The fact that the engine may be "old" is a factor in trying to establish an
agreeable price between you and the seller. Even though all the magic
numbers may seem good today. Oil analysis, compression, etc... 900 hours in
24 years is 1/2 the usage rate recommended. Engines that sit can rust
internally and that cannot be found without either cracking the case or
pulling one cylinder and looking around inside with a bore scope.

Consider it a bargaining point on establishing the price, and be prepared to
rebuild the engine within one year.. worse case. Best case?? you get
another 1000 hours out of it. Make it a bargaining point that the engine is
3/4 or more used up and not 1/2 because of its age is twice what the
manufacture recommends.

If the seller decides not to budge on the price. It is your decision and
yours alone to pay the asking price. That's why owners get to make
decisions.

good luck

BT

"Paul Folbrecht" wrote in message
k.net...
The 150 I had pre-buy'ed today has an O-200 with 940 SMOA but this
overhaul happened 24 years ago. Mechanic has pointed out that
Continental also specifies a time limit of 12 years on overhaul and thus
this engine is technically runout.

Do I have much cause for concern?? I know engines are quite regularly
run well beyond that time interval. After all, to make that 1800 hours
in 12 years you have to fly 150 hours/year.

Compression is good (all in the 70s) but there is no oil analysis
available. Engine sounds just fine and also has good oil pressure.

I basically need to make a decision on this quickly and am stuck on this
issue. I am leaning heavily towards buying it. My mechanic has said it
is pretty unlikely that this time factor will result in serious problems
now, but that there's really just no way to tell without an oil analysis
or by watching oil consumption.