What to Remember When Changing Aircraft Oil
The oil system of an aircraft is paramount to its performance, allowing for numerous parts to be lubricated and cooled during standard operations. Over time, oil may be exposed to numerous contaminates that can affect performance, and common contaminants include gasoline, acid, dirt, moisture, carbon, and metallic particles. To prevent these contaminants from having major effects on the lubrication system, the regular draining and replacement of oil should be conducted. In some cases, however, maintaining the oil system may require more than simply replacing liquids as one may need to clean parts, check aircraft oil filters, replace damaged components, and more.
While various manufacturers will have different requirements for select engines and assemblies, the general interval between oil changes averages at 25 hours. During the oil replacement process, one should also conduct a screen clean and inspection for the oil sump section and ensure that the aircraft oil filters are replaced or receive pressure screen cleaning as well. At the 50-hour interval, the aircraft oil filters should be replaced, and a suction screen check can be held for all engines utilizing full-flow filtration systems. Oil system servicing is also important for the health of the assembly, and it can be conducted every four months.
When removing the oil filter removal canister housing, the safety wire is removed and the hex head screw and housing is loosened by turning it counterclockwise. Once the filter has been taken from the engine, the nylon nut holding the cover plate can be removed before the plate and associated parts can be disassembled as well. Once the filter has been fully removed from the oil filter assembly, the filter element should be inspected thoroughly, and any old gaskets should be replaced.
During the inspection of the aircraft oil filters, one should primarily look for any premature or excessive engine component wear that may cause the oil filter assembly to perform less efficiently. Indications of wear will often come in the form of shavings, metal particles, or flakes that are present within the filter element or screens. By opening the paper element of the oil filter assembly, metal contamination can be checked for. As metal flakes are very detrimental to the health of the assembly, one should always check the filter, pressure screen system, suction screen, and other related components.
If there is an excessive amount of metal particles within any section of the oil filter assembly, more servicing may be needed to locate the source of contaminants so that repair and maintenance can be conducted. The oil filter may need to be cut open with a special filter cutter, and then the filter element can be cleaned to remove contaminants. One should also utilize a magnet so that any ferrous metal particles within the assembly can be removed. Once everything is cleaned, new rubber and copper gaskets can be installed into the hex head screw and then implemented on the filter case. As all parts are replaced and the housing is situated back in the engine, sufficient torque and safetying should be ensured for a secure installation. As is with any maintenance endeavor, manufacturer specifications should always be adhered to for proper servicing.
If your aircraft is facing excessive oil consumption issues or has abnormal oil pressures or temperatures, it may be time to repair or replace parts of the assembly. Whether you need aircraft oil filters, oil filter removal canister parts, oil filter engine components, or other such items, NSN Purchasing is your sourcing solution. NSN Purchasing is an online distributor of marine parts, aviation components, IT hardware, and electronics, and we offer customers competitive pricing and lead-times on all that we carry. In order to receive quotes on our listed items for your comparison, fill out and submit an Instant RFQ form as provided on our website. With team members available for customers 24/7x365, they will rapidly review and respond to your request in just 15 minutes or less.
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