Sport Pilot Talk

I recently took my Rotax 912 in for an oil change and my A&P installed a Tempest filter instead of the Rotax brand. We were aware of the recall on the Rotax brand, and his supplier (CPS) recommended the Tempest due to Rotax being out-of-stock.

I have read many differing opinions on this (and a strong opinion by Rotax). What do you think? My Rotax has 100 hours, so warranty is no longer an issue (or is it)?

Dump the Tempest. The bypass pressure is too low. The Rotax is 18-22 psi. The anti drain back membrane isn't soft enough either and will allow drainage. The new filters are out and were within a couple of weeks. Just change the filter and keep flying. Stay away from Tempest and Champion. If you have an engine issue using these someone with the Rotax filter will get help. Someone with the off brand is totally on their own. These filters have about a $1 - $2 difference in price anymore and being cheap just isn't worth it.

roger lee wrote:Dump the Tempest. The bypass pressure is too low. The Rotax is 18-22 psi. The anti drain back membrane isn't soft enough either and will allow drainage. The new filters are out and were within a couple of weeks. Just change the filter and keep flying. Stay away from Tempest and Champion. If you have an engine issue using these someone with the Rotax filter will get help. Someone with the off brand is totally on their own. These filters have about a $1 - $2 difference in price anymore and being cheap just isn't worth it.

Roger, Do you recommend I dump it now or next oil change? Also, if I change it, will I lose much oil making the change? The cost of another filter is not a factor... if the Tempest could do damage, I don't want it.

I'm curious if others have used Tempest for any length of time and what their experience is.

Tl ultralight’s own master equipment list for Sirius at http://sting.aero/wp-content/uploads/20 ... Aug-17.pdf explicitly states in bold , No Substitutes for the rotax oil filter.
I wouldn’t risk it if I were you ...

Paul_G wrote:

roger lee wrote:Dump the Tempest. The bypass pressure is too low. The Rotax is 18-22 psi. The anti drain back membrane isn't soft enough either and will allow drainage. The new filters are out and were within a couple of weeks. Just change the filter and keep flying. Stay away from Tempest and Champion. If you have an engine issue using these someone with the Rotax filter will get help. Someone with the off brand is totally on their own. These filters have about a $1 - $2 difference in price anymore and being cheap just isn't worth it.

Roger, Do you recommend I dump it now or next oil change? Also, if I change it, will I lose much oil making the change? The cost of another filter is not a factor... if the Tempest could do damage, I don't want it.

I'm curious if others have used Tempest for any length of time and what their experience is.

When the new Rotax filters become available I would replace the Tempest filter, if it were me. I have heard that the new Rotax filters can be pre filled with oil, so pre fill the filter and you shouldn't loose much oil during the swap.

The new Rotax oil filter does not have the internal check valve. It can be prefilled. I have filled it to the top twice and let it soak in and then up half way and not lost any oil. That's prefilled enough. The problem with asking someone what their experience is with other filters tends to be they only fly 30-50 hours a year so their in a wheelchair when they finally get enough hours on to know what's going on. Then they'll blame a gearbox issue or some other issue on everything, but the filter because if they don't know any difference between oil filters how would they ever have enough knowledge to diagnose a internal complicated issue.
So will the engine run on another filter? Yes
Is that a wise move to save $1-$2? No

If it were my plane I would go ahead and just replace the filter now and never look back. You may lose about 4-6 oz. of oil.It will just be added back when you prefill the new filter. Like many of us over the years just chalk it up to your learning curve.

You need to have one of these new oil filter wrenches. The only one I know that fits in tight spots and takes the toughest ones off. All stainless steel.

http://ctflier.com/topic/4049-the-perfe ... ch/?page=2

roger lee wrote:The new Rotax oil filter does not have the internal check valve. It can be prefilled. I have filled it to the top twice and let it soak in and then up half way and not lost any oil. That's prefilled enough. The problem with asking someone what their experience is with other filters tends to be they only fly 30-50 hours a year so their in a wheelchair when they finally get enough hours on to know what's going on. Then they'll blame a gearbox issue or some other issue on everything, but the filter because if they don't know any difference between oil filters how would they ever have enough knowledge to diagnose a internal complicated issue.
So will the engine run on another filter? Yes
Is that a wise move to save $1-$2? No

If it were my plane I would go ahead and just replace the filter now and never look back. You may lose about 4-6 oz. of oil.It will just be added back when you prefill the new filter. Like many of us over the years just chalk it up to your learning curve.

You need to have one of these new oil filter wrenches. The only one I know that fits in tight spots and takes the toughest ones off. All stainless steel.

http://ctflier.com/topic/4049-the-perfe ... ch/?page=2

Thank you! I just ordered a new filter. I appreciate your advice and won't fly again until the new one is installed. Being a student pilot, I'm not permitted to do it myself - ugh! .... seems silly.

Shhhhhhhh, we won't tell.

Paul_G wrote:Being a student pilot, I'm not permitted to do it myself - ugh! .... seems silly.

Not silly at all. Isn't the applicant's ability to safely change oil one of the things the DPE assesses during the practical exam? And isn't that in the Practical Test Standards?

It also brings up the first hand experience attitude.

You know the guy (even a mechanic sometimes) who alludes to using a John Deere lawnmower fuel pump and never had a problem.

Use OEM parts or manufacture recommended replacements and you will never go wrong

Jim Hardin wrote:
You know the guy (even a mechanic sometimes) who alludes to using a John Deere lawnmower fuel pump and never had a problem.

Or voltage regulator!

Use OEM parts or manufacture recommended replacements and you will never go wrong

Yes, the joy of going through multiple Ducati voltage regulators cannot be overstated!

drseti wrote:

Paul_G wrote:Being a student pilot, I'm not permitted to do it myself - ugh! .... seems silly.

Not silly at all. Isn't the applicant's ability to safely change oil one of the things the DPE assesses during the practical exam? And isn't that in the Practical Test Standards?

Good Doctor, unless you are reading something different than me the answer is NO. An applicant should know how the oil system works, but they are not required to know how to change oil or filters. However they should know that they can change oil and filters, and in the case of a sport pilots which aircraft they can perform preventive maintenance on.

I've been a licensed pilot for 50+ years. I don't know how to change the oil and don't need to know. I do know how to check the oil and add oil if needed.

I think drseti was just being a bit , shall we say, humorous in his original post ... I am sure there are questions regarding oil change just not on that particular (Sport Pilot ) checkride

3Dreaming wrote:Good Doctor, unless you are reading something different than me the answer is NO. An applicant should know how the oil system works, but they are not required to know how to change oil or filters. However they should know that they can change oil and filters, and in the case of a sport pilots which aircraft they can perform preventive maintenance on.

I think you missed my cynical point, Tom. Of course there is no requirement that the applicant know how to change oil. The irony is that, after the Practical test, the newly minted Sport Pilot is empowered by the FARs to change oil, and do other preventive maintenance on a plane he or she owns. The previous day, the FARs forbade the same aircraft owner from doing so. So, obviously, there was something in the passing of the Practical test that magically endowed the applicant with the requisite skills, no?