The First Rule of Maintaining Your Airplane

Cutting open your oil filter can reveal problems early and prevent surprises during your next inspection.

Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 02:06 PM ET

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Oil is the lifeblood of your airplane's engine, and the oil filter is like the liver—it removes the impurities. [Courtesy: Richard Scarbrough]

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft oil filters are critical for engine health, diligently removing impurities unlike basic oil screens which only catch large debris.
Oil and filter changes should be performed every 25 to 50 hours as essential routine maintenance.
Post-change, it is vital to cut open and inspect the oil filter for metal particles (e.g., bright aluminum or black steel) as their presence can indicate significant engine trouble.
Manufacturers like Champion and Tempest provide a range of oil filters, conversion kits to upgrade from screens, and specialized tools for filter inspection.

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Do you know the most essential part of your aircraft? Some may say the engine. While that is partially true, it is like the human body, core exercise routines, and family marathon monopoly games. You get out of it what you put into it.

Recently I briefed you on aircraft engine oil, and now it is time to round out the rest of the items needed to facilitate a proper aircraft oil change. Time to grab a filter.