Frequency of oil change in low use small engines.

[ultrarunner]

Here's a picture showing one of the oil cups...

This engine is modified with electric start...

 

[Diamondpilot]

I do once a year on the 75 or so motors I maintain that are so called low use. All have a maintiance log on them and I use a Sharpie to put date/hours/miles on the filters themselves.

Chris

 

[kenmac]

Thank you for your replys. They give a good idea of what others are thinking, what they do and why I always like to know the why.
For those of you who have oil tested, where do you take it and what does it cost?

I only have oil in my vehicles analyzed. I use Oil analyzers. AS an Amsoil customer, it cost me about $25.00 that includes shipping & a TBN test. Some places charge xtra for TBN test results

 

[newbury]

<snip>
For those of you who have oil tested, where do you take it and what does it cost?

I use blackstone-labs, Tests / Price List, but bought a "6 pack" for $19/test.
Order Now

 

[kenmac]

I use blackstone-labs, Tests / Price List, but bought a "6 pack" for $19/test.
Order Now

That comes out to be more than I pay when you add for TBN, TAN, Viscosty, postage

 

[PILOON]

I've always wondered myself...


I have a neighbor with a Troy rototiller he bought new in the 70's and uses it each spring... he has NEVER changed the oil... makes sure it is topped off and lubricates the linkages... just never changed the oil...

My luck it would seize or something.

A friend is like that as well.
His 6 year old Toro snowblower put the rod thru the crank case last winter.
Never changed the oil or even checked the level, but then that is his norm.

He purchased an old dozer 5 years ago and it still has the oil that it came with. (and it had sat unused for 4 yrs prior)
He lost all traction---It took 6 gals of oil to get it moved!

Machinery to him is like his dad's old Ford N, bought used for $200. and they ran it for 12 years with NONE maintenance at all--every start was with a boost, never saw that but bet tires had cord showing, 1/2 a hood and probably one fender and burlap seat cover.

Some people just do not deserve to own machinery!

 

[clemsonfor]

I just got done changeing the oil/filters on my JD lawn mower,ATV and UTV.I do this every spring regardless of hours.
The mower had 23hours,the ATV maybe 200 miles,the UTV had 500 miles.I keep a record in the repair manuals of all my vehicles.My truck gets changed when it is inspected(around 2,000 miles),the car at 3500 miles about every six months.The ATV is a 1998,the UTV a 2006 ,the mower 2004,truck 2005 and the car 2010.Works for me.

Sounds like its working but all that stuff is new!! One mower I have had a new engine put on about 7 years or so ago, the other is the original and is a mid 90s model. My tractor is a 79, my Honda 300trx is an 89 model and you can see the years of my vehicles in my signature line. I do about once a year changes on low mile stuff and about 4K mile changes on everything else but the highlander that's changed about 6k miles with mobile 1 oil.

 

[slow wrench]

I have read that conventional motor oil contains up to 10% wax.It makes oil stick to parts better between start-ups and it acts as a rust inhibitor.I have a rototiller stored outdoors well covered that ive owned since the late 70,s.I rarely use it and change the oil maybe every four years.(kohler magnum motor).The motor is in great shape.

 

[Bird]

My Toro ZTR (Kohler Courage engine) manual says to change oil & filter every 100 hours or one year. For reasons unknown, the seal on the original oil filter started leaking at 11 hours; just over 2 months old. Dealer replaced. Then a year later the oil "looked" a bit dirty and I changed oil & filter myself at 35.6 hours. Now it's been year, the mower has 58.7 hours on it and the oil still "looks" nice and clean. I don't think I've every let one go more than a year before, but I'm gonna let this one go for now, even though I do have a new filter and oil on hand. I guess 20-25 hours a year would be considered low use.

 

[newbury]

That comes out to be more than I pay when you add for TBN, TAN, Viscosty, postage

Yes it is. Where are the tests found on the Amsoil site? I find their oil to expensive compared to Rotella T6, which I just got at Walmart for $22/gallon w/ a $5 rebate.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Yes it is. Where are the tests found on the Amsoil site? I find their oil to expensive compared to Rotella T6, which I just got at Walmart for $22/gallon w/ a $5 rebate.

