2019 Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 It is just a vent. There normally isn't even any fluid in the tube, in fact the older airplanes just had a small hole in the cap with no tube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animosity2k Posted November 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 13 hours ago, Tom Baker said: It is just a vent. There normally isn't even any fluid in the tube, in fact the older airplanes just had a small hole in the cap with no tube. Well this is cool to know! Ill twist it up real good tomorrow ha! I just have a little bit of fluid in the tube. Just specks here and there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okent Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 Haven't flown in about 3 weeks and went out today to plug up the Tanis heater for a noon flight. Noticed coolant on the floor, reservoir is half empty. Same place that leaked earlier has leaked again. It got really cold last week so I guess that was enough to allow the leak again. I'm considering just leaving the Tanis plugged in all winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGLyme Posted December 8, 2019 Report Share Posted December 8, 2019 My CTLSi has the same virus as above... little coolant drops on the bottom of the bottom cowling... I will check my clamps. Note, didn't happen last winter. PS: FD USA buys the official "BMW Motorcycle" (blue) coolant. So, my coolant was purchased at the local BMW motorcycle dealer. That makes it easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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