Oil Analysis IO360

[Txbyker]

What do you guys find as normal with oil sampling in regards to metal count?  My last analysis came back "above normal wear".  1660 hours SN.  Never been rebuilt, just top overhaul.

Fe = 24

Cu = 6.0

Ni = 1.1

Al = 5.0

 

[danb35]

Blackstone shows 19 ppm Fe, 5 ppm Cu, 1 ppm Ni, and 5 ppm Al as the "universal averages" for an IO-360.  Your engine looks slightly high for Fe, but otherwise pretty much normal.

[Cruiser]

unless there is something seriously wrong inside, one oil analysis is not going to provide too much guidance on the engine condition. You need to look at several over a period of time to determine trends for wear and stability.

Oil analysis are accurate but all things have variation and error. As Dan says, most of the numbers are near universal averages. Iron can come from a little rust formed because the engine sat too long between flights.

If you get regular oil analysis how does this last one compare? Is the filter metal free? Is there metal there also? Oil analysis are predictive, keep a close watch on oil usage, and anything unusual happening with the engine. 

[Txbyker]

Thanks nothing unusual.  I have 3 oil analysis over the last few months.  The last reading was pretty high in Fe = 35 and Spectro marked that as "normal" and this one is Fe = 24 and they mark the results as "above normal wear".  Maybe two Fe high in a row indicates above normal for them.

Engine running pretty good, temps stable about 20 degree difference at altitude across cylinders.  Nothing in oil filter to see with naked eye.

The plane is over 20 years old with original engine.  Flys once a week for a couple of hours at a time.  My first plane so everything is a learning event for me.

[Magnum]

Quote: txbyker

Thanks nothing unusual.  I have 3 oil analysis over the last few months.  The last reading was pretty high in Fe = 35 and Spectro marked that as "normal" and this one is Fe = 24 and they mark the results as "above normal wear".  Maybe two Fe high in a row indicates above normal for them.

Engine running pretty good, temps stable about 20 degree difference at altitude across cylinders.  Nothing in oil filter to see with naked eye.

The plane is over 20 years old with original engine.  Flys once a week for a couple of hours at a time.  My first plane so everything is a learning event for me.