Oil Change intervals

[Threepoint]

[snip]
Change at least once per year due to the time in the tractor not the time using the tractor because of condensation and the caustic properties of the buildup inhibitors. Unless your tractor is in heated storage during the winter which IMO means you can get by with a biannual change of oil and filter.

Hope Caper, I'd like to know more about this. Is your reasoning that warmer storage temperature means for less wear on start-up, even in daily use? Perhaps less condensation after shut down?

Also, could you clarify what you consider "heated storage"? Would a night time lowest temperature of 35 to 50 F in a garage qualify? That's about where mine stays on our coldest days because of residual house heat. With your winters up there, I'm guessing you might have a different perspective than here in Virginia. :laughing: Or maybe by storage, you mean the tractor isn't used frequently in winter?

 

[Hope Caper]

Three point, I was referring to storage above freezing. Where I live we get huge condensation issues as temperatures swing above and below freezing. For example it is not unusual to see your vehicle covered in condensation when we get a thaw. Of course that moisture is out and inside the block as well. Heated storage eliminates that. Yes of course a heated storage area means that you get easier starts as well. You are correct in that our winters are cold and living in the maritimes we have high humidity just about any time of year.

 

[Fuggley]

Three point, I was referring to storage above freezing. Where I live we get huge condensation issues as temperatures swing above and below freezing. For example it is not unusual to see your vehicle covered in condensation when we get a thaw. Of course that moisture is out and inside the block as well. Heated storage eliminates that. Yes of course a heated storage area means that you get easier starts as well. You are correct in that our winters are cold and living in the maritimes we have high humidity just about any time of year.

....wondering. If you lay up the tractor over the winter would that mean it would be best to let the old oil sit in the block all winter and do the fresh oil/filter change in the spring? I've been doing mine yearly too but in the fall when I lay it up over the winter. I guess it really doesn't matter.

 

[ritcheyvs]

....wondering. If you lay up the tractor over the winter would that mean it would be best to let the old oil sit in the block all winter and do the fresh oil/filter change in the spring? I've been doing mine yearly too but in the fall when I lay it up over the winter. I guess it really doesn't matter.

It's always best to store with fresh (or nearly fresh) oil.

 

[Hope Caper]

I use the tractor to remove snow in the winter so depending on the winter my Kioti may or may not be busy. Ritcheyvs suggests storing with fresh oil but we (neighbours) always typically change our oil in the spring just before use, in that way flushing any water out of the crankcase before usage in the summer. However I am not experienced when it comes to diesel engines and I defer to others with more experience. A lot of your fluid changes relate to timing and usage.

 

[ritcheyvs]

Here's the deal: When an engine sits you will get water in the oil, more so in Mississippi than Nevada, but temperature cycles produce condensate. Sustained hot running will evaporate this water but we are talking prolonged storage. Heavily used oil has contaminants that mix with this water to form corrosive chemicals that can damage internal engine surfaces over time. So it's generally best to change oil at the end of the season, if any, whenever that is.

 

[Buggs67]

Here's the deal: When an engine sits you will get water in the oil, more so in Mississippi than Nevada, but temperature cycles produce condensate. Sustained hot running will evaporate this water but we are talking prolonged storage. Heavily used oil has contaminants that mix with this water to form corrosive chemicals that can damage internal engine surfaces over time. So it's generally best to change oil at the end of the season, if any, whenever that is.

 

[EddieWalker]

All my tractors sit all winter long, so when it warms up, I change the oil and all my filters regardless of hours. I feel that sitting for months at a time is worse on the oil then running the engine under normal conditions.