Update to oil change interval question: oil analysis results

[Turbys_1700]

Your results are as I would expect. Todays oils are very good and the engine management systems are superior to prior technologies. I remember when 3K oil changes were the norm in older cars. My 2001 Buick oil life monitor would typically call for 6K changes. My 2015 Chrysler is in the 10K range. It's hard for me to go that far on regular oil so I change it a 5K to 6K. My Chevy truck gets yearly changes even though I only put around 3K per year. Works out good for me to just do it when the tag and inspection is due.

As a whole we all tend to service or tractors and vehicles more than is absolutely needed but we take pride in maintaining our stuff. Nothing wrong with that. I do prefer oil filters that allow you to write the hours on the filter for my tractors and mowers.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Coming from the late 50s/early 60s car era i was a 3000 mile oil changer in cars/trucks. Cars then were usually not at their best over 40,000 miles and a 100000 mile car was rarely rarely rarely ever found. Alas, things change and we can accept and embrace the changes or stay back in the 50/60s if we want. I've traded/bought over 180 cars/trucks and the thought of driving out of town in a vehicle with over 70000 miles has me sweating. I have finally accepted the better engine building with tighter tolerances and even improvements in metal and other materials and even oil has faced some better refinements so I'm a comfortable 5000 miles man on regular oil and can even push the 7500 miles on synthetic oil and be able to sleep on a road trip.
Kubota hyd fluid extensions have also occurred over the past 15 years of my Kubota experience. The owners manuals have extended recommended service hours over the years. I follow the manuals hours recommendations and use only SUDT2 now.

 

[RalphVa]

I've gone the 2nd year on oil change now. On my truck that only gets about 1k/yr miles, I go 3 or more years. It's also on 0w20 oil vs. specified 5w30.

Ralph

 

[Deere Dude]

My problem looking a the chart is what is the acceptable range in which to not change oil. Is 8.4 high or low. It says according to the green check mark acceptable, but is it borderline acceptable? And is my tractor putting out more contaminates into the oil than yours or others.

I am considering having my oil sampled then sent in, in the hopes of not having to change the oil that year. Would that be the main reason to have it analyzed? Just curious.

 

[Elkins45]

There are really three reasons to have your oil tested IMO.

1) Base number. Is the oil still protecting your engine from acid combustion products?
2) Wear metals. Is your oil doing a good job keeping contact surfaces from rubbing against each other?
3) Contaminants. Is your air filter doing a good enough job of keeping bad stuff (primarily silicon in the case of tractors) from entering the system and/or how well is the oil filter trapping it?

There was a commentary that I didn't include in the screen shot that indicated everything was good, but the report was written under the assumption there would be continuous monitoring in the future so a trend shift could be detected. I did it mainly to satisfy myself that the oil hasn't been degraded by time so I likely won't ever sample it again. Well, maybe once more...I don't plan to buy the Kubota branded oil again so I may test the Valvoline I have in there now in 3-4 years to see if it performed as well as the Kubota did.

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

Everything around here that I operate or drive: Honda Tiller, Honda Generator, GR2120, BX24, SeaSport (5.7GSi + 9.9 Yami), '06 Silverado, '98 Suburban, '91 911 Turbo, and probably a couple I've forgotten, get oil and filters annually.

They're all low-hour relative to the maintenance sched, but I don't get twisted into knots trying to save the last $$ or second-guess the book - nor am I morally outraged by those of you who do things differently

The annual maintenance gives me an opportunity for a thorough cleaning, sharpening, and lube as appropriate - and an occasion to look thing over carefully top and bottom. Yeah, I probably spend more than I might otherwise, but I don't lose any sleep over it. It's strictly a hobby-shop effort around here and easiest to put it on the calendar and not risk out-smarting myself.

That reminds me... time to hit NAPA and that dealer in Olympia, and write a couple of big checks...

you all have a nice day,
Z.

 

[HillStreet]

Great post....confirms my suspicions. I go by hours used as well.....and by miles on the vehicles

Same here hours for all tractor service, and miles on the truck. Since I switched to full synthetic oil I change oil at 5000 now, up from 3000 before that with mineral oil.

 

[Code54]

The WIX oil test kit was only $9.99 from Rock Auto, plus $4 to mail it to the lab. It was totally worth it to me to find out if I was doing any harm.

I bought two of them. I'm going to let my car go for 5000 miles and test it then. I have a sneaking suspicion that the 3000 mile oil change internal everyone recommends is way too frequent and all they are doing is wearing out their drain plugs.

THANKS for posting. That is pretty darn cheap, for some reason I expected to cost more to have the oil tested. Ill have to grab a couple kits, would like to test my mini Ex and my Jeep to get a baseline. THANKS

 

[prof fate]

35 years ago I worked at a garage and we did fleet work for a construction company.

He ran mobil 1 and NEVER changed the oil. Filter only and top up with a fresh quart. Never had an engine issue.

i'm not that brave LOL, but many auto/truck transmissions now have NO oil/fluid change recommendations.

Adn cars don't come with fuel filters anymore (part of the fuel pump in the tank..pump fails and you get a new filter with it)

Things are not as they used to be.

My kioti has DPF..the oil stays very clean compared to my 74 kubota. Interval is now 400 hours, was 50 on the kubota.

 

[LD48750]

The WIX oil test kit was only $9.99 from Rock Auto, plus $4 to mail it to the lab. It was totally worth it to me to find out if I was doing any harm.

I bought two of them. I'm going to let my car go for 5000 miles and test it then. I have a sneaking suspicion that the 3000 mile oil change internal everyone recommends is way too frequent and all they are doing is wearing out their drain plugs.

Try reading your owners manual, you will never worry about 3000 mile oil changes again.
ALL manufacturers recommend higher mileage then that.


Well... on the other hand they just build the engines, oil companies sell oil.