Crossed 500 hours on the same Cessna 172 engine and it's still running smooth

Everyone at my old shop in Dayton said you'd see metal in the filter by 400 hours on that Lycoming O-320. I just hit 500 on the one I've been caring for, and the last oil analysis came back clean. Makes me think we sometimes push for overhauls based on time, not condition. Has anyone else kept an engine going way past the usual numbers with good care?

3 comments

3 Comments

hayden7091mo ago

My buddy's Cherokee ran 600 past TBO on oil changes alone.

patriciap521mo ago

You're gambling with a life.

patb121mo ago

My uncle's old truck made it to 300k with just the occasional top-off, lmao.