A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Troubleshooting; Physiological - Other; Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
On descent into ZZZ; smelled oil vapor fumes. Both FO and I complied with the Smoke/Fumes memory items and donned our oxygen masks. Per FOM; 'If air condition smoke is suspected;' (particularly the part about 'Faulty Equip… Isolate') I turned off pack #1; waited; removed mask; fumes were still present. I put my mask back on; turned pack #1 back on; turned pack #2 off. Waited; then mask off; fumes still present. Mask back on for remainder of flight. Called and asked flight attendants if they smelled any odors in the cabin; but they said they did not.At gate; tried using APU bleed; no odor detected; but switched off after test just in case. The flight attendants seemed to have mild; if any; symptoms. The FO and I had mild headaches; sore throats; and deep breaths caused me to cough. After a teleconference with the Chief Pilot's office; I called to report what happened and ask for advice; but as the incident/flight was completed; they had little interest and/or advice to provide.After troubleshooting the packs using APU air; the mechanics felt that the Left Hand/#1 pack caused the oil fumes. The LH pack was deferred; the FO and I ferried the plane from ZZZ to ZZZ1. The flight attendants stayed and flew ZZZ-ZZZ2 with the passengers on a plane brought in. On the way into ZZZ1; we again smelled fumes and again put on our oxygen masks. The fumes open item was already in the logbook; per the ferry permit; so I didn't need to write it again; but informed the mechanics. Also; the station personnel in ZZZ are outstanding. They communicate well; they anticipate what we might need next and ask us about it. Can't say enough good about them; every time I've been there; but particularly with the fumes event.As the problem was deferred; I don't know the cause. If I'm permitted to speculate; I would say cause was contamination from previous fumes events starting with an oil leak. A fumes event one day; and another later; also on the day of the first fume event led to changing an oil supply line O-ring. After the O-ring replacement; they 'ran the packs for four hours.' Again; only speculating here; but I'm guessing they didn't do a 'pack burn' which involves much higher temperatures and as long as six hours; followed by a filter (ozone?) change. If that is the case; residual oil in the ducts and/or filters is what we smelled. Of course; there could also be another leak; or the residue from the leak in the APU enclosure wasn't completely cleaned up.There are three steps maintenance must take in a fume event: (1) find the source; (2) fix the leak; (3) clean up. I think we are not terribly good at the last step. Pack burn and filter change would have prevented our fumes event.
A320 captain reported during the descent to the destination airport; oily fumes were detected in the cockpit. After donning oxygen masks and accomplishing all appropriate checklists; the flight continued to the destination airport where the aircraft was removed from service.