Rotax burping sound

H. Paul Shuch is a Light Sport Repairman with Maintenance ratings for airplanes, gliders, weight shift control, and powered parachutes, as well as an independent Rotax Maintenance Technician at the Heavy Maintenance level. He holds a PhD in Air Transportation Engineering from the University of California, and serves as Director of Maintenance for AvSport of Lock Haven.

Moderator: drseti

User avatar
Warmi
Posts: 1230
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2016 5:35 pm
Location: Frankfort, IL

Rotax burping sound

Post by Warmi »

Hey,

So I have been burping my 912 uls for seems like ages now before every first flight of the day and just recently ( in the last , say 4 months ) - started hearing like a faint hissing sound when rotating the prop.

Everything works fine and engine burps in about 30 pulls or so ( depending on outside conditions ) but at least twice I heard that high pitching hissing sound like air escaping somewhere in the engine compartment - first time I thought I was hearing things but now it happened again.
Any idea what could that be ?

Thanks
Flying Sting S4 ( N184WA ) out of Illinois
Sling 2 Pilot
Posts: 317
Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2018 4:53 pm

Re: Rotax burping sound

Post by Sling 2 Pilot »

Jeez, 30 pulls? Mine burps with about 6-8 if warm, 10-12 if cold.
User avatar
Warmi
Posts: 1230
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2016 5:35 pm
Location: Frankfort, IL

Re: Rotax burping sound

Post by Warmi »

Sling 2 Pilot wrote:Jeez, 30 pulls? Mine burps with about 6-8 if warm, 10-12 if cold.
Well by 30 I mean 30 prop pulls , not rotations ... it would be about 10 full prop rotations.
It has pretty much always been like that since 150 hours ( now at 400 )
Flying Sting S4 ( N184WA ) out of Illinois
3Dreaming
Posts: 3107
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 6:13 pm
Location: noble, IL USA

Re: Rotax burping sound

Post by 3Dreaming »

Pull slow and easy, not fast and quick. It is the air passing by the rings that is pushing the oil back to the tank. The more time with each pull to let the air past the rigns the quicker it will burp.

Now for the hissing. Does happen with each blade, or only on certain blades?
User avatar
Warmi
Posts: 1230
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2016 5:35 pm
Location: Frankfort, IL

Re: Rotax burping sound

Post by Warmi »

I think it is with certain blades only but I’m a not sure - it is very faint to the point that I am having hard time hearing it.
It seems to be coming from the passenger side of the engine.

And as I mentioned, I burp the thing often , half of the time with cowling off and I heard it so far maybe two, three times at most so it is not frequent by any means.
Flying Sting S4 ( N184WA ) out of Illinois
3Dreaming
Posts: 3107
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 6:13 pm
Location: noble, IL USA

Re: Rotax burping sound

Post by 3Dreaming »

If it is not every blade, the 4 culprits that come to mind. A loose or leaking spark plug, a leaking head to cylinder connection, a cracked head, or a leaking exhaust valve. Which side is your exhaust located? I would check or replace the spark plugs, because that is fairly cheap, and you can do that yourself. Second have someone put an ear to the exhaust as the engine is being pulled through listening to see if the hiss is coming from the exhaust. A compression check would be in order for the head issues.
User avatar
Warmi
Posts: 1230
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2016 5:35 pm
Location: Frankfort, IL

Re: Rotax burping sound

Post by Warmi »

The compression test was done early this year and was perfect - anyway, I will follow your advice and try to check all these things ( spark plugs, have somebody listen for where exactly does it come from etc )

Now if this hissing sound would have been at every blade , would that indicate something else ?

Thanks
Flying Sting S4 ( N184WA ) out of Illinois
User avatar
FastEddieB
Posts: 2880
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:33 pm
Location: Lenoir City, TN/Mineral Bluff, GA

Re: Rotax burping sound

Post by FastEddieB »

Just thinking out loud...

...”blades” don’t correlate directly to crankshaft/piston position, due to the gearing involved between the prop and the crankshaft. If that’s what was being implied.

As a data point, if burped from cold, 30 blades is not unusual for my Sky Arrow. Even having just run, probably 10 to 15 is average.
Fast Eddie B.
Sky Arrow 600 E-LSA • N467SA
CFI, CFII, CFIME
[email protected]
3Dreaming
Posts: 3107
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 6:13 pm
Location: noble, IL USA

Re: Rotax burping sound

Post by 3Dreaming »

Warmi wrote:The compression test was done early this year and was perfect - anyway, I will follow your advice and try to check all these things ( spark plugs, have somebody listen for where exactly does it come from etc )

Now if this hissing sound would have been at every blade , would that indicate something else ?

Thanks
I guess when I say blade, I really mean every compression stroke. If it is every fourth blade that indicative of a singular issue related to one cylinder. Every blade would indicate something else, and thinking about possibilities I don't think it would be good.
AGLyme
Posts: 33
Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2019 8:05 pm

Re: Rotax burping sound

Post by AGLyme »

My Rotax (Flight Design) mechanic doesn't rotate the prop -- really... he pulls very slowly (maybe a 1/3rd of a rotation) until something is just right in there and viola' he creates the burping sound.
User avatar
Warmi
Posts: 1230
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2016 5:35 pm
Location: Frankfort, IL

Re: Rotax burping sound

Post by Warmi »

AGLyme wrote:My Rotax (Flight Design) mechanic doesn't rotate the prop -- really... he pulls very slowly (maybe a 1/3rd of a rotation) until something is just right in there and viola' he creates the burping sound.
Are you saying he gets the burb with 1/3 of a rotation ?
Flying Sting S4 ( N184WA ) out of Illinois
User avatar
MrMorden
Posts: 2184
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:28 am
Location: Athens, GA

Re: Rotax burping sound

Post by MrMorden »

FastEddieB wrote: As a data point, if burped from cold, 30 blades is not unusual for my Sky Arrow. Even having just run, probably 10 to 15 is average.
Why burp the engine if it has just run? Mine always has oil on the flat of the dipstick ("Acceptable range") if the engine is warm. I check the stick and only burp if the oil is off the flat. After all, it will only go higher with burping...
Andy Walker
Athens, GA
Sport Pilot ASEL, LSRI
2007 Flight Design CTSW E-LSA
AGLyme
Posts: 33
Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2019 8:05 pm

Re: Rotax burping sound

Post by AGLyme »

Sorry, just saw this question... Yes, 1/3rd of a rotation... he does it very slowly... I haven't been able to copy it.
Nomore767
Posts: 929
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:30 pm

Re: Rotax burping sound

Post by Nomore767 »

I always remove the oil tank cap before burping less air pressure to the tank and the gurgling sound is louder.
Just my technique.
TimTaylor
Posts: 1594
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2017 7:17 pm

Re: Rotax burping sound

Post by TimTaylor »

Nomore767 wrote:I always remove the oil tank cap before burping less air pressure to the tank and the gurgling sound is louder.
Just my technique.
Me too. Can you even hear it otherwise?
Retired from flying.
Post Reply