Are you still tossing the keys to the maintenance shop for your Bonanza, Baron or Travel Air oil changes? Paying $X00.00 for an oil change for $70 - $80 worth of stuff per engine?

How's that working out for your flying budget?

Here are some comments from Bonanza Owner/BeechTalker Jay A. peppered with some additional comments by me.:

Oil/filter changes by the owner are explicitly permitted by the FARs, as you know. Log them, and ensure the entry states, "ran and found no leaks" or something to that effect. PS: please do a run up leak check after your oil change!

Get a plastic container with a cover (Home Depot and Pep Boys have them in my area) that will take your quantity of oil. I have found the 300 ounce laundry detergent bottles to be really convenient. They seal up nice, have an easy carry handle, have a nice cap opening to insert the drain hose and easily drain out.

If you have an oil quick drain, the process is very simple: just remove the metal "patch kit" from below the drain, attach tubing that drains into the bucket and go. If you have not (yet) got a QD, order one and install it when you do the next change. Without a QD, all you need is the proper size metal gasket for the plug (do not re-use the metal gasket), and a wind-less day so that most of the oil hits your bucket. Take your oil sample (you are on an analysis program, right?) mid-stream. Of course, it is best to change the oil after you have flown, since the warm oil drains much better than cold.

The filter usually needs a 1-1/16 or 1" socket. Get Dow Corning #4 lube (you can use oil if you are stuck without DC 4) for the filter gasket. Torque wrench (16 to 18 ft-lbs for most filters). Safety wire and safety wire pliers (duck bill pliers are nice too, but not really required). To avoid the mess from the quart or so of oil in the filter, consider this: http://www.averytools.com/p-86-oil-filt ... n-kit.aspx. Use a name brand filter (Champion, for example). Cut it open, or have your A&P do that (to check for metal).

Add your oil. Make sure the cap is on. Ground run it and shut down, and check for leaks.

Take your old oil to Wal-Mart's Auto Center, Advance, Auto Zone or O'Reilley's auto stores. They all have collection bins for used engine oil.

Very easy, and definitely something an owner should do.
 

Oil Change Procedure Document Compilation courtesy of Paul H. of BeechTalk HERE

You can also purchase NOS oil filters from Ebay in the Champion, Challenger, Tempest and even some original AC filters. It's not uncommon to get these filters for about $10. Stop spending $20 for your oil filters, buy them in bulk and NOS and keep them in your hangar spares inventory.

As for Aviation Oil, I have found cases of Aeroshell 100W and 15W-50 grades at some Sam's Club stores in the country (KADS comes to mind), at ~$50 and $63, respectively.