Changing the oil?

[Cwalsh7997]

Hey guys I'm just wondering how often should you change the oil in the plane? I've been flying on mine for around 50hours since the annual so im curious?

[FloridaMan]

I go 25 hours between oil changes and 50 hours per filter, and no more than three months per filter. 

[MooneyBob]

I do 25. Based on  my oil condition ( color and viscosity), consumption, oil analysis and filter inspection. I am trying to be pretty consistent so I can compare the results and catch any changes. 

[MooneyBob]

I go 25 hours between oil changes and 50 hours per filter, and no more than three months per filter. 

Hmm. To change the oil every 25 hrs and filter every 50 hours seems like a good idea. I would save some messy work every 25 hours. My oil is pretty clean and filter is in good shape every time I open it after 25 hours.

I am wondering what other think about that? 

[Oscar Avalle]

I change oil every 25 hours and Filter every 50

[Jeff_S]

25 to 30 hours and no more than 4 months. Filter change every time.  Some folks would wonder why you change the oil but leave a dirty filter. I suppose the argument is that the filter is dirty, thus doing its job. I look at it from a different viewpoint...we're already in there with the cowl off and doing the work (realize that to change the oil in an Ovation the full cowl does come off) so replacing the filter only costs $20 more and this way you can check for metal...extra safety.

 

I suppose when I had the J with the exposed quick-drain, there's an argument to leave the filter on every other change, but I still never minded the visual check for particles in the filter. Just good peace of mind.

[Mooneymite]

Hmmmm.   I guess I'm the "other guy".  

 

I change oil and filter every 50 hours.  My previous engine went to 2400 hours and was still running well when I decided that was far enough beyond TBO for me.  No oil issues on either engine.  I get about 10-10.5 hours/quart.  I've never run anything but Aeroshell W-100 until a couple of years ago when I switched to W-100+.

 

I don't think one can change oil "too often", the more often the better, but I've had satisfactory results at 50 hours.  YMMV.

[N201MKTurbo]

I think the rule of thumb is 25 hours if you have a screen 50 hours with a filter, but in either case no longer then 4 months.

 

you aren't going to do any serious damage to your engine unless you run out of oil....

[Rhumbline]

Oil & filter every 25 hours or 3 months, whichever rolls around first (usually the hours).  This may seem like overkill but my situation is probably somewhat unique in so far as the engine is in its 47th year without overhaul and I want to ensure that I catch any developing trouble ASAP.  Every mechanic I've spoken to, however, has suggested that every 50 hours or 6 months is adequate.

[xrs135]

I do every 50. Never any issues. Modern day oil is pretty impressive stuff.

[Mooneymite]

I do every 50. Never any issues. Modern day oil is pretty impressive stuff.

I know an automotive engineer, who ran Havoline 10W-30 in his Mooney for years.  I do not know what became of his Mooney after he died; I'd love to know if the engine ever had oil issues.

 

Note....this is neither and endorsement, nor recommendation.....just the facts.

 

(It was an 'F' model.  I think he sold it to some dude in DE who liked pictures of fat chicks....)  

[larryb]

I change the oil every 25 hours. I may skip the filter if I changed it the time before and it's a quick oil change between trips and I don't have a lot of time. So no more than 50 hours on a filter. The filter drains completely overnight, so there is no old oil in the filter to contaminate the new oil.

 

An oil change without the filter can be quite quick. At the end of a flight, connect the quick drain hose to a bucket, and close the hanger door. The next time you fly, put in 7 quarts before the flight, and go. The key thing is to drain it overnight to get it all out.

 

I change my oil this frequently to get the contaminants out. These engines have a lot of blow-by and contaminate the oil quickly. The only way to remove the contaminants is to change the oil.

 

Larry

[Vance Harral]

We frequently go 40+ hours and almost 6 months between oil changes, on an airplane that averages about 100 hours per year.  Engine is currently at 24 years and about 1600 SMOH.  The last 10 years and roughly 1000 hours have been on our watch.  No CamGuard, no engine dehumidifier or other fancy tricks.  We do have a dry climate here, though, which mitigates corrosion.  If I had to let the airplane sit unflown for months at a time on the coast somewhere, I'd probably be a lot more concerned about oil.

[xrs135]

Since we are on the topic of oil, where do you guys usually buy your oil? Last time, I bought a case from Sporty's... Seemed like a good deal but not a GREAT deal.

[Marauder]

I know an automotive engineer, who ran Havoline 10W-30 in his Mooney for years. I do not know what became of his Mooney after he died; I'd love to know if the engine ever had oil issues.

Note....this is neither and endorsement, nor recommendation.....just the facts.

(It was an 'F' model. I think he sold it to some dude in DE who liked pictures of fat chicks....)

It was absolutely me! I switched over from the Havoline to cooking oil since I usually bulk purchased from Costco for the girls and always bought more than they ever could use deep frying.

No problems to report since the changeover.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Marauder]

Since we are on the topic of oil, where do you guys usually buy your oil? Last time, I bought a case from Sporty's... Seemed like a good deal but not a GREAT deal.

I have purchased from Aircraft Spruce in the past but located a dealer near here that can get it for me for about $10/case less. I would check out if there are suppliers in the area. To the oil boys, oil is oil and you may find a better deal there.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[rbridges]

Hmmmm. I guess I'm the "other guy".

I change oil and filter every 50 hours. My previous engine went to 2400 hours and was still running well when I decided that was far enough beyond TBO for me. No oil issues on either engine. I get about 10-10.5 hours/quart. I've never run anything but Aeroshell W-100 until a couple of years ago when I switched to W-100+.

I don't think one can change oil "too often", the more often the better, but I've had satisfactory results at 50 hours. YMMV.

I do the exact same thing with the same oil. Hope I get 2400 on this motor!

[Guest]

Oil and filters are cheap, engines less so. In every Mooney I've worked on we install a long filter, 48111, 48104, 48109 as applicable to the engine.

In Canada we record our flights by wheels up tp wheels down flying time, 50 hours this way is a lot more engine running time, so I suggest 30 hours of logbook time.

Clarence

[Rik]

Does everyone use CamGuard?

[Mooneymite]

Does everyone use CamGuard?

 

I don't.

 

Never have.

[PTK]

Does everyone use CamGuard?

No! That's dumping perfectly good dollars down the oil bucket!

Aeroshell 15W50 and filter approx. q 35 hours or 4 months year round.

My philisophy is since I'm going to buy oil why not pay just a little more and buy the best premium oil available purposefully formulated for my engine. For a cost delta of a little over a dollar per quart it's a no brainer.

[Rhumbline]

Since we are on the topic of oil, where do you guys usually buy your oil? Last time, I bought a case from Sporty's... Seemed like a good deal but not a GREAT deal.

 

Usually oil-store.com but I also check out AirplaneOil.com and kellerheartt.com as they sometimes have better deals.

 

Does everyone use CamGuard?

Nope.  I use Aeroshell 15w-50.  Supposedly, additives are superfluous with that oil.

[Mooneymite]

Well.....

 

If this thread is going to go in a predictable manner, someone needs to mention Marvel Mystery oil about now.

 

[Rhumbline]

Only on my pancakes!

[Marauder]

Little does Mooneymite and the other MooneySpace participants know, but they're actually dead. And this is their form of hell,; to live over and over again the same forum threads.

Time to roll the fat woman in.