Oil consumption

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neema
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Re: Oil consumption

Post by neema »

I wanted to revive an old thread to share an interesting observation and see if anyone else is experiencing the same:

In our 42-VI, we'd cruise at 85% and go the 100 hour interval between oil changes adding usually one quart per side for the whole interval.

In a new-to-us DA62, we've used 9 quarts in the past 80 hours between both engines. We keep oil low on the dipstick and backed off from cruising at 85% to 75% with no major difference in consumption. It seems excessive. Anyone else see the same?
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Re: Oil consumption

Post by CFIDave »

Wow, 9 quarts in 80 hours for DA62 engines (4.5 quarts per engine)?? That's excessive, and it's bizarre that it's happening with *both* engines. What oil are you using?

On both my DA42-VI and DA62 Austro engines, I've always needed to add only 1 quart/liter of oil in between 100 hour oil changes.
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Re: Oil consumption

Post by janders »

I'm seeing the same consumption as CFIDave. 1 quart / 100 hours / engine
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neema
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Re: Oil consumption

Post by neema »

CFIDave wrote: Fri Mar 11, 2022 2:04 pm Wow, 9 quarts in 80 hours for DA62 engines (4.5 quarts per engine)?? That's excessive, and it's bizarre that it's happening with *both* engines. What oil are you using?

On both my DA42-VI and DA62 Austro engines, I've always needed to add only 1 quart/liter of oil in between 100 hour oil changes.

That's what I was thinking. Excessive. I missed the ball and the shop filled it with Aero$hell Diesel ultra, too. I'm hoping my 3 remaining quarts get me the next oil change

Now that I think of it, I ordered spare oil liters. Even less than quarts!
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Re: Oil consumption

Post by Soareyes »

Oil use in my 2020 Merc/Austros in a DA42; left engine uses more oil than the right.

Left engine: 1.5 - 2 quarts per 100 hours
Right engine: 0.5 - 1 quart per 100 hours

The oil pressure is also always slightly lower on the left engine. No oil leaks noted inside the cowlings.
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Re: Oil consumption

Post by neema »

Shop told me it may be a pinched breather. the fact that it's happening both sides makes me skeptical. Nothing coming out of the breather vent either. Nacelles are clean.

We'll find out in a couple weeks
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Re: Oil consumption

Post by vnehess »

my observation after 9 months owning DA40NG, ~500 hours since new.
oil consumption : 0.5 - 1 quart per 100 hours, shell oil.
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Re: Oil consumption

Post by Davestation »

neema wrote: Fri Mar 11, 2022 8:13 pm Shop told me it may be a pinched breather. the fact that it's happening both sides makes me skeptical. Nothing coming out of the breather vent either. Nacelles are clean.

We'll find out in a couple weeks

I don't see any common denominator for oil consumption on both engines (besides overfilling obviously) so you must be looking at dual faults. The oil has to be going somewhere so if they can find no leaks on the engines themselves then they're either burning it (soot on right side) or spitting it out (oil on bottom). The latter may not be as readily apparent so I wouldn't rule out the breather/oil separator system.
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Re: Oil consumption

Post by neema »

Plane came out of service. Shop put in Aeroshell even though Castrol was sitting in the back seat and I asked them to put that in.

They cleaned the breathers and checked for pinching. Still seeing oil consumption. Ordered another 12 pack of Aeroshells. I went through 10 quarts last interval.

Guess we'll just live with it. They recommended not looking into it further.

We usually run the oil low. Like at or just above minimum.

Soot seems to come from power settings more than oil consumption. Our 42-VI was ran at 85% and would leave a good deposit. Engines used 1 quart, maaaaybe 2 every 100 hours.
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