| If you're like most private pilots, you've | | | | hours is already contaminated and becoming |
| put a lot of blood, sweat, tears and time | | | | corrosive. Unless you fly a lot, maybe 200 |
| into earning your pilot's license. It's an | | | | hours per year, don't let that contaminated |
| accomplishment you're proud of, and | | | | oil sit in the engine for any length of time. |
| rightfully so. Taking the next step up to | | | | Change your oil every 25-35 hours or |
| owning a plane is a very exciting and serious | | | | quarterly. |
| financial commitment. | | | | |
| | | | 3) Don't use automotive oils in aircraft. |
| Unfortunately, with higher fuel prices, it's | | | | |
| becoming more and more difficult for plane | | | | This may sound like common sense to most |
| owners to enjoy their time in the sky. At | | | | people, whereas others are scratching their |
| major air shows like Oshkosh, pilots who were | | | | heads and wondering, "Isn't all engine oil |
| typically flying around 125 hours in past | | | | the same?" Not all engine oil is created |
| years, last year told us they have dropped to | | | | equal, and there are major differences |
| between 50 and 75 hours in the air. | | | | between automotive oil and aircraft oil. |
| | | | Automotive and diesel motor oils have |
| If you're flying less frequently and | | | | metallic detergents added that are |
| especially less than 100 or 150 hours a year, | | | | incompatible with aircraft engines and can |
| be aware that oil contamination, acids and | | | | actually damage them. Make sure the oil |
| water can lead to insidious engine corrosion. | | | | you're using is aircraft oil. |
| If you don't use your plane often enough, | | | | |
| corrosion could leave you grounded with huge | | | | 4) Look for an oil additive that prevents |
| repair bills at your next annual. | | | | engine corrosion. |
| | | | |
| This doesn't mean you're doomed to lose the | | | | Blow-by contaminates oil with acids, water |
| very plane that's become your pride and joy. | | | | and fuel residues that reduce its lubricating |
| You can take steps to prevent corrosion and | | | | efficiency and can harm your engine. Look for |
| keep your aircraft airworthy. Here are just a | | | | an oil additive that specifically addresses |
| few things you can do to keep yourself | | | | these problems. Most additives are simple |
| airborne: | | | | solvents and do nothing for contamination or |
| | | | corrosion. |
| 1) Fly as much as you can. | | | | |
| | | | No additive can actually cure the effects of |
| You're probably worried because you haven't | | | | rust after it occurs. Corrosion is worse than |
| been able to fly as much as you want to; | | | | cancer for your engine. Once you have it, you |
| however, you should still try to fly as often | | | | have it forever. The only way to fight |
| as practical. Frequent flying will keep the | | | | corrosion is by prevention. CamGuard is one |
| oil from just sitting and soaking the | | | | oil additive that nullifies the contamination |
| internal engine parts in a pool of | | | | problem and provides a barrier to protect |
| contaminated lubricant. Corrosion becomes a | | | | against corrosion. |
| major problem in infrequently used engines, | | | | |
| so make an effort to get your plane in the | | | | Don't let all the hard work you've put into |
| air as often as possible. | | | | getting a pilot's license and owning a plane |
| | | | go to waste because you can't afford to fly |
| 2) Change your oil often. | | | | every week. By taking these few simple steps |
| | | | to help prevent corrosion, you can keep your |
| You may think that in changing your oil every | | | | aircraft engine in better shape and keep your |
| 50 hours, you're doing a good job. However, | | | | plane flying longer. |
| oil that's been in your engine just 15 to 20 | | | | |