I have an ECI IO 360 engine. 188 HP. How much oil usage is too much? ( No leaks) Or put another way, how many hours should a guy be able to go before adding a quart of oil??
One thing to consider as well is various engines have a different “happy level” that they will burn down to then level off. Check what the minimum oil level is by the manufacturer (often way lower than you’d think and not where I’d ever run it) and see if it will just burn down to a level above that and then level off. I’ve often see. 2-4 Qt’s below full as a normal level off depending on engine size / oil capacity where it will burn / blow off down to that level quickly then stop.
I had an ECI 360 engine with about 900 hours go from a quart per 12-15 hours go to a quart every 6 hours to a quart every 3 hours to a brand new Superior IO360 in about a month.
How old is your engine? Some of their lifters in about 2012-13 time frame were, how to say it, not very well made.
Check you filter very carefully.
Used to go maybe 15--20 hours before I had to add a quart. Now everytime I fly, say a coupla hours, when I get bsck, I need to put a qt in.
Immediate compression check is needed. This will tell you where the oil is going if it's being "consumed", internal vs leaking, external. The leaking air from the compression check will be heard in the exhaust, intake and/or breather. depending on where the leak is heard the plan of attack can be formed around the findings
I disagree for several reasons. A compression check will not always identify why an engine is consuming oil, though it does help to identify why it is blowing oil out of the breather. A good example is a broken or siezed oil ring. NO change in compression readings, but oil consumption goes off the charts; Usually produces blue exhaust that smells oily. Another is glazed walls. Perfect compression, but burns a lot of oil.
Larry
The engine is just shy of 1000 hours. I bought the plane from the builder in 2013. I seem to recall, he finished it in 2008, but it only had 98 hours on it in 2013. Been running like a top so far. Took it to my mechanic, he checked for leaks, none, said I was fine. (And I keep it it at no more than 6 quarts). Used to go maybe 15--20 hours before I had to add a quart. Now everytime I fly, say a coupla hours, when I get bsck, I need to put a qt in.
I was planing to fly Atlanta-Milwaukee this Thursday, an 8 hour round trip. You guys think I'm safe?? Or stay home and head back to my mechanic.
Ignore any hysteria and approach the problem logically.
It's only a machine, nothing magical or mysterious about it.
Start with this podcast: https://youtu.be/lduHFzZBzGw
Then pull the top plugs and get a borescope in there. Look for excessive oil pooling in the bottom of the cylinders or dark streaks that could indicate a stuck ring. Longitudinal scratches could be a broken ring. If nothing is obviously wrong go for the compression test and maybe a ring wash.
I'd at least scope it before flying again, that can tell you a lot and it only takes an hour. You can get a great vividia scope on Amazon for 200 bucks. https://youtu.be/7R-dAmv9VZk
This video you referred me to, turned out to be excellent. Its a Mike Busch EAA webinar from the year 2014. I don't have oil on the belly, no leaks inside the cowling, so its got to be door number 3, ie oil being sucked into one combustion chamber thru a worn intake valve guide and a bad intake valve oil seal (Borescope) OR getting into combution chamber because of stuck (typically lead fouled) piston rings (Do Ring wash) One thing he suggested was to put my fingers inside my exhaust pipes. I guess its supposed to be dry. Mine are kinda gooy/oily feeling. A telltale sign.
With a high of 1qt in 4 hours to a low of 1qt in 14 hours, there is something that is not right.
My oil consumption (Phillips XC) is over 20hrs per qt and is very consistent. As already mentioned, comp reading in the high 70's can still be achieved with bad oil rings.
If you don't have oil on the belly, then you are burning it..... at a ratio of about 1/2 of a modern two stroke.