I have about 35 hours on my new engine an o 200 built by lycon
so it's getting pretty much broke in, running excellent by the way
anyway, just trying to decide what oil to use for the next 1800 hrs or so figured everybody here could provide some useful information, also a fly pretty much all year long
thanks
Shawn

I pretty much use the Aeroshell 100 year round, seems to work well enough on the flight school airplanes they run around here, from the guys I've talked to.

20W-50 X/C with 5% ASL Camguard. Seems to work.

gb

There's many good arguments for using a single weight oil like Aeroshell W100. I used it for years, but now use Phillips 20W-50 and CamGuard. I noticed you're in eastern Oregon where it gets cold. I usually fly to AK in the spring and back in the fall (cold mornings in BC and YT). My big concern with single weight oils is starting the engine after it has cold soaked and I am away from my hangar and plug-in for the Tanis heater. Because of that, I switched to 20W-50 for year-around operations.

The other option is to switch from W100 in the summer to a multigrade in the winter. I've done the Idaho backcountry in May and have had frost on the plane in the mornings. Sometimes it's hard to coordinate when to do the switch, so I just went to 20W-50 for the entire year.

In addition to the above, I found Phillips 20W-50 at a distributor who sells it for $36/case. That's a very good price, these days.

I used Shell 15w-50 in my Cessna 140, because thats what the guy I bought it from used.

I'm using Shell 100-plus in my 170...cause that's what the guy I bought it from used. Honestly I find the 100 weight oil a tiny bit thick for the cool months, so I cut it 60/40 with Shell 15w-50. Both Shell and Lycoming say mixing the oil is a non-issue.

One thing I have noticed is that the 100 weight oil is a whole lot thicker than the 15w-50...I can really see the difference. I'd guess that changing your oil frequently is probably more important than which oil you use.

I change my oil every 20-25 hours and my oil and filter every 40-50 hours. Everyone says I'm changing the oil twice as often as I need to, but it makes me feel better, which is reason enough for me.

With my old T-cart I ran Philips 20W-50, because I could get a great deal on it through the local air taxi, When I started taking that plane far from home, (esp through Canada), I found it very hard to find that particular product. Just for that reason alone, I switched to Aeroshell 15W-50, because it seems you can find it just about everywhere, even remote places. Like Hammer I've read that it's fine to mix them, but if you can avoid mixing them, that intuitively seems better. Aeroshell's what I now use in my O-300A-equipped 170B.

I use aeroshell 15/50, I have used the straight mineral oil for breaking and tried the synthetic stuff but it would not let the water vapor burn off.

Aeroshell multigrade and Camguard here.

Oil gets dumped every 25 tach hours on the multiples of 25 on the gauge so I don't forget, and the screen cleaned when I feel like pulling the lower cowling off.

Gump

I forgot to mention that I have an El-Reno oil filter adapter on my O-300A. I cut open every used filter that I change for inspection. Never have seen anything on the filter paper, so I used to wonder what quantities of metal would look like. Last month I used my A/C cutter to cut open a hydraulic filter from a tractor. That sucker was full of shavings, spirals, chunks... If I ever found that in my plane's filter I'd have a heart attack the spot.

When I was back east for a winter my mechanic there was big into oil analysis, so I had one done. None of the mechanics I go to in AK seem to think they're worth it, though, so I've never had another one. Kind of meaningless, unless you do it every time, and keep a baseline record.

Here are some articles on oils:

http://www.exxonelite.com/Lubes/Exxon/e ... ml#control

http://www.shell.com/home/content/aviat ... 71245.html

Since both are mfgs. take w/ grain of salt.

Interesting article on future of leaded fuels:

http://www.shell.com/home/content/aviat ... 71515.html

I use Exxon Elite 20/50 oil and 5 % ASL Camguard.

I like the multi grade oils for reasons noted above. I hate keeping two or three types of oil around so I'll have the right "flavor" when I need it, and I can't just run down to the airplane oil store to get some.

The school here uses Aeroshell 15/50 in all 100 plus airplanes they own. It works for them, and they all go to TBO, pretty much.

As one poster noted, good oil of any brand and REGULAR USE will get you to TBO. Pick a brand of oil you like the color of the can, in other words.

BUT, I have used ASL Camguard for a number of years now. Lycoming now specifically authorizes its use as an additive in their engines, which is a first for additives. Note they say DO NOT use MMO. Camguard is good stuff for corrosion prevention. It's also not cheap. Neither are engines, and most of us don't fly as often as we should.

As to why I use Exxon Elite: At the big airshows each year, OSH and S n F, Exxon always offers a significant discount on their oil, AND free shipping to your home drome. That includes shipping to Alaska, by air, by the way. I got into that deal at Sun N Fun, buy a few cases each year, and they're at home when I arrive back. Winds up being cheaper that way than most of the other oils.

Buy the Camguard, though, WHATEVER oil you choose. It has additives that none of the oils offer.

MTV

We use the Exxon Elite 20/50 oil as well and for starters it was to get the 15* drop in CHT when we had a hot running 0540 now we are a distributer for it, and as it is here there is no local Aircraft stuff store so we are it....

Lycoming has a special additive that is in Aeroshell 100, LYC LW16702. I had a recent cam shaft problem and was told by my A &P that he puts a bottle of the additive in every oil change. I change my own oil so no matter what oil I use I add a bottle of the additive. It was developed by lycoming for cam shaft, tappet valve wear. Although I have read good things about Exxon Elite 20/50 and plan on switching from the aero shell 100 to Exxon Elte but I will continue to add a bottle of the additive. It is a lot cheaper than engine tear down and replacement of cam, valves, etc.

Wup,
I could not find the Exxon Elite on your site http://www.akbushwheel.com/
No rush I just changed oil but for the future will you be able to sell to indviduals on line?

Sojourn,

I believe the additive that you refer to was developed primarily for a couple of engines that had valve problems, specifically valve guide problems. Unless you are describing ASL Camguard.

Lycoming does not recommend that additive for other engines, though it would do no harm.

The additive package in Aeroshell 15/50 is basically the same as the additive package in Exxon Elite.

I recommend (as does Lycoming now) adding ASL Camguard to whatever oil you use. It provides an additive package that NONE of the aircraft oils provide, and one of those is particularly aimed at corrosion.

MTV

mtv,
Thanks for the inputs I'll doer! I am already familar with engine tear down cost

thanks for ifo

I was wondering if anybody uses the oil additive called ER or Energy Release. I run it in my cars and have heard it heard it helps the fuel economy as well as extend the life of the engine but have never heard of anyone useing it in aircraft engines. Maybe someone on hear has.

Student,

I've never heard of that one. The thing to remember is that our aircraft engines, with few exceptions are VERY different mechanically than any automotive engine. Temperatures are different, car engines accelerate/decelerate all the time, whereas aircraft engines generally run at steady rpm, air cooled vs liquid cooled, in other words a whole different world.

I'd stick with stuff that's actually recommended by the engine manufacturer.

MTV

So let me get this straight. Is camguard good for everyone regardless of climate, flying frequency, etc. I asked the folks at Animas Airpark and they hadn't heard of it. Is there good agreement on this or is this one of those additives that some think is gospel and others think is dubious.

Just wondering.