Matronics Email Lists :: View topic

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

Rotax 912S oil

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> RotaxEngines-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

Dale Orth

Joined: 11 Aug 2008
Posts: 13
Location: Las Vegas,Nv

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:14 pm Post subject: Rotax 912S oil

I just bought a KitFox with a 912S. The previous owner said Valvoline DuraBlend is best if you use 100LL once in awhile. I could use some input from some more experienced Rotax owners.

Thanks, Dale

Roger Lee

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1464
Location: Tucson, Az.

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:48 pm Post subject: Re: Rotax 912S oil

Hi Dale,



If you are going to use 91 octane then use a full synthetic. If you are going to use 100LL then use a semi synthetic. Full synthetic will not suspen the lead and it falls out in the gear box and crankcase. If you only use 100LL once in a blue moon then a full synthetic is still good. There are of course different synthetics, but two I recommend and have used and is used by thousands of Rotax people are Mobile One  10-40W or 20-50 and AmsOil 10-40W or 20-50W. You need to use the motorcycle ones of these oils. The motorcycle oils have special additives for engines that share oil with the gear box. Regular auto oil does not have this. Yes auto oil will work and some say look my Rotax still runs, but you will pay later for lack of the additives that are needed for the gear box. This is taught in all Rotax classes.

If you are going to use 100LL more often or all the time then two good semi synthetic oils are Aero Shell Sport plus 4 which was made with the Rotax in mind and Golden Spectro 4. Both of these have excellent properties for the Rotax engine and all of its needs. These also are motorcycle oils with the special additives. Some use CPS's RV-9 oil for the Rotax.

If you use 91 octane change oil every 50 hrs. and if you use 100LL every 25 hrs. This is also taught in the Rotax classes. Change your plugs at 75 hrs. and 40-50 hours with 100LL. Using 100LL more or less cuts your maint. time tables in half. You have an expensive and great engine don't skimp like some and try to drain every last penny out of your maint. I am a Rotax Service Center and I get to see all those guys more often.



Because we change oils as often as we do any good motorcycle oil will work (Honda motorcycle oil), but you are trying to get not only to your 1500 hr. TBO, but beyond. Yes you can go beyond if you are following the "ON Condition"  inspection protocols. Mainly it is nothing more than good paperwork trail and an oil analysis at each oil change.

p.s.

If you use 100LL use get some Decalin fuel additive from Aircraft Spruce to help get the lead out.

Have fun with your Kit Fox.

_________________
Roger Lee
Tucson, Az.
Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
Light Sport Repairman
Home 520-574-1080 TRY HOME FIRST
Cell 520-349-7056

Last edited by Roger Lee on Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:13 pm; edited 1 time in total

lucien

Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 721
Location: santa fe, NM

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:02 pm Post subject: Re: Rotax 912S oil

 	  Roger Lee wrote: 	
		  Hi Dale,



10-40W or 20-50W. You need to use the motorcycle ones of these oils. The motorcycle oils have special additives for engines that share oil with the gear box. Regular auto oil does not have this. Yes auto oil will work and some say look my Rotax still runs, but you will pay later for lack of the additives that are needed for the gear box. This is taught in all Rotax classes.

	




Couple quick questions: 

- What exactly are these additives that are put in the motorcycle oils?

- What API service grade are they?



Thanks,

LS

_________________
LS
Titan II SS

craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:07 pm Post subject: Rotax 912S oil

There is a service instruction on this. Go to www.rotax-owner.com and sign

in as a guest to read it. If you subscribe you will receive e-mails when new

information is posted.



SI-18-1997  	 Selection of Motor Oil & General Operating Tips for ROTAX

912 & 914 - Revision 5  



-- Craig



--

Roger Lee

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1464
Location: Tucson, Az.

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject: Re: Rotax 912S oil

Hers is some good general educational info. The document is produced by AmsOil, but has great info and lots of oils.

Oil Comparison.pdf

Description:

Oil Document

Download

Filename:

Oil Comparison.pdf

Filesize:

2.01 MB

Downloaded:

582 Time(s)

_________________
Roger Lee
Tucson, Az.
Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
Light Sport Repairman
Home 520-574-1080 TRY HOME FIRST
Cell 520-349-7056

lucien

Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 721
Location: santa fe, NM

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:15 pm Post subject: Re: Rotax 912S oil

 	  Roger Lee wrote: 	
		  Hers is some good general educational info. The document is produced by AmsOil, but has great info and lots of oils. 	




