How many hours on your Rotax?

[rdockery_3]

I bought my plane in July with 455 hours on it and and at the rate I'm flying now I will put around 180 hours on it over the course of a year. So this got me to thinking the other day, if I continue to fly at this rate I will be at TBO in less than 10 years. I know that with good maintenance I can expect this engine to go beyond but I just thought I'd start a thread to see how many high hour Rotax 912 there are flying around right now. So let's hear it, how many hours do you have?

 

[rot]

N246LT - 425hrs in ~18 months (July 2024)

 

[CTCole]

Good for you! If you want data, I'd recommend posting on Rotaxowner.com, to reach a larger group of users -- and let us know what you learn.

 

[snowsam]

We ran a 912ULS in a 2014 RV-12 and an 912is in a December 2023 RV-12is both to the 2000 hr tbo with no major issues and then in the last 3 months installed factory new replacements. We did regular gearbox overhauls, ran mostly on unleaded, and followed the rotax maintenance schedules. These two planes are on leaseback to a flight school.

I think both engines could have gone longer with no issues, and both were sold used to (non-RV) homebuilders looking for a budget engine.

 

[Amadeus]

So let's hear it, how many hours do you have?

My Rotax 912iS began flying in July 2021 and currently has 498 hours. I'm only flying 110 hours per year which pales in comparison to your 180 hours.
Unleaded fuel exclusively and 45 - 50 hour oil changes.

 

[bbaggerman]

My 2013 912 ULS has 1550 hours on it. No issues.

 

[Mel]

Helped a friend build a CH601HDS in the mid '90s. Last time I talked with him he had over 2500 hrs. on Rotax 912 (80 hp). Only maintenance over that time was oil changes, spark plug changes, fuel pumps, and one ignition box. It was still running great at that time.

 

[planenutz]

We have a flying school down here who have 9 x Rotax 912 engines for sale, all of which have done 2100 hours TSN (TBO plus 10%). Some of the engines did those hours in under 18 months. I'm seriously considering buying one for my Rans S-7 because others I've spoken to tell me they're good for 2700+ hours if you look after them.

The school can't use them past TBO due to being a commercial operation, otherwise they'd still be installed.

Pretty impressive really.

 

[seagull]

I’m curious if any of you with that have high times had see high oil usage in the latter hours? I am at 1800 hrs and my oil consumption has slowly crept up to 2 liters in 50 hours. I know it is still within limits. It’s all going through the engine with no noticeable effect to performance but still concerns me.

 

[bbaggerman]

I’m curious if any of you with that have high times had see high oil usage in the latter hours? I am at 1800 hrs and my oil consumption has slowly crept up to 2 liters in 50 hours. I know it is still within limits. It’s all going through the engine with no noticeable effect to performance but still concerns me.

Yeah, after 1500 or so hours mine has been creeping up. Like you, I'm not too worried about it... yet.

 

[docjjrmd]

Yeah, after 1500 or so hours mine has been creeping up. Like you, I'm not too worried about it... yet.

About a quart per 25 hours compared to a "normal Lycoming" 1 quart per 8 to 10 hours is still a deal and still in parameters. If oil pressure is ok and compression is ok I wouldn't fret over it, watch it, yes, but the engine is likely healthy. Frankly when the 912 gets to 2000 to 2500 hours its cheaper to buy a factory new engine than do a rebuild. There is a small market for maxed time engines but don't expect much. Some of the airboaters will pick them up.

 

[dbhill916]

Just to keep things in perspective, I recently replaced an aging Continental IO-550 that was drinking oil. The factory said 1 qt every hr was "within spec" but they did admit that 1 qt every 2 hr was enough to think about finding & fixing the problem. Our Rotaxes are super thrifty!

 

[NORDO Industries LLC]

We have a flying school down here who have 9 x Rotax 912 engines for sale, all of which have done 2100 hours TSN (TBO plus 10%). Some of the engines did those hours in under 18 months. I'm seriously considering buying one for my Rans S-7 because others I've spoken to tell me they're good for 2700+ hours if you look after them.

The school can't use them past TBO due to being a commercial operation, otherwise they'd still be installed.

This matches what happened at the school I did my training at. They had a SportStar and the engine had to be replaced at 2000 hours. The compressions then were just as good as 500 hours.