Potential time bomb on my 348

Wanted to post this to tell my fellow 348 owners to go check this.

While I was underneath the car today searching for the source of a leak (looks like I'm doing TO Bearing seals in my near future). I discovered something terrifying. The main oil pipe going from the dry sump tank to the engine was making contact with a stud sticking out of the transmission where there are brackets securing the pipe to the trans.

Here you can see where it had been rubbing. It might take a while, but I'm positive vibrations would eventually wear a hole in this pipe, and rather than routing oil the engine it would then start routing oil to the ground....

I was able to remove the brackets and slip a few washers under the spacers already there to create some separation .

Not sure if it's just mine that was like this or if something wasn't installed correctly, but to be safe I'd recommend going and checking this out on your car .

 

I would say it is rare that I don't see that pipe scared in some way by the case studs. What you see is pretty normal.

 

That seems like a really poor design for something so important.

There is definite scar in the pipe that I can feel with my fingernail.

Maybe it's not actually an issue, but when I see things rubbing that shouldn't be rubbing, I get nervous. Once I saw it I needed to do something about it for my own peace of mind at least. At any rate this was a really quick fix.

 

Good eye, always an idea to be looking at everything with a "critical eye" especially when it comes to plumbing and wiring. Having spent my career overhauling and maintaining helicopters we were trained to always be looking for chafing or interference and were very cognizant during assembly to make sure clearance was consistently applied. It's the "fix it before it breaks" maintenance theory and it works well.

 

Looking for rubing lines, hoses and wiring is always part of a pre and post flight.

 

Or "prevent it from breaking"