Poll: Your average engine oil usage hrs/quart

[gclark]

RV-9A with factory new 0-360 from Vans, now have 300 hours. If oil level is maintained at 6qts. it will take one qt. about every 15 hours.
Previous RV-6 had field overhauled 0-360 A1F6D that I ran almost 1000 hours and it was remarkably the same. Only if you try to keep level at 8 qtrs.. does it appear to use excessive oil. I think the Owners Manual indicates minimum safe operating level is 2 qtrs.. Don't think I would try to operate on that intentionally.

[Bill Dicus]

Most Lycoming engines I have operated required a minimum of 2 3/4 quarts of oil. I was surprised to find that my IO-360 exp M1B had a minimum oil level of 4 quarts. Quite a difference! This leaves only 2 quarts between the usual six quarts at the start of the flight and the minimum, and could be significant on a long overwater flight. There's my excuse for never doing one!

[Rupester]

Aerosport Power IO 320 D2A, Millenium cylinders, with 270 hrs on it. Consistently burns a quart every 30 to 35 hrs, maintaining the level at 6qt. As is predictable, at that low rate there is seldom any notable oil on the belly. All oil tests from Blackstone are stellar.
I run LOP Almost all the time. Because that results in lower CHTs and oil temp, I think that contributes to my low oil consumption.

[Jesse]

I wonder how the poll results are inaccurate because it first said hours per pint, which I took to mean half quart, and entered my data accordingly.

[BigglesRV7A]

You are correct Jesse. This error on my part was updated within a short while and given there were very few responses at the time I believe over 95% of respondents would have seen the 'quart' and used this as their usage volume.

My bad though still think the figures are valuable in at least seeing where our engines are in terms of average usage. I note you are an accountant so no doubt you can work the numbers better than me though looks to be a solid average from 8 to 20 plus hours give or take.

Interesting there is such a variance.

Kind regards

[RV7A Flyer]

I'm curious what you're trying to learn here...there is so much variation in the source of the data (different engines, different variations on engines, different climates, different ways of flying, different ages of engines, etc.) that it's hard to see how any of this data is useful...

[HansR]

I run a O-360 A4A with about 400h on the meter.
It consumes 1qtr/2.5h which I find to be remarkably high.
Actually, it is on the limit also according to the Lycoming manual, as I run it on average below 30lph.

I fill a qtr when it is down to 5, so I never exceed 6qtrs.

Now, I assume there is an issue with the engine.
What do you think can cause a too high oil consumption? What should I check first?

[Robert Anglin]

We run an IOX-360 ECI with 9:1 "Nic. Carb." cylinders. Strait out vent tube. Close to 250 hr. on it now form new. For locale flights we keep 6 quarts as a gage, add at 4-4.5 and if going to say KOSH 682 Nm. none stop, we add up to the 7 quart level. Yes the crank-case draft will blow the 8th. quart out fairly quick. We fly all kinds of different formats Hard and soft. Got to get the most out of our bucks. Hope this helps. Yours, R.E.A. III # 80888

[49clipper]

O-320-D1A with 530+ hrs and change oil and filter every 25 hrs (sometimes i run over to 29). Why, just because. I add six at change and never have had to add. I "would" add at five, but its never happened yet. it will use 'maybe' 1/2-3/4 quart in 25.

[snopercod]

Originally Posted by brad walton

I wonder to what extent the responses are skewed by air/oil seperators returning oil to the crankcase?

I have a separator with a catch-can, and only get less than a half-pint at every oil change.