Hi all,
I need some advice based on your experiences with O-360 C4P or similar engines. I am looking at a low time aircraft engine but it is about 10 years old and only has about 200 hours. The first 140 hours were when it was first purchased and flow that year and then the next 8-9 years it only had 60 hours put on it. Lycoming says the TBO is 2000 hours or 12 years which will be in two more years. The engine was in dry country in a heated hanger and had an annual every year with oil change. It did not have the Lycoming recommended "long storage" procedures applied (spraying special oil in through the spark plug holes and cycling the prop to coat the cylinder walls). I have heard stories of many of these low time engines getting run 25-50 hours and then the seals blowing or bearings going and you end up with a $20-30K bill.
Lycoming Service Instruction No. 1009AT excerpt note below
“Engine deterioration in the form of corrosion (rust) and the drying out and hardening of
composition materials such as gaskets, seals, flexible hoses and fuel pump diaphragms can occur if an
engine is out of service for an extended period of time. Due to the loss of a protective oil film after an
extended period of inactivity, abnormal wear on soft metal bearing surfaces can occur during engine
start. Therefore, all engines that do not accumulate the hourly period of time between overhauls
specified in this publication are recommended to be overhauled in the twelfth year.”
Have any of you folks had experience with this?
If I get an engine oil analysis done and it comes back clean is it only the seals that are at risk?
Any comments and advice would be appreciated.
I need some advice based on your experiences with O-360 C4P or similar engines. I am looking at a low time aircraft engine but it is about 10 years old and only has about 200 hours. The first 140 hours were when it was first purchased and flow that year and then the next 8-9 years it only had 60 hours put on it. Lycoming says the TBO is 2000 hours or 12 years which will be in two more years. The engine was in dry country in a heated hanger and had an annual every year with oil change. It did not have the Lycoming recommended "long storage" procedures applied (spraying special oil in through the spark plug holes and cycling the prop to coat the cylinder walls). I have heard stories of many of these low time engines getting run 25-50 hours and then the seals blowing or bearings going and you end up with a $20-30K bill.
Lycoming Service Instruction No. 1009AT excerpt note below
“Engine deterioration in the form of corrosion (rust) and the drying out and hardening of
composition materials such as gaskets, seals, flexible hoses and fuel pump diaphragms can occur if an
engine is out of service for an extended period of time. Due to the loss of a protective oil film after an
extended period of inactivity, abnormal wear on soft metal bearing surfaces can occur during engine
start. Therefore, all engines that do not accumulate the hourly period of time between overhauls
specified in this publication are recommended to be overhauled in the twelfth year.”
Have any of you folks had experience with this?
If I get an engine oil analysis done and it comes back clean is it only the seals that are at risk?
Any comments and advice would be appreciated.