Vehicle Dealership Oil Changes and Recalls

newbury · Sep 14, 2016

RollingsFarms said:
Well, first thing I'd do is smell it for fuel (usually a tell tale sign of oil that needs to be changed or worse....engine problems), check the oil filter (a fresh oil change is going to have a fresh filter with no fading or rust or anything like that.....it'll look new). A lot of guys write the hours and date on the filter too so that helps. I'm not mechanic but I can check for basic things. Look for grease on the tractor too, a tractor that's been greased regularly most likely has had routine oil changes and maintenance done to it over the life. You're always taking a gamble buying used but these are some ways to at least help you determine what you're getting.

My question still is

How do you tell fresh oil from oil that needs to be changed on a vehicle you are not familiar with?

I've 7.3 that I changed the oil on about 5 years ago and only gets driven a couple of miles for inspection each year. The oil is as black as the oil in my 7.3 w/ 5,000 miles on the oil. The filter is 5 years old and looks it.

Chris probably is right.

RollingsFarms · Sep 14, 2016

newbury said:
My question still is I've 7.3 that I changed the oil on about 5 years ago and only gets driven a couple of miles for inspection each year. The oil is as black as the oil in my 7.3 w/ 5,000 miles on the oil. The filter is 5 years old and looks it. Chris probably is right.

Well if I were buying the tractor I would look at overall condition and that would help me determine what kind of maintenance it likely received. Besides, if I bought a used tractor the first thing I'd do would be to change all the fluids anyways. I think the buyer was making a stink about nothing hoping to use that as an excuse to lowball on the price.

newbury · Sep 14, 2016

Rolling Farms -
You wrote:

RollingsFarms said:
Why couldn't he check it himself? Diesel oil is usually black but you can still tell fresh oil from one that needs to be changed.

And the only point you mention to distinguish "fresh oil" from what needs to be changed is to smell it for fuel. Is that the only way YOU

can still tell fresh oil from one that needs to be changed.

or are there any other things to look for?

I rely on a UOA.

RollingsFarms · Sep 14, 2016

newbury said:
Rolling Farms - You wrote: And the only point you mention to distinguish "fresh oil" from what needs to be changed is to smell it for fuel. Is that the only way YOU or are there any other things to look for? I rely on a UOA.

I guess we would have to decide what "fresh oil" was. We could be here all day debating that. My point was the buyer was making a big deal over something very trivial.

Whatswrong · Sep 18, 2016

I'm a bit to old fashioned for this discussion ,I don't believe in extended oil life ,maybe it is OK. My van tells me when to change ,personally I think it should be sooner although it doesn't happen .
When oil looks BLACK and smells it is way past due in my opinion. In the days of carburation if I went much over 5000 miles twice in a row that engine would go from 0 oil consumption to using noticeable amounts and it happened more than once .
The van has 385xxx thousand kilometers always uses a bit ever since we were given it 5 years ago. (Silhouette)
My tractors used to get changed at 100 hours ,if it had to happen at noon in the field it occasionally did.

Whatswrong · Sep 18, 2016

I had to bring my old 1994 88 Royale out of hibernation because my pickup transmission got sicker Friday morning.
I just changed oil I'm sure the thought of 15-40 diesel oil will make many cringe but that engine looks like new inside yet ,I got to like the idea of high detergent oil when we bought a 1986 Buick LeSabre that had Esso Ultra in it .I would never recommend changing to either of those oils they need to be there from new. I wrecked a pickup engine once putting 15-40 in in an emergency.