I can't find the service grades of any of the oils tested in the report, specifically the API service grades. Only the brands and viscosities are listed (and batch no's etc), but not the service grades, which is specifically what I'd be interested in.



Is this available in the report or elsewhere?



Thanks,

LS

_________________
LS
Titan II SS

hgmckay

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 397

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:05 am Post subject: Rotax 912S oil

Dale: 



I fly an Allegro 2000 and use Mobile 1 Racing 4T 10W40. It is a fully

synthetic oil with the proper additives for the gear box. I do not use 100LL

fuel, only 87 AKI MOGAS. The Rotax engine is set up to use MOGAS. I would

only use 100LL if I found my self at an airport low on fuel, and I

absolutely could not find a way to get any MOGAS. Everyone has there own

opinion, but for the life of your engine, that's my opinion. Use your own

best judgment.



Hugh McKay

Allegro 2000

N661WW

Rotax 912 UL



--

jack.kuehn(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:25 am Post subject: Rotax 912S oil

I use the Mobile 1 4T racing oil too, and on a long cross country I had to use some 100LL for a few hours.  I changed the oil when I got back and could see the lead had settled out in the oil sump.  The spark plugs were also caked with lead deposits.  It took a second oil change 20 hours later to get rid of all that lead.  

 

I am thinking it would be wise to switch to a semi- synthetic blend so that these problems are minimized when and if forced to use 100LL.  Does anyone have any thoughts or knowledge regarding switching to a different oil after running the engine for 130 hours on full synthetic?  Are there any issues?  What are the disadvantages of using semi-synthetic oil? 

 

I have started carrying an empty light weight plastic 5 gallon can suspended in the empennage when I go cross country so I can get mogas.  



Jack



On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 12:08 PM, Hugh <hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net (hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net)> wrote:

 [quote]--> RotaxEngines-List message posted by: "Hugh" <hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net (hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net)>

  

 Dale:

 

 I fly an Allegro 2000 and use Mobile 1 Racing 4T 10W40. It is a fully

 synthetic oil with the proper additives for the gear box. I do not use 100LL

 fuel, only 87 AKI MOGAS. The Rotax engine is set up to use MOGAS. I would

 only use 100LL if I found my self at an airport low on fuel, and I

 absolutely could not find a way to get any MOGAS. Everyone has there own

 opinion, but for the life of your engine, that's my opinion. Use your own

 best judgment.

 

 Hugh McKay

 Allegro 2000

 N661WW

 Rotax 912 UL

 

 --

Roger Lee

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1464
Location: Tucson, Az.

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:30 am Post subject: Re: Rotax 912S oil

Mobile One Racing 4 T is a good oil. Used by a lot of people and recommended by many Mfg's.

_________________
Roger Lee
Tucson, Az.
Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
Light Sport Repairman
Home 520-574-1080 TRY HOME FIRST
Cell 520-349-7056

hgmckay

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 397

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject: Rotax 912S oil

Jack:  

   

So far, I have been able to plan ahead and call the airport where I plan to stop and ask if they can arrange transport for me to get to a gasoline station and borrow a 5 gallon can to get MOGAS. I have not started carrying a plastic 5 gallon gas container in my Allegro 2000 for a number of reasons. Even though I have not tried it, I believe that even though the container would be empty and closed, but has had gasoline in it, it still gives off enough fumes that over a 2 or three hour flight the fumes that would be in the cockpit would be detrimental to good judgment, and give you such a terrible headache you would be praying for an airport to land. Second, if I could find a way to directly vent the escaping fumes to outside the cockpit, I like you would indeed carry an empty 5 gallon plastic container with me. Any ideas how I could safely direct vent the fumes??  

   

Hugh McKay  

         

  

From: owner-rotaxengines-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rotaxengines-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Jack Kuehn

 Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 2:25 PM

 To: rotaxengines-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: RotaxEngines-List: Rotax 912S oil  

  

     

I use the Mobile 1 4T racing oil too, and on a long cross country I had to use some 100LL for a few hours.  I changed the oil when I got back and could see the lead had settled out in the oil sump.  The spark plugs were also caked with lead deposits.  It took a second oil change 20 hours later to get rid of all that lead.  

