" wrote
I've noticed that some people log oil changes but some do not.

Yeah. That's life. As usual, it's the FAA's fault.

Do you log oil changes?

Yes. Eventually. I have a log in the plane where I track flight time
(air and engine), VOR checks, and oil consumption. It also has a
place to show any notes, like where I landed, IMC time, approaches,
whatever. When I change the oil, that log shows it. Eventually, I'll
go back and catch up the official log books for my airplane and
myself. Usually that happens the next time I need my A&P's signature
on something.

Here's the thing, though - if I knew someone was going to look at my
logbooks (as I would expect any airplane purchaser to do) I would have
them caught up. Not because it means much, but because it's so easy
to do. It takes all of five minutes.

Now let me tell you why some people don't log oil changes.

Oil changes are not actually required. It's perfectly legal to fly
the plane all year on the same oil, adding as necessary. The 25 (or
50, 100) hour interval is just a recommendation. Ditto gapping plugs,
changing filter, etc. So no entry in the logbooks isn't something you
can get busted on.

On the other hand, if you do make an entry, an ambitious fed can bust
you on it. For example, how many of you log that you performed the
change (gapped plugs, changed filter) in accordance with the Lycoming
(or Continental) service manual? And maybe there is an aircraft
manufacturer's manual that takes precedence?

An owner is permitted to perform preventive maintenance (elementary
operations in Canada) but he is still required to perform it in a
manner acceptable to the administrator. That generally means in
accordance with the aircraft (or engine) service manual or other
publication. If you didn't log it, it didn't happen. So clearly, you
performed the preventive maintenance in a manner that might not have
been acceptable to the administrator. Busted.

I don't hold with that view myself, because if you've ****ed off a fed
enough that he's willing to bust you on this, he will find SOMETHING
to bust you on, right or wrong - but there are people out there who
believe that it's a bad idea to log anything you don't absolutely have
to, because that will be used against you. They may even have a
point.

So basically, because the FAA allows its inspectors to get away with
bull**** busts like this, some people are defensively not logging
anything they don't have to.

Does it mean anything? Not really. Just because it was logged
doesn't mean it was done, and vice versa. According to my logbooks,
all my hoses were replaced 7 years ago. Thus I was pretty surprised
when my left brake hose (in the cabin) blew on brake application.
When I removed it (a process that requires lying on your back with
feet on the left front seat, holding one wrench in each hand and
flashlight in the teeth) I noted that the faded metal tag (unreadable
by flashlight, but barely legible in good daylight) said it was
manufactured in 1964. Remember, just because it's in writing doesn't
mean it's true.

Michael