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jsstevens
If those 217 hours had all been in one airplane you would have likely added oil many many times.
I've encountered one engine so far in all of my flying that can make it to a 50 hour oil change without needing to add oil.
The main reason we check oil in airplanes before every flight because most airplanes require you add oil at some point between changes. The other reason is that oil leaks develop pretty often and as have been mentioned the result can be catastrophic.
I lost several quarts of oil recently in a 15 minute flight.
You're probably right about one airplane. While I fly mostly in one airplane, I'm not the only one flying it. And I'm sure others are adding oil.
It does bring up the story though. I took my dad along for a flight in an airplane I fly regularly but have not traveled in (so local flights only). The result is I'd never started it warm, just cold. We flew from Orlando Executive (KORL) down to Lake Wales (X07) - just because I'd never been there. I parked the plane, shut down and went inside to check out the jumping operations (which were really hopping. They kept a twin otter cycling as fast as they could shut down, load and start up again). So, maybe 15 minutes later, I went out, did an abbreviated pre-flight (including the oil check which was 4.5 quarts in a normally 6 quart engine). I thought, well it was right at 5 when we started, so OK. Cranked up and noticed that the oil pressure was below green, just slightly. Hmmm. Tried it at run-up RPMS. OKish. But lower than I was used to seeing it. So I shut down, added a quart of oil and restarted. Still a little low. Hmmm. I started the take off run and at full throttle, it was fine. So I watched it like a hawk all the way home. Nary problem.
After getting back, I texted the owner and asked about low pressure. He said when it's warm it does that. I'd never noticed because I never started it warm.
John