 

 I am thinking it would be wise to switch to a semi- synthetic blend so that these problems are minimized when and if forced to use 100LL.  Does anyone have any thoughts or knowledge regarding switching to a different oil after running the engine for 130 hours on full synthetic?  Are there any issues?  What are the disadvantages of using semi-synthetic oil? 

 

 I have started carrying an empty light weight plastic 5 gallon can suspended in the empennage when I go cross country so I can get mogas.  

 

 Jack    

On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 12:08 PM, Hugh <hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net (hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net)> wrote:  

--> RotaxEngines-List message posted by: "Hugh" <hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net (hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net)>

 

 Dale:

 

 I fly an Allegro 2000 and use Mobile 1 Racing 4T 10W40. It is a fully

 synthetic oil with the proper additives for the gear box. I do not use 100LL

 fuel, only 87 AKI MOGAS. The Rotax engine is set up to use MOGAS. I would

 only use 100LL if I found my self at an airport low on fuel, and I

 absolutely could not find a way to get any MOGAS. Everyone has there own

 opinion, but for the life of your engine, that's my opinion. Use your own

 best judgment.

 

 Hugh McKay

 Allegro 2000

 N661WW

 Rotax 912 UL

 

 --

jack.kuehn(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:51 pm Post subject: Rotax 912S oil

Hugh,

Good point on the fumes.  I fly a Sky Ranger, a nice breezy airplane with plenty of airflow.  I just make sure the can is as empty as possible, and I am not able to smell anything.  You would have to rig a tube from the can vent to the outside, probably more trouble than it's worth. 

 

Jack



On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 2:47 PM, Hugh <hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net (hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net)> wrote:

[quote]                 

Jack:  

   

So far, I have been able to plan ahead and call the airport where I plan to stop and ask if they can arrange transport for me to get to a gasoline station and borrow a 5 gallon can to get MOGAS. I have not started carrying a plastic 5 gallon gas container in my Allegro 2000 for a number of reasons. Even though I have not tried it, I believe that even though the container would be empty and closed, but has had gasoline in it, it still gives off enough fumes that over a 2 or three hour flight the fumes that would be in the cockpit would be detrimental to good judgment, and give you such a terrible headache you would be praying for an airport to land. Second, if I could find a way to directly vent the escaping fumes to outside the cockpit, I like you would indeed carry an empty 5 gallon plastic container with me. Any ideas how I could safely direct vent the fumes??  

   

Hugh McKay  

         

  

From: owner-rotaxengines-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-rotaxengines-list-server(at)matronics.com) [mailto:owner-rotaxengines-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-rotaxengines-list-server(at)matronics.com)] On Behalf Of Jack Kuehn

 Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 2:25 PM

 To: rotaxengines-list(at)matronics.com (rotaxengines-list(at)matronics.com)

 

Subject: Re: RotaxEngines-List: Rotax 912S oil  



  

     

I use the Mobile 1 4T racing oil too, and on a long cross country I had to use some 100LL for a few hours.  I changed the oil when I got back and could see the lead had settled out in the oil sump.  The spark plugs were also caked with lead deposits.  It took a second oil change 20 hours later to get rid of all that lead.  

 

 I am thinking it would be wise to switch to a semi- synthetic blend so that these problems are minimized when and if forced to use 100LL.  Does anyone have any thoughts or knowledge regarding switching to a different oil after running the engine for 130 hours on full synthetic?  Are there any issues?  What are the disadvantages of using semi-synthetic oil? 

 

 I have started carrying an empty light weight plastic 5 gallon can suspended in the empennage when I go cross country so I can get mogas.  

 

 Jack    

On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 12:08 PM, Hugh <hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net (hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net)> wrote:   

--> RotaxEngines-List message posted by: "Hugh" <hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net (hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net)>

 

 Dale:

 

 I fly an Allegro 2000 and use Mobile 1 Racing 4T 10W40. It is a fully

 synthetic oil with the proper additives for the gear box. I do not use 100LL

 fuel, only 87 AKI MOGAS. The Rotax engine is set up to use MOGAS. I would

 only use 100LL if I found my self at an airport low on fuel, and I

 absolutely could not find a way to get any MOGAS. Everyone has there own

 opinion, but for the life of your engine, that's my opinion. Use your own

 best judgment.

