This should get things stirred up!!!

Which is your preferred oil and why?

I use Phillips XC 20W50.

Year round I like multi viscosity. Commercial operations. Coastal Alaska weather.

When things start to get cold It flows to the critical engine parts a little quicker than straight grade.

I have never had any premature wear problems using it.

I think Aeroshell 15W50 is better oil but for the price difference I like Phillips

I'm not sure what the best is. I run Aeroshell 15W50. But I'm very tempted to try running some synthetic auto oil...

A1Skinner wrote: I run Aeroshell 15W50. But I'm very tempted to try running some synthetic auto oil...

In your Cessna180?

Gump

Skinner, do NOT run automotive oil in an air-cooled airplane engine! There have been many articles written by the oil manufactures as well as engine manufactures and overhaul shops so I will refer you to those articles instead of explaining it here. They can better explain it.

G44

15-50 is NOT the better oil…

All the oils lubricate very well, the big thing is which one adheres to the parts better and protects from rust and corrosion when the engine is not running. In my experience Aeroshell 15-50 is last place in this regard. If you fly a lot and the airplane rarely sits then 15-50 should be fine but if it doesn't fly all the time then stick with the Phillips or Exxon Elite. Now as far as avblend or Camguard, that will get many opinions so I will just stick with your question about the oil.

G44

I'll have to do some reading G44. I know one AME up near me that I know runs synthetic oil in his 180 and its been working great. Neither of us runs avgas if that makes any difference.
Can you give any references to any articles?
Thanks

Little experience in the aviation realm, but I thought for sure that the motorcycle grade oils were BS for a number of years. Last year on a whim I changed the oil in my Valk to a true Honda grade MC oil and have been amazed at how smooth my clutch now operates.

I'm certain the same can be said for AV grade oils.

On the subject of automotive synthetic motor oils in a plane. Back around 1980 Mobil oil introduced "Mobil 1" pure synthetic oil for aviation as an all temperature, all weather, any engine oil. After a couple of years and a few inflight engine failures they found that it does not properly suspend lead in the oil, but leaves a coating of lead in the oil passages that can cause loss of lubrication to parts of the engine, like the crankshaft. Mobile 1 was withdrawn from aviation use, and mobile paid to rebuild/replace a bunch of engines, paid for a few crashed planes, and settled some wrongful death suits out of court. Automotive synthetic oil should ONLY be used with unleaded fuel.

Gump, the article you post says its best to run ashless oil. Nothing against synthetics really. VW actually endorses the use of synthetic oils in their aur cooled engines. So if you can get an ashless synthetic, then you should be ok, as long as you run mogas. Right?

I've always been told, and read, that aircraft engines (air cooled, horizontaly opposed piston) get aircraft oil because of the differences in the engines and oils from automotive. Does this hold true for new synthetic oils, and for aircraft running mogas. I have no clue.

But bottom line is, oil is cheap. Dirt cheap. Why risk a $30K engine for a couple bucks price difference? And, does the new synthetic oil do something so much better than aircraft ashless dispersant oil that it's worth taking the chance of burning holes in your piston tops?

I use Aeroshell or Phillips multigrade and Camguard and things keep plugging away without oil issues.

Gump

I don't know if it's best but I am using Aeroshell 100. I add 11 qts and one cam guard, I change oil every 35 hrs I change the oil filter every other oil change (70 hrs) This is on a Pponk O-470-50 engine rebuilt 425 hours ago with ECI cylinders. When come time to change oil I usually have 10 quarts left in the crankcase. I never add.

Last annual 5 hrs ago, Four of six cylinders were 79/80, one was a very disappointing at 78/80 Another cylinder made me proud it was 80/80. (Don't tell anyone) but I usually use a one part 100LL two parts 91 octane mobile gas.

I use Shell Rotella 15/40 in my fleet of trucks. I also use their synthetic oils in the gearboxes and had very few failures on transmissions and differentials. I have over a 1million miles on a couple of them.

another vote for Phillips xc20w50 + camguard. It is what Mike Busche uses in his plane and that's good enough for me.

scottf wrote:another vote for Phillips xc20w50 + camguard. It is what Mike Busche uses in his plane and that's good enough for me.

I'm not a huge fan of statements like this about most guys, but I truly believe Mike understands engines.

If that's what he uses, I'll probably use the same thing.

Car oils are quite different than motorcycle or other oils. The catalytic converter in cars can't handle additives like zinc, so there's much less of it in car oils. Motorcycle oils have zinc and other things since they generally share oil between the transmission and engine. I have no idea about plane oils.

Unless you are flying at least weekly, use cam guard.

Ran Aeroshell for years with oil analysis every other change, switched to XC 20-50 and my oil analysis improved immediately and stayed better, That was enough for me. Had an O540 turbo at that time.

Excellent points Gump. Oil is cheap considering.

Big John wrote:Ran Aeroshell for years with oil analysis every other change, switched to XC 20-50 and my oil analysis improved immediately and stayed better, That was enough for me. Had an O540 turbo at that time.

This interests me. In what ways did the analysis improve? The oil was cleaner? Less metal?

I have used only aeroshell 15w-50 for 1300 hours compressions are always 75/80 or higher. I have never pulled a jug or had to do anything else to the engine. I do fly often with the longest rest period of 3 weeks.. Very expensive but with the results I have not switched.

100W plus in both my O-320 and 470. Airplanes are flown regularly (almost every week) and never had an issue.

As said previously Oil (and gas for that matter) are the cheapest thing you can put in your airplane, don't skimp.