Change oil before winter even though hours are low?

[KennyG]

For engines not used in the winter, I always change the oil before I store them. My logic is that oil should be changed annually, regardless of hours and I don't want to store them with any contaminants in the oil that could be corrosive. Not sure how good my logic is, but it works for me. Also, I don't have to spend any time on maintenance when I decide I need to use them.

 

[finn1]

Unless you put hundreds of hours per year on the mower so in season downtime is critical, wait.

It won’t help your mower one bit ton pull the oil change up to less than half the manufacturer recommend interval.

 

[big bubba]

if you purchased the mower new & it now has 20 hrs on it, time to change oil anyway for the break in. may as well change now, incl of course the filter. look in the manual for hrs till the 1st hyd oil/filter change as well (prob around 50-100 hrs.) after those initial break in changes, you'll be good to go for some time.
in terms of hyd oil, my preference is Mobil 1 15/50. just do it by the book, regards

 

[GeneV]

Do the break-in oil change for the reasons Scotty mentioned. Put in synthetic oil.

 

[bigtiller]

I have a zero turn that I purchased in July. It has only 20 hours on it. The manual says to change the oil every 50 hours. It seems on this forum many people change the oil before winter. Not sure if that is wasteful without only 20 hours. Could it wait until next summer when it clocks 50 hours?

If you'd like to change the oil now, okay, we're only talking 2 or maybe 3 quarts so it won't hurt your wallet. But put back in the dealer recommended break in oil to finish out the first 50 hours of break-in time.

 

[KennyG]

If you'd like to change the oil now, okay, we're only talking 2 or maybe 3 quarts so it won't hurt your wallet. But put back in the dealer recommended break in oil to finish out the first 50 hours of break-in time.

Do engines even use "break in" oil anymore? I understand the use of break in oil when a speed shop rebuilds an engine, but out of the factory is this used? I checked the Briggs website as an example and they just say change the oil after 5 to 10 hours. It's hard for me to imagine that a zero turn engine isn't broken in after 20 hours.

 

[rScotty]

If you'd like to change the oil now, okay, we're only talking 2 or maybe 3 quarts so it won't hurt your wallet. But put back in the dealer recommended break in oil to finish out the first 50 hours of break-in time.

Mention of "break in oil" takes me back over 50 years. Yes, there actually was once such a thing....basically a very light & very high detergent oil. Castrol made one.
Same for "top oil". I carried both in my shop.

Hmmm... being a Castrol products, I wonder if the break in oil theory was British? Some of the British mechanical ideas seem derived from equal parts physics and personal opinion.

Anyway, I don't think I've seen break in oil sold now in 50 years, and not sure that the theory behind its use is still considered as being valid today.

For new engines today I just use the recommended engine oil during break in - even though modern viscosity recommendations do seem a little light for warm weather to this old timer. But I'm still hoping & believing that the modern engineers know their stuff. And even if they don't, we are probably OK; I haven't seen an oil-type related failure or even excessive wear since I was a kid and "remanufactured oils" were popular.

BTW, I have been switching to full synthetic oils for all my lubes.
After reading up on how they are made, synthetics just make sense.
rScotty

 

[PILOON]

Compare the cost of oil to the machine purchase price.
Need I say more!

 

[KennyG]

Break in oil still exists but I think it's mostly used for racing engines that are built in a shop and have to go full bore after an hour or two of breakin.

 

[dadohead]

Break in oil still exists but I think it's mostly used for racing engines that are built in a shop and have to go full bore after an hour or two of breakin.

Years ago another engineer at Deere sent this link to me on all things oil. Fantastic data! Changed the way I service my own cars/trucks. The oil rankings start about 1/8 of the way down. He discusses break-in oil (not a good thing!) I still reference his rankings now and then as it is constantly updated as new oils come out.

540 RAT - Tech Facts, NOT Myths

540ratblog.wordpress.com

To the OP question: I store my equipment in a heated building so have no issues with changing oil before storing.

BTW- Before I retired the message was always: way bigger deal to fuss over the transaxle services then the engine... engines are bullet proof anymore.