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  #1  
Old 09-16-2016, 06:28 AM
AirbusPilot AirbusPilot is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Santiago, Chile
Posts: 447
Default changing oil hot or cold???

Hi All,

I have always changed engine oil on my RV-8 after flight so the engine is hot. Yesterday I was talking with an inspector from Chilean FAA and he told me why you do that, is there any lycoming SB, SI or recommendation that said the engine should be hot for changing oil?, so I said yes, then he told me show me a document. I have been searching and I can find any recommendation about it.

Please help
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Fernando Abasolo
Santiago Chile
SubSonex waiting for tailkit to arrive
Flying phase II RV-8 (SCSE) Serial Number 83290, Tail Number CC-AJC
Flying RV-8 (SCTB) Phase II 600 hours and counting since February 22nd 2010
Serial Number 82727, Tail Number CC-PXG
Lyc. IO-360, Hartzell Prop
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  #2  
Old 09-16-2016, 06:47 AM
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ChiefPilot ChiefPilot is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1,565
Default

In the summer, I'll just drain the oil without running the engine first. If the outside air temps are warm enough (80? F / 27? C) the oil drains just fine without any addition coaxing.

In the winter, in Minnesota, doing the same thing would result in the oil taking days to drain so during those times I'll fly for an hour or so then drain the oil afterwards while it's still nice and hot.
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  #3  
Old 09-16-2016, 07:25 AM
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Auburntsts Auburntsts is offline
 
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Location: Tampa, FL
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I'm not aware or any Lycoming, or FAA document for that matter, that recommends running the engine prior to an oil change to warm up the oil. Lycoming SB 480E, Oil and Filter Change and Cleaning, only states when and what to inspect, not how to do it. Nor does it say to do so in my Lycoming operators or maintenance manual (to be fair I only have the manuals for a 540).

So why do a lot of us do it that way? It boils down to sort of a best practice for 2 reasons:

1. Warm oil drains faster than cold oil
2. More importantly, IMO, running the engine and warming the oil will maximize suspension of contaminates in the oil that we want to remove from the engine

Is it mandatory or actually necessary? In my opinion, nope. But I will continue to do that way. YMMV....
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  #4  
Old 09-16-2016, 07:33 AM
Gary 40274 Gary 40274 is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Conyers GA
Posts: 347
Default Better drainage

Some feel that warm oil will drain more completely. However we still have about a quart in the oil cooler that never drains. So at oil change we never get all the old oil out

Gary Specketer
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  #5  
Old 09-16-2016, 07:40 AM
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Mel Mel is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dallas area
Posts: 10,769
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Auburntsts View Post
So why do a lot of us do it that way? It boils down to sort of a best practice for 2 reasons:
1. Warm oil drains faster than cold oil
2. More importantly, IMO, running the engine and warming the oil will maximize suspension of contaminates in the oil that we want to remove from the engine
Is it mandatory or actually necessary? In my opinion, nope. But I will continue to do that way. YMMV....
THIS is the primary reason to drain the oil when it is hot.
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Mel Asberry, DAR since the last century.
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USAF Vet, High School E-LSA Project Mentor.
RV-6 Flying since 1993 (sold)
<rvmel(at)icloud.com>
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  #6  
Old 09-16-2016, 07:49 AM
sblack sblack is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Montreal
Posts: 1,456
Default

yes, it's the only way to get the sludge out. You are leaving a bunch of **** in the engine if you drain it cold. It's kinda like mud and it just collects there in the corners.
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  #7  
Old 09-16-2016, 08:14 AM
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ChiefPilot ChiefPilot is offline
 
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Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1,565
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Auburntsts View Post
More importantly, IMO, running the engine and warming the oil will maximize suspension of contaminates in the oil that we want to remove from the engine
I have a filter on the engine that does this for me when the engine is running. Not sure how much difference draining the oil when warm would actually make. Haven't found any significant amount of sludge in ~650 hours either, so who knows?
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RV-6A N164BL, Flying since Nov 2012!
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  #8  
Old 09-16-2016, 09:19 AM
jpowell13 jpowell13 is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 671
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I just changed oil yesterday after running the engine first. When I removed the filter, it was full of oil and made a bit of a mess. Does most of that oil drain out of the filter if the engine is not run prior to oil change? John
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  #9  
Old 09-16-2016, 09:21 AM
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Auburntsts Auburntsts is offline
 
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Location: Tampa, FL
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jpowell13 View Post
I just changed oil yesterday after running the engine first. When I removed the filter, it was full of oil and made a bit of a mess. Does most of that oil drain out of the filter if the engine is not run prior to oil change? John
No. Some, maybe, but there will always still be quite a bit in the filter unless you have an angled oil filter adapter.
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  #10  
Old 09-16-2016, 09:25 AM
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sglynn sglynn is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Anacortes, WA
Posts: 823
Default warm oil

It takes forever for cold oil to drain out. PERIOD.
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