Sand ingestion

[cmclean]

I recently had my 0300 majored by Triad including carb, mags, millineum cylinders - now has about 100 hrs, broken in by the book…early oil analysis all show sillica. Changed air filter, visually checked air intake for tightness and security-no air gaps….I operate off paved runways with occasional grass (the landing kind)…help!,,,!, Thanks cmclean

[redacted]

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/the-silicon-bugaboo/

[Richgj3]

Agree completely with the Blackstone write up

Also, do you make carb heat cold immediately after landing? Obviously carb heat air is un filtered. But more likely one of the other causes listed by Blackstone

[GAHorn]

If high wear indicators such as iron, aluminum, copper, or tin is also accompanying the high silicon analysis…then it is dirt.

If those metallic wear indicators are Not high…then in a new or recently resealed engine…the silicon is probably from sealant or assembly-lubricant. The next analysis should show a reduction in silicon.

[Jim Collins]

As was said, the second analysis hopefully will look better.
I am writing this because I had a case where the silicon was high and wear metals were also high and would not go down after time. Very long story short. Found it was from my hangar floor which at the time was gravel. Moved to a different hangar with a cement floor and the problem went away. Turns out the seal on the door of the old hangar was leaky and when the wind blew, it stirred up dust and the dust was working its way into the engine. Strange situation and I had to wonder how many other people before me in that hangar was getting dirt into their engines and not knowing it.

Thanks
Jim Collins C170B N2488D