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changing from straight weight to multi-weight

larryb

By larryb
in General Mooney Talk

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larryb Mentor

larryb

Posted
Posted

Hello:

I am the new owner of an 84J model approaching my first oil change. The previous owner used Aeroshell W100+. I would like to change to a multi-vis oil. I feel the multi-vis oil would improve cold-start wear since it flows faster in a cold start. The engine is about 800 SMOH.

I have been told that it is not wise to make this change. The reason given is that the multi-vis oils have more detergents, freeing up accumulated sludge which will clog the oil filter.

I operate in California, generally temps between 50 and 90, but occasionally 30 to 110.

What does the group think about making a change from straight weight to multi-vis oil?

Thanks, Larry

jetdriven Grand Master

jetdriven

Posted
Posted

Quote: larryb

Hello:

I am the new owner of an 84J model approaching my first oil change. The previous owner used Aeroshell W100+. I would like to change to a multi-vis oil. I feel the multi-vis oil would improve cold-start wear since it flows faster in a cold start. The engine is about 800 SMOH.

I have been told that it is not wise to make this change. The reason given is that the multi-vis oils have more detergents, freeing up accumulated sludge which will clog the oil filter.

I operate in California, generally temps between 50 and 90, but occasionally 30 to 110.

What does the group think about making a change from straight weight to multi-vis oil?

Thanks, Larry

PTK Grand Master

PTK

Posted
Posted

Since your engine has been running Aeroshell 100+ have you considered the Aeroshell 15W50? It has the same additive as the 100+ your engine knows. It is superb. I use it year round with excellent results. It is a little more expensive but I choose to pay for a superb oil rather than for some additive. You do get what you pay for and more with Aeroshell 15W50. Ymmv.


I'm not a fan of adding things to a precisely engineered and formulated oil. By doing so you are contaminating and altering the formula the oil manufacturer intended.

BigTex Mentor

BigTex

Posted
Posted

Larry,


You might want to watch Mike busch's webinars on oil and you might want to reconsider switching.  You might want to consider switching from W100+ to W100 & Camguard.  Then during winter go with X/C 20W50 & Camguard.

KSMooniac Grand Master

KSMooniac

Posted
Posted

Quote: allsmiles

Since your engine has been running Aeroshell 100+ have you considered the Aeroshell 15W50? It has the same additive as the 100+ your engine knows. It is superb. I use it year round with excellent results. It is a little more expensive but I choose to pay for a superb oil rather than for some additive. You do get what you pay for and more with Aeroshell 15W50. Ymmv.

I'm not a fan of adding things to a precisely engineered and formulated oil. By doing so you are contaminating and altering the formula the oil manufacturer intended.

larryb Mentor

larryb

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hi:

Thanks everybody for a quick response. Seems like no worries about making the switch. I thought it sounded like an old wives tale when I heard it.

So far, 3 votes Phillips 20W50, 1 vote Aeroshell 15W50. I will look into camguard. Any other votes for Aeroshell? Why do people prefer 1 vs. the other?

Thanks, Larry

Kwixdraw Rising Star

Kwixdraw

Posted
Posted

One over the other?  Circle of friends. Habit. What my flight school used so it must be good. Go to the Blackstone Labs website and you will learn a bunch about oils and oil sampling. Tell you up front that they won't recommend one oil over another. What you are buying with oils is the additive package. I ran Shell 20-50 in mine and changed every 25 or 50 hours depending on operational factors and I can tell you that you could scoop the sludge out of the crank and prop hub with a spoon at 1700 hrs. I'm told that this is not unusual and not because of the oil, just my observation in my case.

PilotDerek Community Regular

PilotDerek

Posted
Posted

I use Philips 20W50 and Camguard. The planes I rented used 100w. The previous owner used Philips, I've not heard anything bad about it to make me think of changing. I've added Camguard at every oil change because I've only heard and read great things about it. 

wiguy Collaborator

wiguy

Posted
Posted

 I mostly use 100+ in the Summer heat & Aeroshell 15w-50 in the cooler months. Yes I could use 15-50 year round. Other factors are a larger issue than specific oil used, how often is the plane flown? Is pre-heat used for cold starts? What is the oil change schedule? I have nothing against Camguard, haven't used it yet though. If the plane sat a lot I would use it.


  One of the requirements for aviation oil to meet spec is to be compatible mixing with similar oils. Going from 15w-50 to 100+(or back) as long as temps are accounted for is no big deal. If you are on a Summer trip & need to add oil to your 100+ engine supply, a quart of 15w-50 isn't going to matter a bit.


 

jetdriven Grand Master

jetdriven

Posted
Posted

Aviation Consumer has an article where they dipped metal coupons into different oils and hung in a shaded area and misted with water every day for 21 days to measure corrosion.  Straight weight Aeroshell 100 non-AD oil formed rust in 5 days.  That's all it takes for rust pits to form on your lifters and cause failure.  Aeroshell 15W50 lased 15 days.  Camguard, Avblend, and Exxon elite  treated samples showed no rust when the test was teminated after 21 days.


I like the idea of Aeroshell 15W50 but for two things. One, its expensive. Adding Camguard to Philips X/C 20W50  is the same cost. The other is Aeroshell is half synthetic. Synthetic will not scavenge lead so your engine, especially the ring belts, will tent to accumulate lead sludge.


That Lycoming document Allsmiles linked to says rust can form on new cylinder walls in as little as two days.  Given we took due regard to care for our engine and it still had a presumed corrosion-related failure of the camshaft and lifters, I think this problem is much more common and insidious than we think.

jetdriven Grand Master

jetdriven

Posted
Posted

I like straight weight oil better as well, but where is the information about it clinging to parts longer? According to Philips, Aeroshell, and Aviation Consumer, there is no statiscical difference in oil film after a couple hours.  I'd like to know, myself.

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