Oil Filter Add On

I was scheduled to leave ILG around 6:30 but there was plenty of low layer scud hanging around the airport just trying to tick me off.

SPECI KILG 091009Z AUTO 05003KT 10SM FEW009 SCT038 24/22 A2999

I sent Vince a text at 5:30 letting him know I was pushing back departure time to 7:15. I had Aero Ways bring my fuel to the tabs, 15 gallons each side for today's quick hop. The plan for today was to make the hop to 58M, Cecil County Airport located in Elkton, Maryland. I had scheduled the Oil Filter add on and Roger's shop could get me in this morning for the oil change, we doubled up and took care of both items.

METAR KILG 091051Z 09005KT 10SM FEW018 24/22 A2999

I climbed out of Wilmington on runway nine with a left turn on course. I decided to climb over the top of the layer and planned on looking for a hole near Elkton. Vince got a real kick out of flying above the clouds and we had a smooth ten minute ride. Just east of 58M there was a good size hole that we descended through as if it was put there to guide us in. I crossed midfield a couple hundred feet under the pattern and had to climb to enter on target. Midfield left down wind entry followed by base and final. I was hot and high, I made the decision to go around. Once around the pattern and I was back on final, slow and working my short field for a smooth landing. I let 08Romeo roll out with little braking action and made my way to the Cecil Aero hangar.

Old Screen

New Adaptor

After reading about the screen vs filters this is what I take from it all. The reason the screens were issued originally is that back when these engines were first designed the most common oil used was a straight-mineral oil. The oil was cheap and thus not as big an issue with frequent oil changes. Heck, I still think oil is cheap insurance for our engines. The screen kept larger particles from damaging an engine, but smaller particles continued to circulate until the engine was shut down. Then they dropped to the bottom of the sump and settled out. Dispersant oil was invented to keep the small stuff suspended so as to drain out with the oil, the idea being to extend engine life and reduce crud remaining in the engines and subject to being dislodged and sent through the system. That is when filter elements came into popular use in order to filter out particles re-circulating with the dispersant type oil. If using AD type oil then an oil filter is necessary to keep those suspended particles from recirculating.

New adaptor added (just in front of the blue oil cooler line coupler)

Run up/ Leak test

Panorama of the shop

With the new parts installed, the aeroshell oil added and the top cowling installed it was time to get home. Roger added the notation in the Adlog for the work, I paid the bill and we saddled up. I taxied out to runway 31 and departed to the north. I gave some thought about lunch at KMQS, Chester county but diverted back to Wilmington. We flew through a light shower but the clouds were not looking good. I decided it was best to get on the ground and find a place to eat rather then get stuck away from home if thunder boomers moved in. A fun day flying even though it was only .9 in the log. As always great to have Vince along and what would I do without his photo skills!