Learning some valuable tips from an oil change with a Bonanza.

You will see the process is the same, but there are some interesting Tips to be learned from Kevin's experience.

You should read the page on Changing the oil in your plane first.

Gather what you need to start. 

Notice the oil sample container.

Notice the date and hours on the new filter.

This is how it looks to start.

The collecting can is ready too.

Everything in place to start draining.

Quick drain ready to attach the drain hose

Drain hose attached - This drain hose is actually two hoses.  The top is black (to fit on the quick drain) while the rest is clear.  Clear is good so you can see the oil flowing.

Half way through the draining you should take your oil sample.  Too early and you may get contamination from the hose and the last oil change.  Too late and you may get sludge from the bottom of the case.

This is the old filter just before we removed it. Notice there is no spilled oil just below the filter.

This is worth the cost of admission right here.  Place a paper towel inside the right size plastic zip lock bag.

Place a rag underneath the old oil filter to catch what is not contained by the zip lock bag.

Place the bag around the filter and unscrew the filter in the bag.  You may need to loosen it before you put the bag on.

With a little practice you can keep all the oil from the filter in the bag.  This did not work on my 182, as the filter was angled with the opening down.

This was neat.  All but a small amount of oil was kept IN the bag.

This was almost perfect with little oil spilled.

The oil is in the bag not in the plane.  Now it is ready to start draining the filter.

Place the filter upside down in the funnel and let it drain into the same can you collected the old oil into.

Look between the shelves and you will see the drain hose draining into an empty oil can.  This keeps it out of the way and ready for the next time.

It is easier to start the safety wire before you put the new filter in place.

It is important to use the Dow 4 and then torque the filter to the proper tightness.

Once it is correctly in place you finish with the safety wire.

This is one of those really expensive high tech funnels that only Bonanza pilots can justify using.  And it works.

Using one of the filter opening tools sure makes this easy.  It is just one spin around the filter and the body is removed.

You can see these were action shots.

The goal is to open up the filter and unfold the filter element so you can visually inspect for debris.  Anything a pencil point or larger needs some expert attention.

Using a very sharp knife you will cut along each inside edge of the filter and at each attach point across the filter to free the paper element.

If you expand this photo and look closely you will see some silver colored specks.  These are collections of sludge or carbon buildup.  This is normal.  If you can squeeze the speck and crush it, then it is of little importance.

Well, now you have been through two oil changes.  This should put you on the road to doing your own oil changes too.  Everyone I know that does change their own oil says they enjoy doing it.  It saves some money.  It is done right.  And nobody cares about your plane the way you do.

Thanks Kevin for letting me take the pictures and getting in your way.  This oil change took about an hour after the engine was warmed and we started the change.  Kevin would have had it done in 30 minutes without me taking the pictures.