Re: I\'m NOT testing MY oil!!!
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...Is why people spend the money for an old test in a machine they are totally familiar with, and leave old oil in the machine at the same time and feel good about it. )</font>
You would leave the old oil in it if you use good oil and filter. I have almost one year oil in my BX and I am 99% sure the results will be nothing short of perfect. I have used this oil in the past and it additive package is one of the best out there. Ps. Don’t try this at home kids with the cheaper oils! J
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Now like it or not, we live in an analog world. Things for the most part, except for catastrophic events, change slowly. There is no magic number where oil in the engine suddenly changes from good to bad. It gets progressively poorer with use. I should say I think it does that. I don't know for sure. Does engine oil get better with use up to a point, then start getting worse again? Doubt it but I don't know...if it did then changing before it got back to the starting point would not be a good thing. )</font>
Analog world? All I see is ADC’s and digital at work. I agree that things change slowly, as this board has shown, but this is why oil testing is priceless. If you think oil testing is just for oil longevity, boy you are wrong.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Anyway, at $15 to $20 per sample, in my case I will use that money to change my oil/filter more frequently. And maybe consider a sample after I get about a 1,000 hours on my tractor. Or should that be 2,000 hours? )</font>
The frequency of the oil testing is when the owner uses good judgment since it is up to them. The key word here is “judgment “. There is no set rule since everyone and every tractor is different
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( One thing is not clear to me. How often do believers actually send their tractor's oil out for testing? Every 100 hours? Every 50? Every 500? )</font>
Next is yes there is a magical number when oil get bad; however, the person looks at it & needs to evaluate the numbers and do some logical thinking. I have seen Amsoil viscosity thin out then increase with time. Figure that out. . I will say that 500 is a little long.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( As for the waste issue, oil and money are both recycled. So spending money for either testing or more frequent oil changes could be viewed as wasting (or recycling). The tie breaker seems to be that fresher oil in the engine, all things considered, must make for a happier engine... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )</font>
The flaw is that you will never know if you have major issues until it breaks or causes major engine issues. Again spend over $16K but not a $15 oil test for REAL peace of mind. Next, the 1,000 hour deal is a waste if the problems started 400 hours ago. You are missing the boat with the complete bases for oil testing.
Fresh oil deal now. I have heard that thousands of times. So ponder this. You change you oil every 50 hours. I do mine every 150 to 200 hours. You and I have done oil testing, for example here . Both our tests are fine and say continue with oil usage. So now where is the 3 to 4 extra oil changes & filters buy you doing? Nothing. You have spent over $80 and I have spent about $25 for the same duration. Tie breaker, I think not.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( GSRX1000, so is changing oil at 100 hours proven to do more than changing it at 150 hours? Is a test that shows no problems proven to be better for an engine than replacing old oil with new? Somehow I doubt it. )</font>
I do not know what “proven” means when you state “GSRX1000, so is changing oil at 100 hours proven to do more than changing it at 150 hours? But taking it for granted you answered the question yourself indirectly. Changed the oil at 50 hours is not PROVEN to do anything or benefit more then oil at 100 hours. Taking what you posted at face value. Again, most users do not even know about oil testing, let alone extended it.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( For the sake of discussion, let's say I would get a test and it would say I have a developing problem. But the tractor is running fine and I see no signs of any issues. What am I likely to do? Spend a lot to fix a problem that is not there yet? Or wait until the problem evolves enough to be a real problem and fix it then? All the while extending times between oil changes (over what I might have done) and taking samples? Let me answer the question, since there is no way you can answer for me: I will wait. I would venture a guess that most others here without a surplus of funds would wait to...but I can't speak for them... )</font>
Well a smart and conscientious user would get the problem fixed before it caused real costly repair and down time. Pay a little now or a lot later. As I have stated before, if you have an injector issue you will never know it until some major happens and cost you a lot. Or spend the $15 to maybe fix a cheap $40 injector.
Again you are not spending a lot of $$$ here. You are missing the point, bases or foundation for oil testing. If you have a problem now, it IS A REAL PROBLEM as shown by oil tests. Just because the unit runs correctly does not mean it is not happening. You can’t see internally in your engine or get mag or iron just by looking (unless you are the Green Lantern. Also if looked in extended drains, you could answer your question very easily about extended drains when engine is NOT working as designed; as shown by oil analysis.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I just can't help but think there is a HUGE difference between being responsible for a fleet of vehicles and a couple tractors for which I do know exactly how the maintenance had been performed. Especially if I have put all the hours on the engines, except for the first hour or so.
In the end though, not doubt in my mind that "oil changers" will continue to change oil frequently, and "oil samplers" will continue to change oil less and take samples and send them off...and both will be happy, warm and fuzzy, thinking they are doing the best they can... )</font>
To close, the only thing draining your group 3 or below oil sooner then needed is given you, you, a warm and fuzzy that is it. Now if you did and oil test to show it is needed, I would agree. But you are just thinking sooner is better. That is about at the same level as car dealers pushing “ Come in every 3,000 mile deal”. You could mostly likely go longer on a cheap dino and be 100% fine but you do not even care nor want to know about it.
Now that is a post! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
