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(Regulations) Owner Oil Change stupid question.

Asked by: 3538 views FAA Regulations

Its commonly "known" that aircraft owners are allowed to change their own oil. FAR 43.3 makes it clear that owners can perform "preventative maintenance", and just in case you aren't sure what is included under that umbrella, Appendix A contains a specific list of preventative maintenance tasks the owner may perform. An "oil change" seems to be absent from this list. there is a line which states that fuel and oil strainers and filters may be changed, but am I missing something, or is there not a SPECIFIC regulation that clearly states that ENGINE OIL itself may be changed by an aircraft owner?

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4 Answers

  1. Best Answer


    Mark Kolber on Aug 06, 2019

    Combine items 6 and 23 on the list.

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  2. Thomas Vaillencourt on Aug 06, 2019

    Thank you Mark! You are exactly the person I would have liked to answer this question! In retrospect that makes sense, I just figured that (6) was reserved for lubrication on the airframe such as aileron or flap hinges or control horns or push-tubes, rigging pulleys etc. I assumed operating fluids or engine oil would have its own mention. Thank you again!

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  3. KDS on Aug 06, 2019

    Not part of your question, but just a reminder to check FAR 43.9(a).

    You would be amazed how many owner maintained aircraft haven’t had an oil change in years if the logbook is to be believed.

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  4. Mark Kolber on Aug 07, 2019

    The other thing to remember about preventative maintenance is that the Appendix is not exclusive despite language in the Appendix to the contrary. The Chief Counsel has said “As with the other paragraphs of Appendix A (i.e., on major repairs and major alterations), the lists are better viewed as examples of the tasks in each category-they cannot be considered all- inclusive.”
    https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/practice_areas/regulations/interpretations/Data/interps/2009/Coleal%20-%20(2009)%20Legal%20Interpretation.pdf

    I don’t think it’s particularly helpful at the edges because it’s so vague, but when puts the list together it would be hard to come to the conclusion an oil change is not covered.

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