DIY Oil Changes

With some basic tools, plus a couple of special ones, you can change your engine’s oil, saving some money and shop time.

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Tuesday, August 06, 2024 at 07:35 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Pilots holding at least a private pilot certificate are generally permitted by the FAA to perform preventive maintenance, including oil and filter changes, on their own aircraft not used for commercial operations.
Effective aircraft oil changes require appropriate tools, a suitable workspace, new oil and filter, proper disposal of used oil (which may be hazardous), and warming the engine for better drainage.
The process involves draining the warm oil, carefully removing and inspecting the old filter for any metal, installing a new filter with safety wire, refilling with fresh oil, and optionally sending oil for analysis.
Crucially, all self-performed preventive maintenance, such as an oil change, must be accurately documented by the pilot in the aircraft's logbook.

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There’s no question owning and operating a personal airplane costs money. Fuel, insurance, annual inspections, storage and training all cost money. So does regular maintenance, like an oil change. Turns out there are many things an owner/operator can do without needing a certificated mechanic. Things like changing tires, cleaning spark plugs and refilling hydraulic reservoirs. You can replace seatbelts, refinish the interior and exterior, plus other stuff. Oil changes, too, though it’s not as clearly stated as other tasks.

The FAA, in FAR 43.3, allows a pilot to “perform preventive maintenance on any aircraft owned or operated by that pilot” as long as it’s not used under FAR Parts 121, 129 or 135. Meanwhile, FAR 43.7 allows “a person holding at least a private pilot certificate” to “approve an aircraft for return to service after performing preventive maintenance.”