Is it important to check the oil sump suction screen at each oil change? If so, why? Obviously inspection of the oil filter element along with oil analysis is prudent, but curious if most are also inspecting the oil sump suction screen.
Thanks,
Gary
I had read that it was recommended at each oil change, but was curious what others were doing. Thanks for your input.
I check it every 25 hours when I do my oil change. I relish any opportunity to see how the engine is doing.
Readers of my posts are going to start calling me a broken record because whenever I see this kind of question I want to scream READ MIKE BUSCH ON ENGINES.
Because I had so many of these sorts of questions and that book answered them so much more thoroughly than most Q&As on this forum could. For example do you want to know why the screen should be checked, and what does metal there mean versus metal in the filter versus some trend in your oil analysis? And under what kinds of conditions would you want to check it more often than the recommended interval? Just so much good info for people who want to really know how to operate and maintain these things, I've had my plane for more than 20 years and I wish I had this book a long time ago.
Sounds more like an advertisement for MB than anything else.
Lycoming offers maintenance publications for free.
Would you make the same statement if The Aeroelectric Connection book was recommended?
Or maybe the Bingelis series of books?
Just curious...
Good to know and I hope I don't sound preachy but I just got so much value from that book which is a lot if good info in one place.Reading Mike’s book is what prompted me to start this thread. Makes perfect sense to me. Just wanted to hear your thoughts. Thanks
But not nearly as readable. I'm not affiliated with MB, just a satisfied customer.Sounds more like an advertisement for MB than anything else.
Lycoming offers maintenance publications for free.
Is it important to check the oil sump suction screen at each oil change? If so, why?
Now that the OP's question has been answered, perhaps a bit of thread drift will be tolerated.
How many times in your long career have you found anything of consequence in that oil screen?
Thousands of oil changes I assume and what if anything have you ever found that led to an engine tear down or other significant maintenance issues?
Just curious.
Have found many screens partially plugged with debris, they likely hadn’t been removed and cleaned in a long time or ever.
Lycoming SB480, Table 1, entry two, calls for oil change, filter replacement, and sump screen cleaning/inspection every 50 hours.
That's what I do.
But doesn't that same SB in entry five call for oil suction screen cleaning/inspection every 25 hours or four months whichever comes first?
Do you also do this?
Sounds more like an advertisement for MB than anything else.
Lycoming offers maintenance publications for free.
The fifth item in table 1 is for cleaning the pressure screen which is applicable to engines that aren’t equipped with oil filters.
Skylor