Last month we asked:
When doing an oil change do you send your filter out for analyses?
Yes – 35.87%
No – 64.13%
A few answers:
– I send out the oil for analysis, not the filter. I would only send the filter element for testing if there was an unusual quantity of unknown metal.
– We had not been flying that much in the last couple years, so during the annual inspection the IA would have it sent for analysis. We replaced a jug about 5 years ago due to a ring issue, so we try to stay ahead with oil analysis.
– Every other change
– Very low time engine and my mechanic cuts open filter to look for metal. That’s good enough for me on a new engine.
– Paper element filter is routinely cut open and inspected
– Seeing some brass in my oil – monitoring the rate
– I always send out for an oil analysis. The information obtained is my engine talking to me. If I listen, the value gained greatly outweighs the nominal cost.
– I open it and look at it but send the oil sample itself out. The filter gets zip-bagged and kept until the oil analysis confirms my visual inspection.
