Engine Core Deposits

[Ventucky Red]

What has been your experience with core deposit on an exchange engine. Are you seeing 100% of the value stated or a decreased value on miscellaneous stuff.

 

[Initial Fix]

I got 100% this summer on the 520 core. This was with Ram Engines.

 

[5QK]

Continental gave me 100% with a cracked case. O470u

 

[Bell206]

What has been your experience with core deposit on an exchange engine.

I've found it depends on who is paying on the deposit as there is no single answer to this. Sometimes you can discuss this up front prior to the purchase, but its not always a guarantee once they get possession of the core on total reimbursement.

 

[Gary Ward]

I got my total core value back from Lycoming. I sent them a dam good engine that still had plenty of time left on it that was complete including every dust cap and cover.

 

[William Pete Hodges]

There should be a written standard for the acceptability of a core engine. I know that Caterpillar requires a core to be a complete long block and the core engine must be successfully turned two complete revolutions before being shipped to the factory.

 

[schmookeeg]

100% on my last IO-550 with Skyways.

Current 550 with them is expecting a 50% chance of the crank being toast due to "mechanic maladventure with an alternator", to the tune of about 12 grand.

 

[pfarber]

There should be a written standard for the acceptability of a core engine

There is, but it always seems to be more of a recommendation.

For example

Lycoming Service Letter No. L250A

Lays out specifics... but also says:

Lycoming Engines highly recommends that all owners and operators discuss the above criteria with
the Authorized Lycoming Distributor before placing an order for a Lycoming Engines factory
exchange engine on your behalf. Prior written approval by Lycoming Engines must be obtained
through an Authorized Lycoming Distributor for an exchange engine core that fails to meet any of the
above exchange engine core requirements. Some restrictions and/or additional charges will apply.

So the answer is maybe.

 

[WDD]

Side Note:

Don't let the core deposit concern be the sole reason you change out at TBO.

Another plane owner has an engine could go another 500 hours easy past TBO (my opinion). Crank and cam are great, no bearing wear metal detected, etc. But he has concern that running an engine past TBO is a high risk of the core being damaged and would not get the core money.

My thoughts are that an engine is actually more likely likely to fail when new vs TBO extended by 500 hours or so (based on a Mike Busch video, whom I'm sure borrowed it from someone else). And if something were to happen, it's more likely to start leaking something, cam or crank starting to make metal, etc. vs the core being destroyed.

If you get an extra 500 hours on an engine, think of it as having a value of 25% of the cost of a reman. For a Continental 0470, that's $15,000 or more.

A nice spin is that with 150 hours before TBO he just did some cylinder work to replace a leaking exhaust valve guide and had a few valve seats lapped. He's now on a great footing to go beyond TBO, and seems a shame to send those updated cylinders off in the exchange.

 

[TCABM]

100% on my last IO-550 with Skyways.

Same with our O-320

ETA: there was a gaping hole in the #2 cylinder, too.

 

[CA182R]

I recommend calling the representative if buying from the factory.

For continental, they are listed at the bottom of this page:

https://continental.aero/contact-us/