Thread: Changing the oil?

Since I'm about 3 hrs from the nearest CT dealer, I was wondering if I can change the oil in my plane? I was able to perform it in my 182 without any problems as long as I have a PPL, but the LSA stuff is kind of hard to follow. If not, I'm going to have to train a local A&P to do it. It would take 6 hrs getting there and back and with changes every 25hrs, that would be ridiculous... Some avagas usage but will fill with 93 Octane Mogas while at home base. Planning on using the AeroShell Sport 4 plus and Decalin when needed. I ordered the oil from the place in PA from the other thread, but where do you buy the filters? I figured on Lockwood since I'll be buying a charger there this week.

Thanks for your help...

John

Hi John,

Oil filters are pretty much the same price from most Rotax parts suppliers. Lockwood, CPS, Leading Edge and the list goes on. The price is about $21 and some change.

Technically,
FD does not specify in their maint. manual who can specifically do the oil change and refers to the Rotax manual under engine inspection and then specifys owner/pilot. So then you have to refer to the Rotax maint manual. Under section
" 2.2 Authorized personnel" it states who and what you need to perform maint on a Rotax. It says you have to have the experience "AND" training on a Rotax engine, which means training from a from Rotax approved facility. The minimum level that you need is a Rotax "Service" class, 2 days long. This allows minor service like an oil change. With this class you would not be allowed any engine component removal. Just oil and plug type service.
You should understand that you can mess up an oil change if you for example you rotate the prop with the oil system open or the filter off, or if you open an oil line in the system. This is no big deal, but if you didn't know and did one of these things then you may cause yourself some grief.

Or you can also email FD and see what they have to say in writing.

If it were me I would recommend at least a Rotax "Service" class if anyone wanted to do an oil or plug change. Classes like these will inform the owner about the chance of introducing air into the system during an oil change or applying plug heat paste. It's just good info and education.

You can go on the ""http://www.rotaxflyingclub.com/ or the "http://www.rainbowaviation.com/repairman.htm" or "http://www.bydanjohnson.com/index.cfm?b=6&m=3" websites and they will tell you where the closest Rotax trained person is located.

Okay, so what do I do, fly the 5.5hrs round trip each time I need the oil changed? I'm not a mechanic and don't know of anybody within 300 miles that is that can work on a Rotax. Guess I should of thought about this before I took the plunge?!?

I do have a friend here in the Lubbock area that took the 3 week course. Could he supervise me in changing the oil? I just want the plane in top maintenance, but don't want an unfamiliar A&P learning on my plane. I went to those listed websites and they list courses in November, etc and are on the east coast or Mississippi. I'm not able to travel that far for a weekend and I didn't see any others in the Texas area. I did notice you mentioned "trained" on Rotax can do it and mentioned the 2 day course. I found a DVD that was released going over that stuff, could that suffice? Or can I sit down one time with an A&P Rotax repairman and have him show me what to do? I appreciate any advice you can give me.


Starting to get frustrated!

John

Hi John,

Don't get frustrated yet. If you looked under the right areas on those websites they list where a mechanic lives and who can do it. The guy below lives in Lubbock. In the Rotax Flying Club website there are 4 in Texas. Under the Dan Johnson list there are several people listed for maint. Some people have even sent their mechanics to the schools instead of themselves. The class is offered in Mississippi in Sept and Nov.
An A&P can supervise, but a RLSM-M can not.


Texas, Lubbock, Douglas Boren 806-281-6485


John,
Why don't you give me a call and let's see what we can come up with. There are pilots on this forum that change their oil.
520-574-1080

Thanks for the reply. Doug is the friend that I mentioned above. We're the only CT drivers here in West Texas. He's not an A&P, just retired and took the 3 week course. I guess he can help out. Will call you in the next week or so.

John

Hi John,

You or you friend are more than welcome to call anytime. When your friend took the course he got the Rotax service class. How close are you to Lubbock?

Only 6 miles. Doug actually lives further out than me.

Changing the oil is stone simple if you just drain the oil and replace the filter. It takes much less than an hour. Easier than any car I have ever owned. You might leave a little residual oil in the system with a simple oil change, but so what? Just change it often (I go 25 hours even when it only drinks autogas). WF

If you're in the DFW area, come by and we'll go a hands-on tutorial for you.

Doug

The R.O.A.N videos are excellent. Review the oil change, oil filter and oil level check videos along with the maintenance manual and you should be good to go.