Oil sampling analysis

[jetjr]

Anyone sending oil samples to be tested?

 

Results often rely on lab knowing something about the engine itself, materials general experience in wear rates.

 

Any places in Oz able to do this or begin doing this for small Aviation engines

 

 

[fly_tornado]

For that to work doesn't Jabiru/Rotax have to release some sort of benchmark?

 

 

[jetjr]

Probably but unlikely to happen, with truck and earthmoving gear, the Lab seem to have historical data to work with and can claim "normal" or otherwise based on this.

 

I think specialist US Labs can do Lyc, Conti etc.

 

 

[facthunter]

It's usually only done for haulage companies etc. Allows the engine oil life to be evaluated and also tells you when the engine is loosing metal and likely to fail. Cutting your oil filter open does a similar thing. Oil analysis is probably too expensive to justify it, when we change oils at way below their life. and the small quantities involved. Nev

 

 

[fly_tornado]

$40

 

 

[jetjr]

Yep, also on lots of valuable plant off road too. Basically where big $$ involved in down time and unscheduled breakdowns.

 

Im interested if maybe theres anything which can be used to watch engine running condition in regards to over/underfueling and temp or detonation problems developing in Jab engines

 

 

[facthunter]

It would probably be able to show if the oil temps were too high because the oil would deteriorate, but you have a temp gauge for that and there is normally a fair margin before it fails. Carbon build up in the combustion chamber could cause detonation but that won't show in an oil test. Nev

 

 

[Mriya]

One of the chief benefits of regular oil analysis is the ability to monitor trends in your engine. Our FTC elects to do regular oil analysis on their training fleet (including a Flight Design-MC/Rotax 912). Over time a normal contaminant level is established, and by monitoring this you will detect trends once parts start to wear at higher rates. All in all a sensible monitoring option which allows you to detect faults and act prior to the 'big fan' stopping by surprise one day.

 

 

[Mriya]

I should have added to my previous comment that doing a 'one-off' oil sample is of limited value as you have no 'baseline' for your engine to compare it with.

 

 

[bexrbetter]

Carbon build up in the combustion chamber could cause detonation but that won't show in an oil test. Nev

Indirectly does and quite accurately so, shows up fuel and/or exhaust dilution, both of which will probably result in carbon build up.

 

One of the chief benefits of regular oil analysis is the ability to monitor trends in your engine..

Exactly.

 

 

[Bruce Tuncks]

A truck-fleet owner I knew used to get this done. He told me how he used it to disprove the claims of a teflon additive called "Slick 50"

 

It is also done by a Mooney etc owner at Gawler for his Lycomings. I agree with the comment that you need benchmark data to interpret the figures.

 

I do cut the old filter open ( using an angle-grinder) and examine the entrails in the hope of foreseeing the future.

 

... Bruce

 

 

[Yenn]

When you cut the filter with an angle frinder, where does the swarf from the cut go?

 

You will get a cleaner starting point if you use an old fashioned tin opener.

 

 

[Bruce Tuncks]

Thanks Yenn! I didn't think of that, in my hangar there are only tools and stuff like angle-grinders.

 

Next time I'm going to take the tin-openers and try them .

 

..Bruce

 

 

[Jabiru Phil]

Thanks Yenn! I didn't think of that, in my hangar there are only tools and stuff like angle-grinders.Next time I'm going to take the tin-openers and try them .

..Bruce

Take plenty of towels and band aids

 

I cut myself in a couple of places, very slippery job

 

I noticed a cutting tool on the Internet that works like a modern tin opener, about $80 from memory. They gave video instruction of the various openers. I was interested but not sure if it works on my Ryco filter so lost interest.

 

For sure dont use a hacksaw as all the filings freak you out.

 

Phil

 

 

[Mriya]

Take plenty of towels and band aidsI cut myself in a couple of places, very slippery job

I noticed a cutting tool on the Internet that works like a modern tin opener, about $80 from memory. They gave video instruction of the various openers. I was interested but not sure if it works on my Ryco filter so lost interest.

 

For sure dont use a hacksaw as all the filings freak you out.

 

Phil

Having a proper tool will save lots of grief. Also due to the small size of the jabiru (ryco) oil filter some aircraft cutters which are really designed for larger diameters may not work. And, yes by the time you have finished with a saw or angle grinder it is going to be a challenge to say whether the engine is making metal, or whether you are just looking at the remnants of the filter you just cut open.

 

 

[turboplanner]

Hopefully this thread will put paid to the cutting open the filter trick and providing the filings to prove it works.