On Sun, 24 Jul 2005 21:59:10 GMT, ORVAL FAIRAIRN
wrote:

Did he fill it up to the "full" capacity? If so, he could be blowing it
out until the oil level reaches a "normal" operating level, usually
about 3 qt. short of "full."

Exactly. I fly a PA28-180 with a Lyc O-360 engine. Oil capacity is 8
quarts, but the engine will dump anything over 7 qts in the first
flight or two.

In the OP's case, losing 3 qts this way seems like a lot to me...
What is oil capacity on an the 172's engine (O-320, or is it a cont
O-300?).

-Nathan