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Metals in oil analysis


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Im flying a 1975 M20F that had an overhaul in 2018 and currently has 185 hours. My recent oil change showed high Iron, Copper, Nickel, Chromium, Aluminum and Tin. This is the first time... should I be worried?????? Plane is flown regularly and docent sit.

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If flown regularly...

And getting all kinds of metals detected...

Compare to previous analyses...

Expect something has changed...

How the sample got collected, who did the sampling, who did the testing...

Oil analysis done the same way, by the same people, with the same lab... usually provides stable results...

until something changes with the engine...

Was there anything found in the engine filter or screens?

How many hours do you wait to change oil again..?

PP thoughts only, not a mechanic...

Best regards,

-a-

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Just now, carusoam said:

If flown regularly...

And getting all kinds of metals detected...

Compare to previous analyses...

Expect something has changed...

How the sample got collected, who did the sampling, who did the testing...

Oil analysis done the same way, by the same people, with the same lab... usually provides stable results...

until something changes with the engine...

Was there anything found in the engine filter or screens?

How many hours do you wait to change oil again..?

PP thoughts only, not a mechanic...

Best regards,

-a-

Just purchased the plane so this was my first analysis. Nothing in the screens, 38 hours between oil change. Guess Im not going to worry until the next one.

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Unfortunately, we need to set a baseline, to have something to compare with...

Like EGTs... the raw numbers are a bit difficult to do much of anything with...
 

Now, if you had a bunch of parts in the filter.... you would be able to tell what the parts came from by all the metal in the oil...

Try to use the same number of hours with the same oil, all done the same way... with the same lab... things should start to be repeatable...

PP thoughts only, not a mechanic or oil analyzer...

Best regards,

-a-

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1 hour ago, Htmlkid said:

Im flying a 1975 M20F that had an overhaul in 2018 and currently has 185 hours. My recent oil change showed high Iron, Copper, Nickel, Chromium, Aluminum and Tin. This is the first time... should I be worried?????? Plane is flown regularly and docent sit.

How did you take the sample?  Was it the first oil to run out of the sump or did you let a little drain and then take the sample mid-stream?

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