Oil change is one of the most important aircraft maintenance because it ensures that the engine, exhaust system, bearing, spline, carbon seal, and other critical components receive enough lubrication to prevent wear and tear and heat buildup. Related articles: What happens during aircraft maintenance?  

What will happen to your aircraft if you skimp on an oil change?

Aircraft engines generate a sufficient amount of combustion byproducts such as sulfur, carbon and nitrogen, making them more susceptible to the contamination that causes premature failure. Aside from premature engine failure, failure to conduct regular oil change can lead to these problems: 

• Wear and tear. Oil reduces friction between moving components by covering them with a thin layer of lubricant. 
• Heat buildup. Lack of lubrication can lead to heat buildup and engine failure. 
• Less than optimal performance. Without sufficient lubrication, the engine will not run smoothly. 
• Corrosion problems. Aircraft oil protects the engine from rusting and corroding. 

What are the important functions of aircraft engine oil?

Engine oil plays a critical role in your aircraft engine’s performance and longevity.  Meanwhile, these are the critical functions of the aircraft engine oil:

• Lubrication to reduce the friction of moving components
• Cooling of engine’s hot spots
• Maintaining the engine clean by keeping dirt and other contaminants suspended
• Creating “cushioning” effects to minimize sound and dampen noise
• Keep the propellers functioning well 
• Sealing pistons in cylinders 

How frequently should you perform oil change?

As a general rule, your oil change is performed at a 25-hour or four-month interval, whichever comes first. Meanwhile, don’t be tempted to skimp on this maintenance part just because you don’t use your plane frequently. Remember that when the engine sits idle, the used oil can become more acidic, so when it’s combined with water from the atmosphere, the “mixture” causes corrosion.   

Who should perform the oil change?

As an aircraft owner, you can do an oil change on your airplane and sign off the work on your maintenance records (based on what the Federal Aviation Authority requires). But since the process is quite tricky, it’s not uncommon for owners to hire a professional technician to do this type of maintenance instead.    Should you choose to do your own engine oil change, here are some things you must keep in mind: First, drain out the old oil and lubricants. The idea is to remove the old oil and its impurities like metal particles, gasoline, dirt and moisture. Also, consider switching to an ashless dispersant oil if your engine operates on straight mineral oil.  Next, change the filter, which gets dirty because it collects impurities from the engine’s oil. While some technicians recommend filter change after every 50-hour flight, others prefer that oil and filter change is ideally done simultaneously.    Related articles: What’s a Simple Way To Detect Oil Leaks in an Aircraft? | What Should I Look for in an Airplane Mechanic?  

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