Fall oild change or spring oil change

[lilranch2001]

I always wrestle with deciding when do do my oil changes, spring or fall.

Does it hurt to let the old oil sit over winter, or is it better to have nice fresh oil sitting in the crankcase?


I always try to do the oil change in the fall, but not sure if it is the correct thing to do

 

[ovrszd]

Good question. For engines that get annual changes I generaly do it in the Fall. Especially for those that are parked in the unheated machine shed. My theory being I drain all the contaminants that might have gathered in the oil pan thru the year rather than letting them sit all Winter and possible solidify in the pan. :confused3:

 

[Redlands Okie]

Usually in fall here also.

 

[Rosher18]

Fall makes sense, for the reasons outlined by others.

Additionally, it would be good to remove the contaminants and acids generated by running all year so they don't sit in the crank case and eat things throughout the cold winter.

Mine gets used all year in Oregon, mostly for arena grooming between 4-H group activities and reloading 2 string hay bales from the storage barn to the arena. I generally go purely by hours, around 100 hours between changes. Gotta keep the 44 year old engine happy.

 

[Bearsixty7]

Fall, for all the reasons mentioned, just to add, With fresh oil it will have all of it's additives full strength to fight corrosion, sludge, breakdown, etc.

 

[jaxs]

Regardless of month it's done,if you change oil and filter every 100 hours or 12 months,you are doing better than most people. Splitting hairs between fall and spring,you've heard reasons for doing it in fall,here's something more to cobsider. If engine run's less than 1 hour a few times between fall and spring,spring change might be best. Reason being that each time engine is shut down,air is drawn into engine as it cool's down. Moisture condenses inside engine. If engine isn't run long enough to turn water to vapor next time it's ran,amount of water in oil increase's. By spring the new oil from fall change has water in it. That might suggest spring change.

 

[hube2]

...Reason being that each time engine is shut down,air is drawn into engine as it cool's down. Moisture condenses inside engine. If engine isn't run long enough to turn water to vapor next time it's ran,amount of water in oil increase's. By spring the new oil from fall change has water in it. That might suggest spring change.

That's interesting and not something I considered, but makes some sense. Unlike others, my tractor will get most of it's use in the winter for snow management. Until now I've thought that changing in the spring was better as it was after the oil had the most use in it. My 50 hour 1st change should end up being in the spring. Although, I don't really start the tractor unless I'm going to use it, I'll have to think about this and keep track of when I'm most likely to start it without working it.

 

[lilranch2001]

I use my tractor throughout the winter as well, but my reason for posting this thread was more for my eXmark, Ranger, and motorcycle.

All of which I would start and run up to operating temp after changing the oil before putting them to bed for the winter

 

[RalphVa]

I change about every other year now by hours, near 200 each change.

Tacoma is going on about its 5th year.

Isuzu generator won't get changed again until 2022.

On the lawn mowers, I just changed the oil on them.