Oil Servicing Procedures on Light Aircraft

(Cessna 152)

Step 1: What Tools You'll Need

 Phillips no. 2
 Adjustable Wrench (Monkey)
 Side cutters, or wire cutters
 Lock wire pliers suggested
 1 " wrench suggested
 5/8 " wrench (custom)
Step 2: Remove the Engine Cowls
The cowls on most Cessna are in 2 pieces, top half and bottom half. You just unscrew all the
fasteners and carefully lift the top off.
The bottom cowl is a little trickier, when you loosen one side the cowl will flex and try to fall off
and could be damaged. So, loosen all the bottom screws but leave one screw on each side until
you're ready, then hold the bottom with your hand or your knee and remove the remaining
fasteners.
Make sure the propeller is horizontal before doing this. Make sure the mags are off before
turning an aircraft propeller. Make sure you put the cowls down in a way the wind won't pick
them up and run off with them.
Step 3: Drain the Oil
The oil drain on this particular engine is a quick drain spout. Anytime you apply upward pressure
on the collar a ball bearing is pushed out of the way and the oil will drain out the bottom. We use
a hose to allow the oil to be directed into an oil catch bucket. (the oil will flow faster if the
engine is warm)
Step 4: Remove the Oil Filter
The oil filter is standard, but it is lock wired into position so you will have to cut and unravel the
lock wire to be able to remove the filter. It will have some oil in it so be ready to dump it into the
oil catch bucket.
Step 5: Remove the Oil Screen
The oil screen is a "feature" included on some aircraft to show pieces of metal flaking off your
engine over time.
The oil pressure probe is installed in the middle of the screen, and it is removed first using our
custom 5/8" wrench. Slide the wrench over the wire and then loosen the probe until it can be
pulled free. Next, use your adjustable wrench to slowly and carefully undo the oil screen nut.
Step 6: Inspect the Screen and Filter
Here you're looking at the screen to see if there are any shiny or reflective pieces of metal. If
there are then you can track how many accumulate over time and it's one of many ways you can
communicate with your engine to see when it's going to go for a walk on you.
The little lumps of black are carbon pieces and usually are a non-issue. We clean them off the
screen after inspection and reinstall.
To inspect your oil filter you can cut it open with a hack saw and run a magnet in all the folds of
paper to see if there is metal particles. Always use a new oil filter when doing an oil change.
Step 7: Reinstall Screen and Lock Wire
Reinstall the oil screen in the opposite order of installation. Basically, you have to loop safety
wire around parts that you don't want to vibrate loose. Then you spin the lock wire until all the
slack is taken up, and tighten it onto somewhere on the engine or frame so that the part can't
budge.
Step 8: Reinstall Filter and Lock Wire
Reinstall the oil filter in the opposite order of installation. The oil filter can go on hand tight just
like on your car, when the engine heats up it will seal on tight.

Make sure you lock wire this piece tightly as it isn't on that tightly in the first place. I find the
filter is easier to lock wire since there is much more room.
Step 9: Fill Up with Oil
Remove the drain hose from the oil pan and make sure you pop the collar down on the drain
plug. Then the plane is ready for new oil. Make sure you use the correct amount of oil for your
engine. This one uses 6 quarts, Bigger, higher power engines need more oil. Constant speed
propeller engines need more oil.

The grade of oil you use depends on which motor you use and what temperatures you will
operate the aircraft through. Also, if you have a new engine or have completed certain engine
maintenance, then you might need special mineral oil. Only use oil approved by your engine
manufacturer or AME.
Step 10: Test Run the Engine
Now that you have filled the engine with oil, put on the oil fill cap again and check again for
leaks. Everything should be ready for a test run. Move the aircraft to a safe location and start it
up and let it idle for a few minutes. If there are any abnormal engine readings or sounds different
than before, immediately shut it down and inspect it. If all seems well after 5 minutes, shut down
the engine, check for leaks, dip the oil level and confirm it is in the correct range.
Step 11: Reinstall Engine Cowlings
Bottom cowl first, slide the cowling roughly into place and tighten one fastener on one side, then
one on the other. Make sure the cowl is lined up properly and in position then tighten the rest of
the fasteners.
Then lay the top cowl on top of the engine and tighten one fastener on each side. Make sure it is
in place correctly and lined up the way it should, then tighten the remaining fasteners.
Ensure the ignition is off and turn over the prop to ensure the cowling is not binding on the
propeller.
Make an entry in the aircraft journey log, and the engine technical log, stating that you changed
the oil on today's date, with the amount of oil you added to the engine and the type of oil and
filter you used.
Make sure you check all the fasteners twice. It's easy to forget one.
Step 12: Oil Change Complete