Exact Oil Temperature

[Slacker]

Is there such a device to monitor the true oil temperature while in flight? Something that's independent of the oil temp sensor and gauge on the plane.

I've got a Piper Senica I that's over-temping and I want to see what the true oil temperature before I rip it back apart.

Thanks.

[Hedley]

Are you also seeing an oil pressure drop at the same time?

What is the CHT doing? EGT?

[Slacker]

Are you also seeing an oil pressure drop at the same time?

What is the CHT doing? EGT?

Oil pressure and CHT are good. It's got 4 new cylinders as well, but the problem started before that.

[aero-singidunum]

Both side's same? If is only one engine swap probe and see if problem follow.

[Slacker]

Both side's same? If is only one engine swap probe and see if problem follow.

That's what I'm getting ready to do, but first I was wondering if there was such a device that I could use to measure the true oil temperature in flight.

[aero-singidunum]

There is a few instruments (digital) that could be installed and replace all those original Piper instrument cluster.
http://www.insightavionics.com/gemini.htm
well this has all that you need

[Slacker]

There is a few instruments (digital) that could be installed and replace all those original Piper instrument cluster.
http://www.insightavionics.com/gemini.htm
well this has all that you need

As nice as that is, I'm just looking for something I can use as a diagnostic tool, I'm not looking to replace any instruments that aren't faulty. I'm just trying to narrow things down for this time, and to find a good tool for the next time this happens.

[aero-singidunum]

At this point first swap probes, check wires ( too many splices etc),
if that does not help, swap indicators. Cheap and always works.

[Slacker]

I do thank you all for your help, but it does not answer my original question.

[hangarline]

In a nutshell slacker, no there is not anything to independently check your temp in flight. You could however calibrate your guage and probe by putting the probe (while connected to instrument) into a pot of oil and heat it up with a hotplate, heatgun or other source and with a known good thermometer in the pot at the same time, mark your instrument to correspond with the temp of the oil. you really only have to mark 2 or 3 temps to get an idea where you are. Say 140 degress, 180 and 200 or so. You then could fly the aircraft and will then know what your oil temp is doing. There is no real short cut to this problem (been there), just take a systematic approach to troubleshoot it and you will get to the bottom line eventually. Hope this answers your original question.

[Hedley]

Measure the oil temp (externally) after you land, and compare it to what the gauge says at that time.

Don't need a TSO'd part for that.

[twotter]

A very simple way to check the calibration is to put the probe into a kettle with boiling water. We all know what temperature water boils at don't we? No need for fancy equipment. Simple. KISS.

[Slacker]

http://www.tiptemp.com/Product.aspx?ProductID=21940

I ended up getting one of these to measure the oil temperature, I put it on a wooden dipstick and can put it right into the oil after the a/c has landed.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

A very simple way to check the calibration is to put the probe into a kettle with boiling water. We all know what temperature water boils at don't we? No need for fancy equipment. Simple. KISS.

And for checking the low temp. end of the probe you just shove it up your ass and leave it there for a minute or so....if it reads 98.6 F. when you remove it, it is accurate at the low end also.

[200hr Wonder]

A very simple way to check the calibration is to put the probe into a kettle with boiling water. We all know what temperature water boils at don't we? No need for fancy equipment. Simple. KISS.

Actually the boiling point of water varies greatly based on Altitude and purity. Certainly distilled water boils at 100C on an ICAO standard day at sea level. Yeah good luck with that...

[ad81]

"And for checking the low temp. end of the probe you just shove it up your ass and leave it there for a minute or so....if it reads 98.6 F. when you remove it, it is accurate at the low end also."

So could you reference your calibrated ass when you sign out the work?

[Chuck Ellsworth]

So could you reference your calibrated ass when you sign out the work?

Only if your PMI calibrates it with his probe.

[Ballsssssss]

Just use an infrared thermometer after you get it good and hot. I would try measuring the temp of the oil cooler to see if the oil is bypassing it. This is a simple matter to troubleshoot and trying to find a seperate probe to measure your "true" oil temp seems like a lot of trouble and a waste of time. Listen to the good advice these people on here are telling you. Swapping probes or gauges as well as testing the probe with a heat gun and infrared thermometer are good ideas as well. Maybe you should take your Seneca to an AMO and have a qualified technician look at it.

[Slacker]

Just use an infrared thermometer after you get it good and hot. I would try measuring the temp of the oil cooler to see if the oil is bypassing it. This is a simple matter to troubleshoot and trying to find a seperate probe to measure your "true" oil temp seems like a lot of trouble and a waste of time. Listen to the good advice these people on here are telling you. Swapping probes or gauges as well as testing the probe with a heat gun and infrared thermometer are good ideas as well. Maybe you should take your Seneca to an AMO and have a qualified technician look at it.

Done this already, oil is not bypassing the cooler, they are the same temperatures between engines, and cooler on one side then the other. As for the AMO, well, that's me. I'm an apprentice, the AME is a contractor.

[tired of the ground]

are you saying one engine is running cooler than the other?
are they both still in the green?