Logging oil changes

Yes we log our oil changes. My partner and I keep a log in the plane
(which is actually an Excel SS) in which we record the pilot, date,
tach start/stop & hobbs start/stop times & flight hours. I use this
to generate an invoice for both of us each month by transcribing what
we've written down into the SS. Formulas calculate the rate x hrs
flown. I also have a tab that keeps track of our hours flown year to
date and percentage of flying by partner.

In the lower right corner I enter the tach time at oil change. The
next cell down I enter the interval (40 hrs) and the cell below that
is simply the two cells added together to show when the next oil
change is due.

If anyone is interested in my SS, I'd be happy to share it. There is
some data entry involved, but I enjoy my personal race to the next
"level" of hourly experience, such as 200, 250, 275 hrs, etc.

Greg H.
N4691X

ghopp @ no.spam ohliqdotcom

That's a pretty clever idea, actually. Given how little I've been flying
lately, that's probably a more practical idea for me than matching up with
the tacho, although that's a good idea as well.

Given the real cost of the oil, it's chump change, and worth doing according
to the oil and engine manufacturer's recommendations.

Cheers,
Shawn
"Newps" wrote in message
...


ShawnD2112 wrote:
I do log oil changes, otherwise I wouldn't know when to do the next 25 hr
or 6 month change. Also, I want to have a good maintenance record in
case I decide to sell the airplane.


Go to Office Depot and get those little one inch diameter round stick on
tabs. You see them as price tags at garage sales. Write the date and
tach time for the next oil change. That way you can simply compare the
tach time to the time on the tag. Tag comes right off when you want to
replace it with a new one.

Go to Office Depot and get those little one inch diameter round stick on
tabs. You see them as price tags at garage sales. Write the date and
tach time for the next oil change. That way you can simply compare the
tach time to the time on the tag. Tag comes right off when you want to
replace it with a new one.

http://www.dealersupplyonline.com/ and click on Lube Stickers.
$29.95 gets you a life time supply of date/mileage (ok, use hours here)/
Oil Grade static cling stickers.

Go to Jiffy Lube, get an oil change, ask the tech if you can have about a
dozen of his stickers. That's almost a lifetime supply for free. Nothing
like a Jiffy Lube sticker in your plane to show you care.

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
...


Go to Office Depot and get those little one inch diameter round stick on
tabs. You see them as price tags at garage sales. Write the date and
tach time for the next oil change. That way you can simply compare the
tach time to the time on the tag. Tag comes right off when you want to
replace it with a new one.

http://www.dealersupplyonline.com/ and click on Lube Stickers.
$29.95 gets you a life time supply of date/mileage (ok, use hours here)/
Oil Grade static cling stickers.

Go to Office Depot and get those little one inch diameter round stick on
tabs. You see them as price tags at garage sales. Write the date and
tach time for the next oil change. That way you can simply compare the
tach time to the time on the tag. Tag comes right off when you want to
replace it with a new one.

http://www.dealersupplyonline.com/ and click on Lube Stickers.
$29.95 gets you a life time supply of date/mileage (ok, use hours here)/
Oil Grade static cling stickers.

On my 172, I have an O-300D with the larger engine access door. I write the
hours and date on the oil filter when it was changed - that way, each time I
open the access door, I'm reminded of the time for next oil change.

"ShawnD2112" wrote in message
k...
I do log oil changes, otherwise I wouldn't know when to do the next 25 hr
or 6 month change. Also, I want to have a good maintenance record in case
I decide to sell the airplane.

Shawn
Pitts S-1D, G-BKVP
" wrote in message
link.net...
As some of you know, I'm in the market for an airplane. To this
endeavor, I
find myself reading through a lot of maintenance log books.

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

I'm a little worried about the owners who don't because I don't know if
the
oil is ever changes or not. (Yes, I know that it just being in the log
book
doesn't mean it is actually done, but it does a lot to put my mind to
rest.)
All the owners I've talked to claim that they do oil changes in 25 or 50
hour intervals, but they don't log it.

Do you log oil changes?

" 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

Michael wrote:



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?

Not necessary in the US.



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.

Yes.


That generally means in
accordance with the aircraft (or engine) service manual or other
publication.

Yes, but you don't have to write that in the logbook.


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.

No. Prove the oil change was done wrong.

Since the FAA has been citing owner/operators for INCORRECT WORDING in
maintenance logs, what IS the correct wording for an oil change log?

Doug wrote:

Since the FAA has been citing owner/operators for INCORRECT WORDING in
maintenance logs, what IS the correct wording for an oil change log?

I write...
Drained oil, serviced with 9 qts of Phillips XC 20W-50. Test ran and
leak checked good.
The I sign it, write in my cert # and also write "owner" next to it.
That's it.