Metal in the oil filter

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bruno82

Filing Flight Plan
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Emanuel Ferreira
I recently purchased a 172xp 900hr smoh Con IO-360 k. It was in Florida the last two years and in a hanger in Maine prior.
The last annual was In July and was bore scoped and had no metal in the oil. It flew 2hrs from July till mid October, and prior to the annual it only had 15 hrs for the year.
I flew it back from Florida to Washington. I got an oil change done when I got back and this is what was found in the oil filter. My mechanic doesn't seem as freaked out as me. Pic are attached. I am new to aviation, I bought this plane to train and get my PPL.

PXL_20241025_204924189.jpgPXL_20241025_204903505.jpg
 
Yes a oil samples is going out.
 
bruno82 said:
My mechanic doesn't seem as freaked out as me. Pic are attached. I am new to aviation, I bought this plane to train and get my PPL.
Click to expand...
Not everything you are seeing is metal. One common option is to fly for 10 hours and perform another oil/filter change and compare results. However, based on your photos and your mechanics take, I don't see any issues other than an engine that has not flown enough.
 
Yeah it was moving with a magnet
 
Would be helpful if you separated the material found in filter. It's extremely important to know the composition of what you found.

There are several ways to it - this is what I do.

Place the material found in the filter is a small glass container (small mason jar is perfect).
Add a tablespoon or so of solvent (I just use a bit of avgas).
Get a small magnet and put it in the corner of a zip lock bag.
Put corner of the zip lock bag in the container with the solvent.
Swish around for a min or so.
Take bag out and place on a clean rag or paper towel and let dry. Metal stuck to magnet is ferrous.
Pour remaining contents onto another clean rag/paper towel and let dry. Black stuff will most likely be carbon and any shinny stuff will be aluminum.
 
Also, the carbon you can typically crush with a fingernail.
 
bruno82 said:
I recently purchased a 172xp 900hr smoh Con IO-360 k. It was in Florida the last two years and in a hanger in Maine prior.
The last annual was In July and was bore scoped and had no metal in the oil. It flew 2hrs from July till mid October, and prior to the annual it only had 15 hrs for the year.
I flew it back from Florida to Washington. I got an oil change done when I got back and this is what was found in the oil filter. My mechanic doesn't seem as freaked out as me. Pic are attached. I am new to aviation, I bought this plane to train and get my PPL.

View attachment 134581View attachment 134582
Click to expand...
Add some solvent, use magnet to isolate ferrous metal from aluminum. Have oil sample analysis
 
Prediction: you'll get about 200 more hours out of it before needing an overhaul.
 
bruno82 said:
Yes a oil samples is going out.
Click to expand...

Getting on an oil analysis program is great if you’re flying it enough to justify sole ownership.

What year was the OH last accomplished and what’s the average hours flow since then?

The first year of ownership can be fraught with expenses.
 
bruno82 said:
I flew it back from Florida to Washington. I got an oil change done when I got back and this is what was found in the oil filter. My mechanic doesn't seem as freaked out as me. Pic are attached. I am new to aviation, I bought this plane to train and get my PPL.
Click to expand...
Two questions come to mind:
DC or the real Washington (WA)?
You bought the plane for your PPL training, and you flew it home?
 
Real WA, I was right seat, a friend flew it back
 
A new AD was just released effective in December concerning brass particles in the oil filter. AD 2024-21-02 covers just about every Lycoming engine.
Connecting Rod bushing shipped between 2009-2017 are the issue. Status is to check oil and filter at a regular basis and no action required unless brass is found in the filter. The AD must be listed and results recorded in the maintenance log at each inspection.
 
BillTIZ said:
A new AD was just released effective in December concerning brass particles in the oil filter. AD 2024-21-02 covers just about every Lycoming engine.
Connecting Rod bushing shipped between 2009-2017 are the issue. Status is to check oil and filter at a regular basis and no action required unless brass is found in the filter. The AD must be listed and results recorded in the maintenance log at each inspection.
Click to expand...
His engine is not a Lycoming.
 
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