phillips xc 20w50 or sae50

[J3guy]

Hi all, I fly a small continental at higher elevations and am having trouble with high oil temps and then low pressure at low rpms and on the ground. i recently switched to the XC stuff and am now experiencing this. Other than wait until this heat wave is over, what else should i do? Should i go back to the aeroshell straight weight? Engine has 100 smoh. thanks to all

 

[CUBMAN]

Here is my 2 cents worth on this subject. Keep in mind that it has been a few years since I have used my A&P but when you drain your Phillips X-C oil have you ever looked at it as it pours out. Looks pretty crappy, and grey colored after 25 hours of use. AeroShell on the other hand is much cleaner and has more viscosity to it than the X-C oil. I have used both in my workings as an A&P but my preference is AeroShell. These are just my observations but I think AeroShell is a superior product over X-C.

 

[J3guy]

thanks, anyone else had any experience with this?

 

[captfred]

Have run both Aeroshell and the XC multigrade oils in my Lyc O-360 for years. No difference noted in EGT/CHT/Oil temps. Check your baffles.

 

[CUBMAN]

J3guy do you subscribe to the cub newsletter? It seems to me there was an article written in he past about high temps and low pressures by one of the experts. I'm not near my home base or else I would research it for you.

 

[J3guy]

No, I've never heard of that cubman. i'm thinking i'm probably just going to switch back to the aeroshell, thanks

 

[CUBMAN]

Cubclub.org. You can call or email them and order all the previous newsletter. It is a must have for all Cub owners.

 

[J3guy]

LOL, i'm still saving up for the super cub! I'll check with them thanks

 

[Waldom]

Here is my 2 cents worth on this subject. Keep in mind that it has been a few years since I have used my A&P but when you drain your Phillips X-C oil have you ever looked at it as it pours out. Looks pretty crappy, and grey colored after 25 hours of use. AeroShell on the other hand is much cleaner and has more viscosity to it than the X-C oil. I have used both in my workings as an A&P but my preference is AeroShell. These are just my observations but I think AeroShell is a superior product over X-C.

Wouldn't the Phillips X-C oil looking grungier than Aeroshell after use indicate that it was doing a better job keeping contaminents in suspention? I don't know the answer to that question, I'm just wondering.

 

[CUBMAN]

I follow and agree with your logic Waldom but the guys in the hangar I was working at somehow convinced me that AeroShell was a better oil. I wish I could remember why. Another argument of mine was that the filter wasnt doing a good job of filtering the oil. It did convince me to look at the oil when it pours out which most people dont do. The AeroShell does look and feel better as it pours out. X-C looks and feels pretty grungy.

 

[Waldom]

As it happens, I have been using Aeroshell multi-viscocity oil (15W50) in the Continental A-65 installed in my PA-11 for several years. I am satisfied witht the results so far, but a definitive decision will have to wait untill the next overhaul.

Of course that oil is not in the manufacturer's specifications for that engine because multi-viscocity oils were not avilable when it was designed. I guess I don't need to worry about a warranty after 64 years.

I did have two concerns when starting to use this oil. The heaviest weight oil specified by Continental is 40 and now I am using oil that runs up to 50 weight in the engine. That has caused no known problems so far.
My other concern is that multi-grade oils are reputed not to stick to internal components of the engine as long during periods of disuse. The jury is still out on that one. I'll just have to see how much wear and internal corrosion there is inside the engine when it is torn down for overhaul.

By the way, this engine is not equipped with an oil filter. It just has the brass oil screen that was originally installed.