Choosing the right aircraft oil filter isn't a small decision. The filter you screw onto your Lycoming or Continental engine every 50 flight hours is the last line of defense between contaminated oil and the moving parts that keep your aircraft in the air. Pick the wrong one, install it incorrectly, or wait too long to change it, and you're inviting the kind of engine wear that shortens TBO by hundreds of hours.
This guide walks general aviation owners, A&P mechanics, and flight-school directors of maintenance through everything you need to know to select the right aircraft oil filter for your engine, with a head-to-head comparison of the two brands that dominate the piston-aircraft market: Champion Aerospace and Tempest.
Why the Aircraft Oil Filter You Choose Matters
Modern piston aircraft engines run at high temperatures, high pressure, and with tight tolerances. Every startup pumps combustion by-products, microscopic metal wear, and airborne contaminants into the oil. Without a properly functioning oil filter, those particles circulate through your engine and abrade bearings, cam lobes, cylinder walls, and the accessory case.
A quality spin-on oil filter for aircraft does three jobs simultaneously:
-
Traps particulate contaminants down to roughly 20 microns, keeping oil clean between changes.
-
Provides a bypass path so oil keeps flowing even if the filter media becomes clogged (essential for cold starts).
-
Enables spectrographic oil analysis, cutting the filter open at each change lets you (or a lab like Blackstone Labs) spot metal signatures that hint at trouble before it grounds the aircraft.
The two filter manufacturers you'll encounter on virtually every Cessna 172, Piper Cherokee, Beechcraft Bonanza, Cirrus SR22, and Mooney M20 with a spin-on adapter are Champion Aerospace and Tempest Aero Group.
Champion Aircraft Oil Filters: The Legacy Choice
Champion is the older name in the aviation filter market. Their CH48100 series filters have been the standard-issue original-equipment filter on most Lycoming and Continental engines for decades.
Champion CH48110-1: The Most Common GA Filter
The Champion CH48110-1 is the workhorse. It fits the vast majority of four- and six-cylinder Lycoming engines (O-320, O-360, IO-360, O-540, IO-540) and the Continental IO-470 and IO-520 series. If you fly a training aircraft or a piston single based at a general aviation airport, you're almost certainly turning a CH48110-1 or its equivalent.
Key CH48110-1 specifications:
-
Thread size: 3/4-16 UNF
-
Gasket seal: nitrile
-
Micron rating: nominal 20 micron
-
Bypass valve: 12 psi differential
-
Height: approximately 4.75 inches
-
FAA-PMA approved
Champion also produces the CH48111 (Continental heavy-duty), the CH48108 (some Lycoming variants), and the CH48103 (obsolete but still common on older aircraft). Always verify the correct filter for your engine model against the manufacturer's service bulletin.
Tempest Aircraft Oil Filters: The Aftermarket Contender
Tempest entered the piston aircraft filter market with a very deliberate goal: make a better filter than the Champion original, and back it up with a lower price. In the fifteen years since, they've earned meaningful market share by delivering on both promises.
Tempest AA48110-2: The Direct Champion Alternative
The Tempest AA48110-2 is a form-fit-function replacement for the Champion CH48110-1. Same thread, same seal, same bypass, but with a few engineering differences Tempest emphasizes in their product literature:
-
Full synthetic filter media with a larger effective filtration area
-
Higher burst strength — Tempest claims tolerances well above the 500 psi minimum
-
Magnet in the base to capture ferrous metal particles before they reach the media (some AA48108-1 models, verify before assuming)
-
Cleaner oil analysis results in comparative tests
The AA48110-2 is FAA-PMA approved for the same engine list as the Champion CH48110-1, meaning if the CH48110-1 is approved for your engine, so is the Tempest.
The Tempest Spin-EZ Line
Tempest also markets certain filters under the Spin-EZ brand, including the AA48110-2, signaling a wrench flat design that makes installation and removal easier than the older Champion knurled housing. If you've ever fought a stuck filter on an oil-covered Lycoming accessory case, you'll appreciate the difference.
Champion vs Tempest: Head-to-Head Comparison
|
Feature |
Champion CH48110-1 |
Tempest AA48110-2 |
|---|---|---|
|
Engine coverage |
Lycoming O-320/O-360/O-540, Continental IO-470/IO-520 |
Same engine list |
|
Filter media |
Traditional cellulose |
Full synthetic |
|
Base magnet |
No |
Yes (select models) |
|
Wrench-flat housing |
No (knurled) |
Yes (Spin-EZ) |
|
FAA-PMA approval |
Yes |
Yes |
|
8130-3 traceability |
Available on request |
Available on request |
Bottom line: if you fly a training aircraft or a personally owned piston single and you're going to change oil every 25–50 hours anyway, both filters will do the job safely. Tempest's synthetic media and base magnet give a small measurable edge on oil analysis results and installation ease. Reasons many A&P mechanics and flight schools now default to it. Champion remains a fully legitimate choice with decades of proven service history.
