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Heard a stat about engine teardowns that got me thinking

Was talking to a senior mechanic at a shop in Phoenix last month. He said over 60% of premature engine removals come from oil system contamination. Not metal fatigue or pilot error. That surprised me. I clean houses so I get the dirt angle, but in a jet engine? Does that match what you guys see on the line or is that blown out of proportion?
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2 Comments
reese_lane29
What kind of particles are we talkin' here?
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gracecarr
gracecarr11d agoMost Upvoted
Honestly, is that stat about 60% premature removals from oil contamination supposed to be surprising? I mean, in a jet engine, oil contamination means tiny particles grinding away at bearings and seals. It's not like dirt in a house, it's more like sandpaper inside a precision machine. Tbh, that number sounds low if anything. A dirty oil system can cause a cascade of failures way faster than metal fatigue if you catch it early. The real surprise would be if pilots were causing that much damage, not the oil itself.
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