Poll: Your average engine oil usage hrs/quart

[BigglesRV7A]

Looking to see what everyone's experience is with their engine oil usage between changes on 320/360 engines.

There are many posts with varied numbers and thought it may be fruitful for operators like myself to see what is normal or average. I have an IO-360 ECI engine with nickel carbide cylinders and consistently use a quart every 8 hours.

[jbDC9]

Originally Posted by Gary 40274

Do they do pints down under?

I'm pretty sure they do, I've heard Aussies tend to like their beer.

But anyhoo, an interesting poll/thread as I've been seeing my oil usage trend a wee bit higher; until recently my average was 9-10 hrs per quart, but lately I'm seeing roughly 7 hrs per.

My engine is a O-360-A1D, 1220 SMOH using Lycoming cylinders overhauled by ECI with their Cerminil process in 2005. I'm not sure if I should be really bothered by it or not as I recall a thread posted by Paul Dye 3+ years ago; he had the same cylinders with increasing oil consumption and decreasing compression at 1450 hrs, ended up replacing all 4 jugs. Rocketbob responded with some info that was new to me; Cerminil, chrome or nickle carbide jugs will all use more oil than standard steel because the bores are so smooth. I haven't checked my compressions since last May, gotta get on that during my next oil change.

So for now my plan is too keep on running with 'em, watch my oil usage trends but also keep a closer eye on my compressions. Perhaps there are new jugs in my future, but at my current low utilization rate, I (hopefully) have a few years to run yet.

[brad walton]

I wonder to what extent the responses are skewed by air/oil seperators returning oil to the crankcase? I don't have one, but I believe most of my lost oil goes out the breather tube.

[agflyboy]

Based on maintaining what oil level? 6 qts?

Originally Posted by BigglesRV7A

Looking to see what everyone's experience is with their engine oil usage between changes on 320/360 engines.

There are many posts with varied numbers and thought it may be fruitful for operators like myself to see what is normal or average. I have an IO-360 ECI engine with nickel carbide cylinders and consistently use a quart every 8 hours.

[Vlad]

From more then 20 the consumption gradually increased to 5 - 6

[BigglesRV7A]

With over 100 responses now to the poll there are some interesting trends evident. Of course many factors affect oil usage including initial engine break-in, types of cylinders, type of oil used, what level you run in your engine, do you have an air oil separator, how old is your engine, how do you fly it etc......!
At the end of the day looks like my 8 hours per quart is a little on the low side compared with most other owners. Will have to explore whether it is something wrong or just "normal" for my engine.

[alpinelakespilot2000]

Didn't vote. After 3 yrs flying, my trends indicate that I consume more oil at hot summer OATs, CHTS, OTs then in the colder winter. Also, changing the outlet angle on my breather tube seemed to lower consumption as well.

[Yen]

I only have 83 hours on my O-320, bought new from Vans. It has only needed the addition of 200ml of oil twice, between changes. Your quart is approximately an Aussie litre, which is 1000ml.
My consumption seems to me to be extremely low and I just wonder if it can be too low.

[plehrke]

30 hours per quart (1-2 quarts between oil changes at 40 hours)
700 hours on IO-360 since purchased from Aerosport Power
No oil separator
maintain 6-7 quarts (6 in engine plus what's in oil filter, oil cooler and hoses)

[BigglesRV7A]

Thank you to everyone that has already responded to our poll so far. Out of many thousands of RV's flying it is still a rather small number that have kindly posted their usage. The more that contribute the more meaningful the numbers are.

Thanks for your time Ladies and Gentleman and let's get your oil usage fed into the poll if you haven't already done so.