As the sun rises this crisp morning, I find myself standing at the hangar, facing my beloved Piper Warrior II. She’s a faithful companion that loves adventure, but today, she needs a little tender loving care – an oil change.

With determination in my heart and a wrench in hand, I set out on my mission.

Gathering Supplies

I rummage through the hangar, gathering the necessary supplies for the job: gloves, oil, an oil filter, a drain bucket, silicone tubing, a trusty wrench, pliers, safety wire and a handful of rags. As I gather my tools, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement – there’s something oddly satisfying about getting my hands dirty and taking care of my own aircraft.

Prepping the Plane

A key lesson to remember when doing an oil change is that warm oil flows easier than cold. Lesson in mind, I taxi the aircraft from the hangar over to the fuel pumps for two reasons; fill the tanks and warm the oil.

With the oil warm and supplies in tow, I guide the Warrior II back to the hangar and shut down the engine. With a satisfying clunk, I open the cowling and peer into the inner workings of the engine. It’s a small space, but everything is easily accessible.

Drain the Old Oil

One trick I’ve learned is to use a silicone tube that slides over the oil quick-drain valve. A small metal clamp secures one end to the valve while the other drops through the cowling and into my drain bucket.

My Piper has a Curtis drain valve that can be pushed up and locked open; no wrench required. Removing the oil dipstick allows air to flow in and oil out. Like a gentle waterfall, the old oil begins to flow, its dark hue a testament to the miles we’ve flown together.

As I watch the oil drain away, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia – every drop tells a story of adventures past. This oil has about 40 flight hours and saved several puppies.

Replace the Oil Filter

With the old oil drained, it’s time to tackle the oil filter. Another trick I learned early is to keep the plastic bag the filter comes in. If you pull the bag up and forward of the filter, the oil in the filter will (hopefully) drain into the bag, instead of down the engine. Before removal, make sure to clip off the safety wire. With a firm grip on my wrench, I loosen the old filter and carefully remove it. I try and make sure not to spill a drop.

I write the date and tach time on before installing the new Champion filter and safety wire.

Refill with Fresh Oil

As recommended, I use Aero Shell 100 Plus in my Lycoming engine. As I pour the fresh oil into the engine, I watch as it glistens in the sunlight, a promise of many more adventures to come. With each quart added, I feel a sense of renewal – my Piper Warrior II is ready to take on the skies once again.

Clean Up and Inspect

With the job done, I clean up any spills with a citrus cleaner that easily wipes away oil smears. As I close up the cowling and inspect the engine one last time, I can’t help but smile – I’ve done it. A 15 minute engine run and leak check confirm my Piper Warrior II is in tip-top shape, ready for whatever the skies may bring.

Oil change complete, the skies are calling.

@canUcopeAVIATION

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And so, are you ready to DIY your own oil change? Here are the items we used

1. Aero Shell Oil W100 Plus https://amzn.to/3UVh79u #ad
2. Champion Oil Filter https://amzn.to/49sjll2 #ad
3. Silicone tubing https://amzn.to/49Kvdys #ad
4. Safety Wire Pliers https://amzn.to/3SMyaHY #ad
5. Citrus Cleaning Spray https://amzn.to/3T7CKBX #ad

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