 

 Hugh McKay

 Allegro 2000

 N661WW

 Rotax 912 UL

 

 --

hgmckay

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 397

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:16 pm Post subject: Rotax 912S oil

Jack:  

   

Maybe not! I can drill a second small hole through the bottom of my fiberglass composite fuselage near the point where the main fuel tank vent is now located, and protrude a second vent line from the plastic can. It seems to me that this would be no different that the existing main fuel tank vent line. I would have to come up with a “one of a kind” cap on the can to connect to this line. The vent line would protrude perpindicular to the fuselage, but if I beveled the protrusion similar to the main tank vent line it should vent properly.  

   

Hugh McKay  

Allegro 2000  

N661WW  

Rotax 912 UL  

         

  

From: owner-rotaxengines-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rotaxengines-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Jack Kuehn

 Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 4:52 PM

 To: rotaxengines-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: RotaxEngines-List: Rotax 912S oil  

  

     

Hugh,

 Good point on the fumes.  I fly a Sky Ranger, a nice breezy airplane with plenty of airflow.  I just make sure the can is as empty as possible, and I am not able to smell anything.  You would have to rig a tube from the can vent to the outside, probably more trouble than it's worth. 

 

 Jack    

On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 2:47 PM, Hugh <hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net (hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net)> wrote:      

Jack:  

   

So far, I have been able to plan ahead and call the airport where I plan to stop and ask if they can arrange transport for me to get to a gasoline station and borrow a 5 gallon can to get MOGAS. I have not started carrying a plastic 5 gallon gas container in my Allegro 2000 for a number of reasons. Even though I have not tried it, I believe that even though the container would be empty and closed, but has had gasoline in it, it still gives off enough fumes that over a 2 or three hour flight the fumes that would be in the cockpit would be detrimental to good judgment, and give you such a terrible headache you would be praying for an airport to land. Second, if I could find a way to directly vent the escaping fumes to outside the cockpit, I like you would indeed carry an empty 5 gallon plastic container with me. Any ideas how I could safely direct vent the fumes??  

   

Hugh McKay  

         

  

From: owner-rotaxengines-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-rotaxengines-list-server(at)matronics.com) [mailto:owner-rotaxengines-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-rotaxengines-list-server(at)matronics.com)] On Behalf Of Jack Kuehn

 Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 2:25 PM    



 To: rotaxengines-list(at)matronics.com (rotaxengines-list(at)matronics.com)  

  

Subject: Re: Rotax 912S oil  

      

     

I use the Mobile 1 4T racing oil too, and on a long cross country I had to use some 100LL for a few hours.  I changed the oil when I got back and could see the lead had settled out in the oil sump.  The spark plugs were also caked with lead deposits.  It took a second oil change 20 hours later to get rid of all that lead.  

 

 I am thinking it would be wise to switch to a semi- synthetic blend so that these problems are minimized when and if forced to use 100LL.  Does anyone have any thoughts or knowledge regarding switching to a different oil after running the engine for 130 hours on full synthetic?  Are there any issues?  What are the disadvantages of using semi-synthetic oil? 

 

 I have started carrying an empty light weight plastic 5 gallon can suspended in the empennage when I go cross country so I can get mogas.  

 

 Jack    

On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 12:08 PM, Hugh <hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net (hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net)> wrote:  

--> RotaxEngines-List message posted by: "Hugh" <hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net (hgmckay(at)bellsouth.net)>

 

 Dale:

 

 I fly an Allegro 2000 and use Mobile 1 Racing 4T 10W40. It is a fully

 synthetic oil with the proper additives for the gear box. I do not use 100LL

 fuel, only 87 AKI MOGAS. The Rotax engine is set up to use MOGAS. I would

 only use 100LL if I found my self at an airport low on fuel, and I

 absolutely could not find a way to get any MOGAS. Everyone has there own

 opinion, but for the life of your engine, that's my opinion. Use your own

 best judgment.

 

 Hugh McKay

 Allegro 2000

 N661WW

 Rotax 912 UL

 

 --

lucien

Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 721
Location: santa fe, NM

Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 8:19 am Post subject: Re: Rotax 912S oil

 	  Roger Lee wrote: 	
		  Hers is some good general educational info. The document is produced by AmsOil, but has great info and lots of oils. 	




Were we ever able to locate the API service grades of the oils in this report? This is the most important part, so still curious....



Thanks,

LS

_________________
LS
Titan II SS

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> RotaxEngines-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum