touch nothing, divert to the nearest airfield,
monitor oil temperature and pressure, low oil levels will cause temperature
to increase,
you already know you are loosing oil but at what rate?
low oil pressure might mean the oil sump is about empty.
it would take a lot of oil for that to happen, you may not be able to see
out the front then
but remember that not all the oil will be on the windshield, some will be on
the belly etc
remain high for glide if the engine does quit

if there is a tower where you are going, call them early and request
priority, tell them you suspect an engine oil loss problem.
if it is only a uncontrolled field, call and let them know early, just in
case you have to land in that field one mile short, they will be looking for
you

the oil will "streak" in the slip stream
changing power prop settings "even to fine" will cause the seals in the prop
hub to flex, why move them more than you have too.

BT

"Tony Cox" wrote in message
ups.com...
Here's a question that anyone with a single
engine, constant speed prop might have to
deal with sometime.

You're cruising along happily when suddenly
oil drops start appearing on the windshield. There
is no "bang" or anything else to indicate catastrophic
failure. The nearest airport is out of gliding range.
What do you do?

I'd assume symptoms were caused by some prop seal
failure. I'd go to fine pitch (to minimize further oil
loss) & then reduce RPM to where I could still maintain
altitude (to further minimize oil loss, and to minimize
structural damage if the prop were about to disintegrate)
while heading for the nearest airport.

Can anyone think of a better response?