Lee Schaumberg
Well-Known Member
Hello
The human body and plane engines have a lot in common. Both require a fluid to lubricate , cool , and clean. In the body blood lubricate the organs. With perspireing it cools the body. With the kidneys it takes the dirt out. In an engine the oil lubricates. With the cooler the oil cools the engine. The oil screen or filter takes out the trash.
The fuel normally burned in piston aircraft is 100LL. Lead requires a petroleum oil to disolve the lead. Synthetic oils can't disolve lead. It then builds up under the rings and on the valves causing wear. The oil cooler acts like a radiator for air cooled plane engines. All of the airplane engines require and have a screen or filter for cleaning the oil.
Young humans go fast at first. This helps to condition the body for later years. Airplane engines need to operate well above half power to properly break in. Things like proper ring seating and over all inspection are done.
We now ask what kind of oil? Definately not synthetic! What grade do we use? A high enough grade for full power. Many run a new engine at low power and speed during the first part of the engines life which is bad. They do that because they spent many thousands of hours building and are not comfortable with the plane yet.
Should the owner spend the money and upgrade to a filter? Definately yes A screen cleans to 50 mils and a filter less than 20 mils. The back pressure caused by the filter is not a concern.
Obviously the length of time at first should be short. 5 -10 hours at first then change. The second change can be at 25 hours. At no time let the oil get low. With only an oil screen 25 hours is it. With a filter the third change can be 50 hours or the final interval.
The human body and plane engines have a lot in common. Both require a fluid to lubricate , cool , and clean. In the body blood lubricate the organs. With perspireing it cools the body. With the kidneys it takes the dirt out. In an engine the oil lubricates. With the cooler the oil cools the engine. The oil screen or filter takes out the trash.
The fuel normally burned in piston aircraft is 100LL. Lead requires a petroleum oil to disolve the lead. Synthetic oils can't disolve lead. It then builds up under the rings and on the valves causing wear. The oil cooler acts like a radiator for air cooled plane engines. All of the airplane engines require and have a screen or filter for cleaning the oil.
Young humans go fast at first. This helps to condition the body for later years. Airplane engines need to operate well above half power to properly break in. Things like proper ring seating and over all inspection are done.
We now ask what kind of oil? Definately not synthetic! What grade do we use? A high enough grade for full power. Many run a new engine at low power and speed during the first part of the engines life which is bad. They do that because they spent many thousands of hours building and are not comfortable with the plane yet.
Should the owner spend the money and upgrade to a filter? Definately yes A screen cleans to 50 mils and a filter less than 20 mils. The back pressure caused by the filter is not a concern.
Obviously the length of time at first should be short. 5 -10 hours at first then change. The second change can be at 25 hours. At no time let the oil get low. With only an oil screen 25 hours is it. With a filter the third change can be 50 hours or the final interval.
