Some of the thinking about oil reserves may trace all the way back to radial engines. There is no way I could be in the air long enough to burn 2 qts. On the other hand, a cracked ring could change that situation pretty quickly.Roxi5m9 wrote:Hi everyone, new DA40 owner (2004 DA40). Been catching up on all of these threads. Huge amount of info. Thanks to everyone.
I’m having this same issue and am in the process of determining what level of oil my Diamond likes to keep without blowing it over (it’s definitely less than 6). I know the POH says the minimum is 4 qts, and then states 6 for IFR. I personally haven’t seen two different requirements like that before. Does anyone know why they have a higher limit for IFR? An Austrian cert standard maybe?
Your experimentation will tell you where to keep your oil to minimize blowing it on the belly. For most of us, it is 5 qts or less. I think that the increased IFR requirement follows the same line of reasoning at play in determining reserve fuel requirements. In my experience, a 2-qt margin is excessive in our engines. In my typical longer flights of five hours broken up by one landing and t/o to stretch and top off fuel, I probably burn 1/4th qt. of oil. I'm not certain anymore because I I have not been tracking it closely. On the other hand, since I fly under 5 qts., I maintain my preferred level +/- 1/4th qt. I do not wait until I burn a full qt.