Narrative:

Company erj-140 aircraft X was given a special request work callout by [maintenance] planning (maintenance operations control) to remove and replace (right/right) fuel pump metering unit (fpmu) carbon seal. I was given the task of running the engines after installation of carbon seal to ensure that there were no leaks found. We (the inspector and I) found residual leakage and attributed the oil dripping from the thrust reverser panels afterwards; to be poor cleaning of cowling prior to the runs. I signed the logbook and the inspector signed the airworthiness release.I started to watch the oil leaks on said cowling on subsequent flights of aircraft X for the next few days. I noticed on several days since the runs that my fellow mechanics would rush out to the aircraft upon its arrival to wipe down the cowling as soon as possible to remove any trace of oil leaks. Consequently; the crew never saw anything and did not report any discrepancies in the logbook. I voiced my concern and objection to my fellow co-workers but received a deaf ear. No one wanted to ground the aircraft and no one wanted to open the cowling to investigate the ongoing uncorrected and undocumented discrepancy. A fellow co-worker then shared with me that the line crews are doing the same with aircraft Y. Needless to say; words fail to express my disbelief and disappointment at this situation. Today; I was determined to ground aircraft X upon an inspection finding but did not get a chance to do so due to [aircraft] routing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Line Mechanic reports ongoing maintenance practice by his Air Carrier of having mechanics run out to their ERJ-140 aircraft and wipe down any engine cowling with oil leakage residue; instead of properly trouble shooting the cause of the leak.

Narrative: Company ERJ-140 aircraft X was given a special request work callout by [Maintenance] Planning (Maintenance Operations Control) to Remove and Replace (R/R) fuel pump metering unit (FPMU) carbon seal. I was given the task of running the engines after installation of carbon seal to ensure that there were no leaks found. We (the Inspector and I) found residual leakage and attributed the oil dripping from the thrust reverser panels afterwards; to be poor cleaning of cowling prior to the runs. I signed the logbook and the Inspector signed the Airworthiness Release.I started to watch the oil leaks on said cowling on subsequent flights of Aircraft X for the next few days. I noticed on several days since the runs that my fellow mechanics would rush out to the aircraft upon its arrival to wipe down the cowling as soon as possible to remove any trace of oil leaks. Consequently; the crew never saw anything and did not report any discrepancies in the logbook. I voiced my concern and objection to my fellow co-workers but received a deaf ear. NO ONE wanted to ground the aircraft and NO ONE wanted to open the cowling to investigate the ongoing UNCORRECTED and UNDOCUMENTED discrepancy. A fellow co-worker then shared with me that the line crews are doing the same with Aircraft Y. Needless to say; words fail to express my disbelief and disappointment at this situation. Today; I was determined to ground Aircraft X upon an inspection finding but did not get a chance to do so due to [aircraft] routing.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.