I’ve received several questions about the future availability of avgas. One reader noted that AOPA President Phil Boyer has warned that oil companies will stop producing avgas in five years or so. The reader went on to ask if he would be able to use auto gas in his aircraft or would he need to […]
Visser's Voice
How often should oil be changed on aerobatic aircraft?
That was the question from Bryan Gore, who flies a Citabria with an IO-320 engine equipped with an oil inverted system. It does not have an oil filter. That was the question from Bryan Gore, who flies a Citabria with an IO-320 engine equipped with an oil inverted system. It does not have an oil […]
What can be done about exhaust valve sticking?
I received an interesting letter from Kurt Wegge, who flies a VariEze with a TCM O-200 engine, and has experienced numerous incidents of exhaust valve sticking. He was wondering if Marvel Mystery Oil would help reduce this. Kurt also noted documents from the FAA (Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin No. NE 03-45, dated June 27, 2003) […]
Which is better? Multi-grade of single grade oil?
For the past 20 years, an older gentleman has sought me out at Oshkosh to ask me the same question: “”Which is better in an aviation piston engine: single grade (SG) or multi-grade (MG) oil?”” Every year I feel that he wants a quick one-or-the-other answer, but every year I gave him a long, qualified […]
The No. 1 question of oil experts: How often should oil be changed?
You are probably thinking that someone who worked for an oil company would recommend more frequent oil changes so that more oil is sold. However, the choice is really quite simple: You can spend more on oil or you can spend more at the engine shop. Oil is a lot cheaper than engine parts.
The heat is on: Our experts agree on the best oil temperature
A few issues back, my good friend Paul McBride was asked what was the best oil temperature for an aircraft engine (Just what is normal? Oct. 15 issue). Since then, I have received a few questions about the same subject, but from the lubricant perspective. A few issues back, my good friend Paul McBride was […]