Long term storage - oil changes

[bdog]

I have three pieces of diesel equipment that have not been used since February 2014. I start them about once a month and let them run for 15 min or so but they have not moved in over 2 years.

Normally people change oil based on a set number of hours or once a year. What should I be doing on these? Change once a year also even though they may only have ran 3 hours?

These are very specialized machines and that sector of our business has been non existant lately so they sit be we hope to use them again at some point in the future.

 

[Monster5601]

I have a Generac whole home generator that runs weekly for for 15 minutes. The owners' manual states the oil should be changed yearly or a maximum of once every two years base on use. My diesel land management equipment has a 400 hour change interval, I usually put on about 100 hours of run time per year so I change their oil out once ever two years maximum.

There are a lot of schools of though on this so I'm going to go get a bag of opcorntub:, find my easy chair, and watch the replies that will turn in to a viscous mean thread in short time.

 

[RickB]

I have a Generac whole home generator that runs weekly for for 15 minutes. The owners' manual states the oil should be changed yearly or a maximum of once every two years base on use. My diesel land management equipment has a 400 hour change interval, I usually put on about 100 hours of run time per year so I change their oil out once ever two years maximum.

There are a lot of schools of though on this so I'm going to go get a bag of opcorntub:, find my easy chair, and watch the replies that will turn in to a viscous mean thread in short time.

I agree with ALL of your strategy!

 

[murphy1244]

I do my tractor every 2 years and my generator every 2 years too. Its a bit early for popcorn so I'll grab a cup of joe and watch the fun.

 

[Looking4new]

My Jeep gets about 3000 miles a year and a fresh synthetic oil change and filter every spring (it sits all summer and does nothing).
The Kioti also gets a spring oil and filter change, even though I don't put 100 hours on it in the winter. It sits all summer too.
The genny gets a spring and fall oil change (depending on hours), for sure a fall oil change.
Everything I own uses synthetic oil.

 

[RalphVa]

Your starting them once/month is probably the best thing you can do. Wouldn't worry about an oil change. Our Benz 240D sat for 4 years in storage. It burned a valve about 6 months after being put back in service. That likely would have been prevented with the monthly starts like you're doing. That one valve likely developed a rust spot that didn't wear off.

Biggest issue was the hydraulics (brake fluid). Both the brake and clutch master cylinders had to be redone. I'd changed the brake fluid before being placed in storage.

The diesel in the full tank went a tad brown in color.

Ralph

 

[mikesee]

As long as there is oil in it, I'd say you are okay.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Only thing I think to add is up here in Oregon we have concern for the condensation from the wet part of the year and keeping things lubricated and warming oil up enough to drive out the condensation.

The 20KW Generac air cooled generator used to exercise at half throttle in the quiet mode and the oil was milky, switching to full throttle mode cleaned the oil as the engine got hot enough to dry the crankcase out.

All the tractors and RTV get run at least once a month for more then 30 minutes on average doing different tasks and oil changes 1 to 2 year intervals.

David

 

[DEWFPO]

I have a similar situation. I use really good quality oil and run the engines every couple of months for 30-45 mins to get the engine and the oil good and hot. I change the oil about once every 4-5 years. I've been doing this for 20+ years and have never had a problem. I think 15 mins is too short a time to run an engine to get it hot enough to keep the condensation down.

DEWFPO

 

[Gary Fowler]

A small engine but I think the same would apply to any engine, I had a push lawnmower that stayed in storage for 5 years. When I got it out of storage, the oil was so thick it looked like 90w gear oil. It was so thick that it would hardly run out the drain. I had to crank it up (cranked right up after adding fresh gas-it was stored dry) and let the oil get hot before I could drain it.
I think the 2 year interval is likely a good thing for stored equipment that likely never runs long enough to completely dry out any moisture.