When to Change Your Aircraft Oil Filter
The FAA and engine manufacturers set the outer limits. Common intervals:
-
Every 50 hours with a full-flow spin-on filter (typical modern setup).
-
Every 25 hours with an oil screen (no full-flow filter).
-
Every 4 months regardless of flight hours (moisture builds up in the oil during storage).
-
At every annual inspection whether you're at the hour limit or not.
Aircraft that fly infrequently should change oil more often, not less. The 4-month calendar limit exists precisely because moisture is more corrosive to bearings than the oil itself.
Installing an Aircraft Oil Filter
Quick Best-Practice Checklist
An aircraft oil change is a task an appropriately certificated pilot may perform under FAR Part 43 Appendix A as owner-performed preventive maintenance. Whether it's you or your A&P doing the work, follow these best practices:
-
Warm the engine first so the oil drains fully.
-
Cut and inspect the old filter. Pop it open with a filter cutter, spread the media on a clean surface, and look for metal. Any bronze glitter, steel needles, or unusual quantity of metal is a reason to call your A&P immediately.
-
Pre-lube the new gasket with fresh engine oil before installing.
-
Torque to spec. Typically 18–20 ft-lb; check your filter's box for exact spec.
-
Safety-wire the filter per the engine manufacturer's instructions if required.
-
Run the engine, shut down, check for leaks.
-
Log the entry in your engine logbook with the filter part number and date.
The 8130-3 Question: Do You Need Traceability Paperwork?
For a filter installed on a certificated aircraft, the answer is a qualified yes. FAA Order 8130.21 requires that installed parts have documented traceability to an approved source. In practice this means asking for an 8130-3 Airworthiness Approval Tag, or a Certificate of Conformity, from your parts supplier at time of purchase.
Reputable aircraft parts suppliers, including Frassi AeroParts, provide 8130-3 documentation with every installable part. If a supplier hesitates to provide traceability paperwork, buy elsewhere.
Where to Buy Aircraft Oil Filters in South Florida
Local versus national tradeoffs:
-
National mail-order catalogs typically publish the lowest sticker price but add $12–$25 shipping and 1–3 days delivery. Fine for scheduled maintenance planned a week in advance; unhelpful for an AOG situation.
-
Local aviation parts suppliers at your home airport carry the same filters at competitive prices with zero shipping wait. If your annual is scheduled for Monday, walking into the parts counter Friday afternoon is worth a few dollars over online.
Frassi AeroParts stocks both Champion CH48110-1 and Tempest AA48110-2 filters at North Perry Airport (KHWO) in Pembroke Pines, FL, with same-day availability for pilots, A&P mechanics, and flight schools based in South Florida. We provide 8130-3 traceability on request, offer fleet pricing to schools, and coordinate with the Frassi Aviation MRO next door if you'd rather have us install it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a Tempest filter on a Lycoming engine originally supplied with a Champion?
Yes. The Tempest AA48110-2 is FAA-PMA approved for the same engine models as the Champion CH48110-1. No engineering change order or 337 form is required.
What happens if I install the wrong aircraft oil filter?
At best, the filter won't seat properly and you'll notice an oil leak on first run-up. At worst, an incorrectly sized filter fails under pressure, dumps oil overboard, and forces an engine-out landing. Always verify the correct filter for your specific engine model.
How much does an aircraft oil filter cost in 2026?
Retail pricing typically runs $28–$38 depending on brand and location. Fleet and shop-to-shop pricing is lower. Add expected shipping if buying from a national catalog.
How often should I do spectrographic oil analysis?
Best practice is every oil change. A kit costs around $22 postpaid; results ship back to you in about a week. Consistent oil analysis is the single most cost-effective way to catch engine wear before it becomes a teardown.
Does Frassi AeroParts stock filters for Rotax and diesel aircraft engines?
We stock the most-requested Rotax and Continental Diesel filters. Contact us with your engine model and we'll confirm availability or source overnight.
Need an Aircraft Oil Filter Today?
Frassi AeroParts is your South Florida general aviation parts source, based at North Perry Airport (KHWO), Hangar 14, Pembroke Pines, FL. We stock Champion, Tempest, and specialty aviation oil filters with 8130-3 traceability, same-day counter availability, and fleet pricing for flight schools.
Call, text, or visit.
For AOG service, our 60-minute response guarantee applies for any base at KHWO, FXE, OPF, TMB, or BCT.