Air Force Study Dives Into New Oil Change Methods

April 27, 2020

A simple change in oil change procedures may save the Air Force more than $1 million per year, while also helping protect the environment.

April 27, 2020—The Air Force Civil Engineer Center’s Environmental Quality Technical Support Branch is currently leading a pilot study that evaluates the use of a standardized oil testing service to provide enhanced analytics and, ideally, allow for longer oil use, according to a press release.

“Historical policies requiring more frequent oil changes have driven higher operating costs than are required,” said Frank Castaneda, AFCEC air quality subject matter expert, who initiated the study. “Based on the extension of oil life made possible through viable analysis, the estimated savings across the Air Force is about $1.5 million annually.”

Current regulatory drivers require installations to analyze the oil in small engines, including generators, annually and replace the oil completely at least every two years. According to the release, the Air Force has made a change to simple oil change procedures, which may have saved them more than $1 million per year, while also helping to protect the environment.

There are currently five air force bases that are participating in the study, including Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Peterson Air Force Base, and Schriever AFB in Colorado, as well as Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey and Seymour Johnson AFB in North Carolina.

The pilot study began in June 2019 and is now near completion.