msoliday Posted November 23, 2019 Report Share Posted November 23, 2019 Hello, I am new to the forum. I just flew a 2008 ctls this morning and I'm thinking of buying it. Before I get the inspection, I was curious if anyone knew what the discoloration was in the attached picture? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted November 23, 2019 Report Share Posted November 23, 2019 That is from a previous fuel leak. You have an access panel, sight tube, fuel line connection, and vent line all in the wing root area. A leak from any of those can cause staining in that area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msoliday Posted November 23, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2019 Thanks Tom! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Posted November 23, 2019 Report Share Posted November 23, 2019 Might be tough to tell if the leak is still active. Your nose should be pretty sensitive. Could there be a leak from the tank itself???? Might try replacing the existing auto fuel with 100LL. Has a different smell than auto fuel and is blue in color. A couple of tanks of low lead won't hurt the engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msoliday Posted November 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 On 11/23/2019 at 5:14 PM, MEH said: Might be tough to tell if the leak is still active. Your nose should be pretty sensitive. Could there be a leak from the tank itself???? Might try replacing the existing auto fuel with 100LL. Has a different smell than auto fuel and is blue in color. A couple of tanks of low lead won't hurt the engine. thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGLyme Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 "Might try replacing the existing auto fuel with 100LL" Actually a brilliant method of detecting a minor gas leak. I noted a blue stain coming from the wing root/white tape. I never could feel or smell gas. But the blue steak doesn't lie...; ) I asked Flight Design to remove the wing and fix the leak and they did so promptly. Leak fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 Please remember that fuel spills on the wing will run underneath and inboard. From there, it gets blown back from the prop airstream. Don't chase down phantom fuel leaks. If you can't smell the fuel, ask someone else to try. Do you see any fuel streaks as well? Clean up the fuel streaks and see if they come back. Have you had rubber replaced in the past 5 years? Chances are, if there is a fuel leak, you will easily find it, or it's so minor that you will be spending days trying to find it. Try to eliminate false positives first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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