What if you want to store the whole plane
I would pack the cockpit with silica get, a few kg, and change it monthly. ACF50 all the usual cavities (wings etc) bu that should be done anyway. Yes, take the battery out. The fuel should be drained because avgas will selectively vapourise off over a long time. Avgas doesn’t go off in a sealed container but the fuel tanks are vented.
I would also cover it up, otherwise it will end up covered in dirt, bird droppings (corrosive), etc.
airways wrote:
Let’s say you want to store a plane for a couple of years in a non-heated hangar.
That doesn’t sound like a good idea unless you live in the desert IMO.
I got bulk Silica Gel colour changing beads from www.geejaychemicals.co.uk They are approx 5mm beads and I bought about 6 Kg of the stuff!
I always have dry beads in store and keep swapping them to keep the inside of the plane dry in the winter.
A_and_C wrote:
A quick search of the LAS aerospace website will find inhibiting oil and dehydrator plugs for the cylinders.
Thank you for that. Now I know it exists, I’ve found it (or at least part of it).
I have found the dehydrator plugs and also something that calls itsself ‘EngineGuard Aero’ which if I understand correctly, you just bung into the oil and leave.
I still haven’t found any specific inhibiting oils, possibly because I’m not looking for the right thing. They all seem to be Aeroshell branded – but I can’t find any Aeroshell 2XN which seems to be the Aeroshell inhibiting oil.
Is there any specific product I should be looking for?
As Airways touches on, I’m also going to get lots of Silica Gel and planning to take the battery home where I can tend to it periodically.
So that takes care of the engine. What if you want to store the whole plane ? What precautions need to be taken ? Take the battery out ? Drain the fuel tanks ? What else ? Let’s say you want to store a plane for a couple of years in a non-heated hangar.
KWLF
A quick search of the LAS aerospace website will find inhibiting oil and dehydrator plugs for the cylinders.
Much depends on whether the engine is mounted on the aircraft or not.
If not, yes, it is easy to put it in a bag. Otherwise getting a decent seal around the mounting frame is not going to be easy.
Why not make your life easy?
Place the engine in a strong large plastic bag (same as used for cars storage) together with some silica gel bags, pump out all the air and fill with nitrogen.
I agree, it is moisture in the oil from combustion products. I think if you changed the oil and put silica gel in the Air filter box (and taped over the input) and the same with the exhausts – ie tubes of gel up the pipes and taped over the ends then that would do a huge amount to protect things.
There is a bit of an issue with damp air as valves will be open or partially open which exposes the cylinders to the outside environment.
Unfortunately 1) it’s not that much of a project, and I’d rather not dismount the engine and 2) I really like the dehumidifier idea but can’t plug anything in.
I’ve put in a big Ebay order for dry silica gel.
Thanks for the suggestions. I wonder whether it would be worth sealing the cowling with lots of gel inside after draining the oil (I get the impression half the trouble is moisture in the oil rather than moisture in the air).
