DA40-180 Oil Dipstick: Lycoming MSB 612

Discussions specific to Lycoming engines

Moderators: Rick, Lance Murray

User avatar
ThomasD
3 Diamonds Member
3 Diamonds Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:53 pm
First Name: ThomasD
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N215DS
Airports: EGGD
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 16 times

Re: DA40-180 Oil Dipstick: Lycoming MSB 612

Post by ThomasD »

Hello Rich,

I have had a look at the Diamond support documentation pages - they don't mention this as an SB or SI, which seems remiss of Diamond.

Presumably all DA40-180 aircraft prior to a certain date are affected? (Maybe 2015, based upon the date of the MSB?)
User avatar
Rich
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 4592
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:40 pm
First Name: Rich
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N40XE
Airports: S39 Prineville OR
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 1180 times

Re: DA40-180 Oil Dipstick: Lycoming MSB 612

Post by Rich »

ThomasD wrote:Hello Rich,

I have had a look at the Diamond support documentation pages - they don't mention this as an SB or SI, which seems remiss of Diamond.

Presumably all DA40-180 aircraft prior to a certain date are affected? (Maybe 2015, based upon the date of the MSB?)
There's a problem in the industry wherein SB's from sub-vendors are often not bubbled up into the prime provider of aircraft. If it's an AD, it is somewhat easier for maintenance personnel to find. As a general rule it can be difficult to figure out which aircraft are affected. In this case it's pretty easy to identify. I don't know at what point Diamond became aware of this issue.

Yes, I'm guessing almost all DA40-180's are affected. It's easy enough to check yours. The bad news is the clock's running out on warranty coverage.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
User avatar
ThomasD
3 Diamonds Member
3 Diamonds Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:53 pm
First Name: ThomasD
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N215DS
Airports: EGGD
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 16 times

Re: DA40-180 Oil Dipstick: Lycoming MSB 612

Post by ThomasD »

Rich,

Thanks
User avatar
Downeast25
2 Diamonds Member
2 Diamonds Member
Posts: 36
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2016 9:26 pm
First Name: Bill
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N321PF
Airports: U77
Has thanked: 23 times
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: DA40-180 Oil Dipstick: Lycoming MSB 612

Post by Downeast25 »

I also appreciate the heads up. I had one of the offending dipsticks. I called Air Power in Texas to facilitate the warranty claim. They were very familiar with the process and made it very easy.
User avatar
BRS
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 313
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:44 am
First Name: Brock
Aircraft Type: OTHER
Aircraft Registration: N8QQ
Airports: W52
Has thanked: 31 times
Been thanked: 94 times

Re: DA40-180 Oil Dipstick: Lycoming MSB 612

Post by BRS »

We discovered this issue and reported it to Diamond, FAA, and Lycoming several years ago. Glad they decided to address it. It cost us $10,000 to tear down and inspect the engine as a result of the issue. How we found the issue, was that during the "climb-cool" test for the SuperCharger STC. It required us to do the test on minimum (4 qts.) oil. So we leveled the plane and drained the oil according to the dipstick. On climb-out it became clear that the oil suction was cavitating (or something). Since the pick-up is in the rear of the sump the situation was even worse once we leveled off to descend. The indication was the oil pressure dipping into the yellow but not staying there.

Once on the ground we drained the oil and measured 3 qts. I immediately ordered a dipstick from Diamond to be sure we didn't have a "one off". It was the same. Later oil analysis showed, higher than normal, levels of lead. Both Diamond and Lycoming advised us to tear down and inspect.

S/N: 40.649 (2006 model)
40.649 Sold (Still miss the DA40 from time to time)
Fly and EAB Sportsman
User avatar
Chris B
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 843
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:52 am
First Name: Chris
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N171CB
Airports: KRHV
Has thanked: 210 times
Been thanked: 215 times

Re: DA40-180 Oil Dipstick: Lycoming MSB 612

Post by Chris B »

BRS wrote:It cost us $10,000 to tear down and inspect the engine as a result of the issue.
Hi Brock -

Fascinating story! This must have been quite discouraging. :cry:

Did the inspection uncover any issues?

Chris
User avatar
BRS
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 313
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:44 am
First Name: Brock
Aircraft Type: OTHER
Aircraft Registration: N8QQ
Airports: W52
Has thanked: 31 times
Been thanked: 94 times

Re: DA40-180 Oil Dipstick: Lycoming MSB 612

Post by BRS »

Hi Chris,

One of the bearings (front I believe) showed some distress but was still serviceable. We replaced the the main and rod bearings anyway. Don't remember what else we might have changed. It was several years ago.
40.649 Sold (Still miss the DA40 from time to time)
Fly and EAB Sportsman
User avatar
Charles
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 638
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 5:36 pm
First Name: Charles
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: C-FLEV
Airports: CYHU
Has thanked: 27 times
Been thanked: 96 times

Re: DA40-180 Oil Dipstick: Lycoming MSB 612

Post by Charles »

Today was my first oil change since reading about this issue and I decided to measure the oil coming out of the engine. The dipstick was showing about 4.5 qts but I ended up with less than one gallon in the used oil container, including the oil drained from the filter. I would guess there wasn't more than 3.5 qts in the sump.

Dipstick is on order.
User avatar
AndrewM
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 239
Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2016 2:05 pm
First Name: Andrew
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N897KC
Airports:
Has thanked: 73 times
Been thanked: 75 times

Re: DA40-180 Oil Dipstick: Lycoming MSB 612

Post by AndrewM »

I had an offending dipstick as well. New one on order. The plane just came out of annual in September and then a separate pre-buy inspection in November, and no one picked this up. Lucky you folks brought this up on the forum...
User avatar
Rich
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 4592
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:40 pm
First Name: Rich
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N40XE
Airports: S39 Prineville OR
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 1180 times

Re: DA40-180 Oil Dipstick: Lycoming MSB 612

Post by Rich »

I'm trying to figure out a good way to get the word out to those who are not on this forum.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
Post Reply