I for one don't see a value in oil testing once a year and then changing the oil anyway. Just change the oil for about $25 + filter cost and then for sure you have good oil. So what if you find some wear particles in the oil, are you going to tear down a new engine looking for something worn or just keep running it till it quits. I think most of us would just keep running it till it broke or at least was diagnosable then we would know what was wearing and fix it.
I believe the oil analysis is only good for high mileage vehicles like over the road trucks and other large engines that take many gallons of oil to change it, then only good if you just change the filter and keep the original oil.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I for one don't see a value in oil testing once a year and then changing the oil anyway. Just change the oil for about $25 + filter cost and then for sure you have good oil. So what if you find some wear particles in the oil, are you going to tear down a new engine looking for something worn or just keep running it till it quits. I think most of us would just keep running it till it broke or at least was diagnosable then we would know what was wearing and fix it.
I believe the oil analysis is only good for high mileage vehicles like over the road trucks and other large engines that take many gallons of oil to change it, then only good if you just change the filter and keep the original oil.

This sounds reasonable.

If testing is 50% of a oil/filter change then why do it. Knowing the metal, etc content is good for fleet operators.

 

[kenmac]

This sounds reasonable.

If testing is 50% of a oil/filter change then why do it. Knowing the metal, etc content is good for fleet
operators.

I tested to see how the oil was performing over 1 yr period. If the lab results would have been bad. I would have change sooner next change.. With the lab results that I received ,I may just change 1.5 yrs and test again.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Oil is cheap compared to a engine. Just change it.

Chris

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Oil is cheap compared to a engine. Just change it.

Chris

Now do not go and get LOGICAL on us.

 

[Soundguy]

is the oil test done by the oil maker or an outside independent lab?

I'd have questions about one done in house I think...


I agree with others.. engines are big$$ change it. 1x year isn't asking alot..

my f450 doesn't get 3000m a year on it and it gets a 1x yer change.. 15qts of oil and a filter is not that bad compaired to buying a new engine ( syn or not.. etc.. )

 

[Gary Fowler]

I tested to see how the oil was performing over 1 yr period. If the lab results would have been bad. I would have change sooner next change.. With the lab results that I received ,I may just change 1.5 yrs and test again.

I think you can pretty well bet that if major manufacturers say change at XXXX miles OR ONCE A YEAR then you don't need to test the oil to verify that it is good for a year. AS others have said, once a year isn't going to bankrupt anyone if they can afford the equipment, surely a couple of gallons of oil and a filter wont break the bank so why add to that the cost of an oil analysis. I think for the average owner that oil analysis is a fad like STP in the oil for "extra protection" when it did nothing for the average car engine.

 

[TomSeller]

Small engines often don't have filters in which case increases the need to change the oil

 

[kenmac]

I think you can pretty well bet that if major manufacturers say change at XXXX miles OR ONCE A YEAR then you don't need to test the oil to verify that it is good for a year. AS others have said, once a year isn't going to bankrupt anyone if they can afford the equipment, surely a couple of gallons of oil and a filter wont break the bank so why add to that the cost of an oil analysis. I think for the average owner that oil analysis is a fad like STP in the oil for "extra protection" when it did nothing for the average car engine.

Each oil performs differently in different engines driving habits, etc, If the oil I use isn't performing. I can always change brands.There's no way I would do extended drains without oil analysis

 

[kenmac]

is the oil test done by the oil maker or an outside independent lab?

I'd have questions about one done in house I think...


I agree with others.. engines are big$$ change it. 1x year isn't asking alot..

my f450 doesn't get 3000m a year on it and it gets a 1x yer change.. 15qts of oil and a filter is not that bad compaired to buying a new engine ( syn or not.. etc.. )

Oil Analyzers perform my analysis. The sample was Rotella T6...The point of my analysis is/was, I know the oil held up for 1 yr. change with 1000 miles on the oil.Without the sample test ,It would only be a guess