bill.hutchison
Well Known Member
It is amazing what one starts to learn when one has to.
Prior to owning an airplane, I simply put whatever oil the aircraft owner/operator specified in the airplane. Same with the flight school I teach at: use what they want.
Now that I have my own airplane, I'm trying to figure some things out.
My RV6a (ECI Titan 180hp / CS Prop) came from Texas. Last oil change the owner put in SAE 60, 20w50 oil in it. This is also what they run in the 180hp Lycomings in the 172s I typically teach in. They have some nice, warmer days there and fairly mild winters compared to VA/MD.
My PoH has a nice table in it showing recommended oils based on temps, and now that it's getting cooler here on the east coast, I'm generally going to be flying in average temps below 70F.
The table is recommending either MIL-L-6082 grade SAE 20 or - for Ashless Dispersant Grades - SAE 30 or 20w30 oil.
So...go ahead and switch to the lighter oil? Or stick with the 20w50 thats already in it and seems to be an all-season oil in similar engines?
I need to order some oil from Spruce and trying to decide what to buy.
Prior to owning an airplane, I simply put whatever oil the aircraft owner/operator specified in the airplane. Same with the flight school I teach at: use what they want.
Now that I have my own airplane, I'm trying to figure some things out.
My RV6a (ECI Titan 180hp / CS Prop) came from Texas. Last oil change the owner put in SAE 60, 20w50 oil in it. This is also what they run in the 180hp Lycomings in the 172s I typically teach in. They have some nice, warmer days there and fairly mild winters compared to VA/MD.
My PoH has a nice table in it showing recommended oils based on temps, and now that it's getting cooler here on the east coast, I'm generally going to be flying in average temps below 70F.
The table is recommending either MIL-L-6082 grade SAE 20 or - for Ashless Dispersant Grades - SAE 30 or 20w30 oil.
So...go ahead and switch to the lighter oil? Or stick with the 20w50 thats already in it and seems to be an all-season oil in similar engines?
I need to order some oil from Spruce and trying to decide what to buy.