Using the right products can help extend the lifespan of any piece of machinery, including the engine of an aircraft. The worst problem that can arise is being up in the air and having engine difficulty. Victory AW 20W-50 from Phillips 66 helps defend against multiple problems that have the potential to limit engine durability.
Tony Negri, Phillips 66 commercial product manager, explained: “Victory AW 20W-50 was developed to fill the need pilots had for a multigrade aviation piston engine oil with Lycoming anti-scuff additive (LW-16702) pre-blended in the proper concentration. This product complements our Victory 100AW straight grade with the same LW-16702 pre-blended.”
Intended for year-round use in piston engines, this oil boosts performance with easier cranking and quicker circulation at startup versus straight-grade oils, Negri said. It also helps reduce the warmup time needed for the engine to run efficiently.
“First introduced at 2019 EEA AirVenture in July, Victory AW 20W-50 is the direct result of pilot requests for a multigrade engine oil that requires no expensive top-treating. Lycoming Service Bulletins 446E and 471B and Service Instruction 1409C recommend the use of LW-16702 anti-scuff additive,” Negri added. “The advantage of buying a product with the correct additive pre-blended at the correct concentration is that it is significantly less expensive and alleviates the worry about over- or under-treating when doing it yourself.”
Bringing quality oils to the market since the 1930s, Phillips 66 has a history of improving the power of flight. “Phillips 66 was the first company to introduce the concept of multigrade oil to the aviation market in 1974 as a solution for Bonanza, who asked Phillips 66 to develop a product that would help with easier starts, as their planes had to be started weekly to help control moisture while sitting at the factory before delivery,” Negri mentioned.
With years of developing continuous solutions, Victory AW 20W-50 is composed of a conventional base oil and ashless dispersant with LW-16702 anti-scuff additive pre-blended to provide protection for all Lycoming engines or where there is concern for cam lifter wear. Multigrades use less bright stock than their straight-grade counterparts, which results in cleaner operation in the engine while lowering the potential to form varnish precursors, Negri described. The oil provides robust film strength under high loads and at high temperatures to help prevent wear.
Negri notes that Victory AW 20W-50 is not recommended for use during the break-in process. “The use of oils with anti-scuff additives can impede the break-in process. Our recommendations for break-in continue to be X/C, multigrade with ashless dispersant; Type A, straight grade with ashless dispersant; or Type M, multigrade mineral oil without ashless dispersant,” he explained.
For those who fly infrequently, proper care needs to be taken. There is a possibility that not running the airplane to normal operating temperature every couple of weeks could lead to corrosion, as the normal heat/cool cycle will introduce water to the system which will form acids if not driven off.
Negri noted, “When not flying regularly, we recommend using Phillips 66 Aviation Anti-Rust Oil 20W-50 at a 10 percent concentration along with the Victory AW 20W-50 in the oil change. This will provide robust protection against corrosion without impacting the oil drain intervals — typically 25 hours when no oil filter is used, or 50 hours when using an oil filter. We find this to be a very cost-effective solution for airplane owners and mechanics.”
Phillips 66 is constantly developing solutions, and won’t stop anytime soon. Negri said, “The R&D pipeline is always full of projects at Phillips 66. It is well-known that we are participating in the development of a 100UL (unleaded) substitute for 100LL Av Gas. As a result of that R&D effort, we are studying the impact of the possible new fuel on the performance of the aviation lubricant. We will soon commercialize a new product for aviation compression ignition engines developed by Continental and Delta Hawk. Development work is in the early stages for a number of other niche applications, which we hope to share more about late in 2020.”
As for working in the aviation industry, Negri described it as a product segment that is known for its passion. “Which makes it fairly unique in the lubricants business,” Negri added. “Passion drives pilots and mechanics to seek out learning opportunities and strive to understand all facets of their aircraft — design, construction, operation, maintenance, preservation, etc. As a result, we often have lively and productive discussions with our customers and potential customers that we greatly enjoy.”
