The Millicent Chronicles; two foot roof raise, big tailgate

[Elliot Naess]

There better be, since there are rocker arms and such up there.

[Mr4btTahoe]

5.9 Cummins? Id say you lost the oil cooler or oil cooler gasket.

IF it's the same setup as the one used in light duty applications, the oil filter mount is bolted to the side of the block. Once removed, you'll find the oil cooler (inside the water jacket on the side of the block). When they fail or the gasket fails, they fill the cooling system with oil. The gaskets are cheap... the cooler isn't but can be found used.

Pretty simple DIY fix if thats the case. If its the headgasket... not nearly as simple but not terrible either.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by Elliot Naess

. When he pulled up, I could hear it boiling all the way from the house.

Damn, that can not be good.

From the 2 or 3 miles, let it sit half an hour, drive half a mile, repeat.

8.3L or bigger!!!

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

8.3L or bigger!!!

Somebody put a 14L Cummins in to shut this guy up.

[Elliot Naess]

Mr4btTahoe -- really?! That would be fantastic!

I'm going right out there now to look at it!

[Mr4btTahoe]

Yes indeed.

Here is a picture of it removed...



And here is a diagram of the assembly...


Now your oil filter may be remote... but the oil cooler system should still be located in the same location. I would bank on oil cooler before head gasket.

Need to pull it and have it pressure tested. It is a flat plate heat exchanger. It isn't an uncommon failure. MOST of the time, when the headgaskets fail.. you'll get coolant running down the side of the block externally or burning coolant. It isn't impossible for oil to get into the cooling system through the gasket though.. so its still a possibility.. but I'd start with the oil cooler first.

The fun part will be getting all the oil out of the cooing system. Cascade dishwasher powder/distilled water or simple green and distilled water.. lots of flushing... good times. lol

[Elliot Naess]

No sign of the gaping rupture I hoped for.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Have to pressure test it. Even the slightest crack under pressure will flow a lot of oil.

[Elliot Naess]

Yes, if no leak shows up under no pressure, I will figure out a way to pressurize it.
Easy enough to do -- a scrap of 1/2 inch aluminum plate with suitable holes. My radiator pressure tester might be enough. But a "soak" test first. Here is where the thing lives.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Elliot Naess

Yes, if no leak shows up under no pressure, I will figure out a way to pressurize it.
Easy enough to do -- a scrap of 1/2 inch aluminum plate with suitable holes. My radiator pressure tester might be enough. But a "soak" test first. Here is where the thing lives.

Ewwww. milkshake. It's like horror movie to me.

Hoping for painless repair for Millie

[Mr4btTahoe]

Doesn't look too bad to get to. Hopefully its the cause of your leak. I know its a somewhat common failure.

From my understanding, most test them to 75-80psi. Will probably have to build a plate and thread one of the holes so you can screw in an air fitting.. pump it up and put it in water and check for bubbles.

If it ends up being the issue.. be sure to get your gaskets from Cummins and not parts store stuff. They are pretty inexpensive.

Good luck testing it. Sounds like you've got a good plan in mind.

[Elliot Naess]

Yes, a test plate is easy-piecy. I have made my own remote oil filter bosses and such from small blocks of aluminum. I have the NPT taps and all.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Somebody put a 14L Cummins in to shut this guy up.

Cummins makes/made a 16L as well. Just saying...

Honesty tho if the engine is cooked I wouldn't want to replace with a 5.9L unless 1) you've got one cheap, 2) requires a tranny change too, 3) just won't fit, ... 4) whatever major pain in the a$s is hiding there.

If anyone could do the ginormous engine it would be Millie. He's got an airplane bolted to a bus for Christ's sake.

Originally Posted by Mr4btTahoe

Cascade dishwasher powder/distilled water or simple green and distilled water.. lots of flushing... good times. lol

Not liquid Dawn? I'd kinda worry about the powder not dissolving tho premixing would fix that. Dawn's great for getting hands clean anyway.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Dawn creates a LOT of suds. Does work good to clean grease.. but the suds is the issue. Simple green and just about any kind of dishwasher powder doesn't suds up.

[cadillackid]

dishwashing machine soap and HOT water are a great way to clean up grease..

dawn works but as mentioned the suds are crazy.. (thats why i spray a mixture of dawn and water on air pipes when im trying to find air leaks on the bus. )

dishwashing machine soap just needs to be Hot to activate (at least 120 degrees)..

-Christopher

[Rusty]

Dawn is dish soap

Machine uses detergent

Difference here

[Brewerbob]

Yeah I get all of that. I guess with air pockets suds would be a problem.

[Elliot Naess]

There is a product specifically for removing oil from cooling passages. I used it years ago on a car, when the auto-transmission cooler in the radiator leaked. Worked well.

To get the water out of the oil, I reckon I would simply change the oil a bunch of times.
Wonder if there is still such a thing as dirt cheap motor oil? Decades ago, there was "re-refined" oil -- used oil that had been processed so engines could function OK on it.

Well, I have other stuff to do also. Things will have to just sit now until next week.

[GEORGE ARMSTRONG]

Did you ever manage to find any indication as to the identity of the Albatross and the name of the Scrap Dealer in San Diego the other went to?

George Armstrong

[Elliot Naess]

Aha! There you are! We seem to have done poorly with the PMs.

No. I still have two serial numbers "to choose from" -- 402 / 137929 and 404 / 137931.
It is surely one of those two, but that is where the trail ends.

At your suggestion, I searched for the tag by the co-pilot's left knee, and found it was missing -- there is only an outline and four small holes.

I had not heard anything about San Diego.

At the auction at Lampson Field in Lakeport, CA, in 2009, three planes were sold.
One of those remains at Lampson Field today, with the wings still on it (so it must have been flown in).
The other two had the wings off, and they were brought to Lakeport -- from Mexico, as I understand it -- on a purpose-built trailer. The trailer was sold separately at the auction, and I'm told it was bought by a local lumber yard for transporting roof trusses.

When I bought my cockpit from a metal scrap yard in Ukiah, near Lakeport, the seller gave me the impression that he had scrapped more than one plane. However, he actually mentioned three planes, and since one remains intact at Lampson Field, he may have referred to the total number planes sold at the auction. So perhaps he only scrapped this one.

I should be able to contact him, if you feel it is worth pursuing.

To continue our correspondence, it may be better to use direct e-mail. Mine is...
elliotnaess@gmail.com