Use the Correct Engine Oil
Always use the manufacturer-specified oil (15W50 for most of the fleet, 100 grade when running in), check the flight manual and record oil added in the register.
1 min readKapiti Aero Club safety team
Oil serves three main purposes in our engines: lubricating, cooling and cleaning.
Using the wrong oil grade can damage the engine because it won't properly lubricate the components. This leads to metal-on-metal contact, and the friction that follows quickly wears engine parts.
Always use the oil specified by the aircraft manufacturer. The correct oil type is listed in the flight manual.
- Most of our fleet uses 15W50 when engines are operating normally. This is kept by the cabinet in the hangar.
- When an engine is being run in, we use 100 grade oil. The correct oil must be used during running-in – the wrong oil will cause problems with the seals and can ruin the engine.
Always check the flight manual and confirm the oil you're adding matches. Once you've added oil, fill out the oil register so we can keep track of each aircraft's oil consumption. If there's no oil left, let an instructor know.