Frequency of oil change in low use small engines.

[ultrarunner]

Here's a picture showing one of the oil cups...

This engine is modified with electric start...

 

[Diamondpilot]

I do once a year on the 75 or so motors I maintain that are so called low use. All have a maintiance log on them and I use a Sharpie to put date/hours/miles on the filters themselves.

Chris

 

[kenmac]

Thank you for your replys. They give a good idea of what others are thinking, what they do and why I always like to know the why.
For those of you who have oil tested, where do you take it and what does it cost?

I only have oil in my vehicles analyzed. I use Oil analyzers. AS an Amsoil customer, it cost me about $25.00 that includes shipping & a TBN test. Some places charge xtra for TBN test results

 

[newbury]

<snip>
For those of you who have oil tested, where do you take it and what does it cost?

I use blackstone-labs, Tests / Price List, but bought a "6 pack" for $19/test.
Order Now

 

[kenmac]

I use blackstone-labs, Tests / Price List, but bought a "6 pack" for $19/test.
Order Now

That comes out to be more than I pay when you add for TBN, TAN, Viscosty, postage

 

[PILOON]

I've always wondered myself...


I have a neighbor with a Troy rototiller he bought new in the 70's and uses it each spring... he has NEVER changed the oil... makes sure it is topped off and lubricates the linkages... just never changed the oil...

My luck it would seize or something.

A friend is like that as well.
His 6 year old Toro snowblower put the rod thru the crank case last winter.
Never changed the oil or even checked the level, but then that is his norm.

He purchased an old dozer 5 years ago and it still has the oil that it came with. (and it had sat unused for 4 yrs prior)
He lost all traction---It took 6 gals of oil to get it moved!

Machinery to him is like his dad's old Ford N, bought used for $200. and they ran it for 12 years with NONE maintenance at all--every start was with a boost, never saw that but bet tires had cord showing, 1/2 a hood and probably one fender and burlap seat cover.

Some people just do not deserve to own machinery!

 

[clemsonfor]

I just got done changeing the oil/filters on my JD lawn mower,ATV and UTV.I do this every spring regardless of hours.
The mower had 23hours,the ATV maybe 200 miles,the UTV had 500 miles.I keep a record in the repair manuals of all my vehicles.My truck gets changed when it is inspected(around 2,000 miles),the car at 3500 miles about every six months.The ATV is a 1998,the UTV a 2006 ,the mower 2004,truck 2005 and the car 2010.Works for me.

Sounds like its working but all that stuff is new!! One mower I have had a new engine put on about 7 years or so ago, the other is the original and is a mid 90s model. My tractor is a 79, my Honda 300trx is an 89 model and you can see the years of my vehicles in my signature line. I do about once a year changes on low mile stuff and about 4K mile changes on everything else but the highlander that's changed about 6k miles with mobile 1 oil.

 

[slow wrench]

I have read that conventional motor oil contains up to 10% wax.It makes oil stick to parts better between start-ups and it acts as a rust inhibitor.I have a rototiller stored outdoors well covered that ive owned since the late 70,s.I rarely use it and change the oil maybe every four years.(kohler magnum motor).The motor is in great shape.

 

[Bird]

My Toro ZTR (Kohler Courage engine) manual says to change oil & filter every 100 hours or one year. For reasons unknown, the seal on the original oil filter started leaking at 11 hours; just over 2 months old. Dealer replaced. Then a year later the oil "looked" a bit dirty and I changed oil & filter myself at 35.6 hours. Now it's been year, the mower has 58.7 hours on it and the oil still "looks" nice and clean. I don't think I've every let one go more than a year before, but I'm gonna let this one go for now, even though I do have a new filter and oil on hand. I guess 20-25 hours a year would be considered low use.

 

[newbury]

That comes out to be more than I pay when you add for TBN, TAN, Viscosty, postage

Yes it is. Where are the tests found on the Amsoil site? I find their oil to expensive compared to Rotella T6, which I just got at Walmart for $22/gallon w/ a $5 rebate.