Newbie Questions

   / Newbie Questions #11  
we used to put extension lines on the small engines we used on water pumps to keep the whole works as clean as possible. Worked pretty good.
 
   / Newbie Questions #12  
<font color="red"> (PS: Normal practice is to warm up the engine before an oil change. Not with the PT-425, unless you happen to have asbestos arms!! Run the engine real good on some job, then the next morning change the oil! Just allow a little extra drain time, like while you do the grease job or air cleaner service.) </font>

This is the first post I've seen on the forum that says the oil should be changed cold. I change mine <font color="red"> hot </font>, and I suspect just about everyone else does. The value of a hot oil change versus cold is too great to miss out on.

If you can't get your body parts (hand, arm) out of the way in time, I would suggest wearing gloves. Personally, I have no problem getting out of the way of the oil stream when using a socket on an extension through the frame opening.
 
   / Newbie Questions #13  
Can you elaborate on the reasons for changing oil hot?
PJ
 
   / Newbie Questions #14  
Three reasons.

1. Hot oil is thinner and drains more completely than cold.

2. Contaminants should be held in suspension by the additives in the oil, but in the event that there are some that aren't, they are more likely to be suspended in hot oil than cold.

3. We've always done it that way. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

In other words, a hot (or at least warm) oil change is more complete than a cold oil change.
 
   / Newbie Questions #15  
New information for me, thank you very much.
PJ
 
   / Newbie Questions #16  
"" I have no problem getting out of the way of the oil stream ""

Very brave and agile, but do you have the PT-425 with the insulated muffler like pajoube and I have?? The oil stream is NOT the problem!! It is getting the filter out and in, cleaning up any spillage inside the frame, and, before I redirected the hex oil plug, reaching the plug from the top or side!!



"" 1. Hot oil is thinner and drains more completely than cold.""

That is why I suggested "Just allow a little extra drain time"!!


"" 2. -- they are more likely to be suspended in hot oil than cold. ""

In the old days before small engine oil filters that was a valid reason, but in a modern filtered engine large contaminants are removed by the filter, and any contaminants too small to be filtered out are too small to settle out overnight!!


"" 3. We've always done it that way.

So have I!! This is the only engine that I have ever drained cold!! But special situations call for special adaptations!!

(Power Trac is the antithesis of "We've always done it that way."!! They seem to make changes for few apparent reasons as often as possible!!)

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
   / Newbie Questions
  • Thread Starter
#17  
I've adopted the recommended tire pressures. Didn't make as much difference as slowing down my travel speed did /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

But still, I wonder what difference a seat with a spring would make /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
   / Newbie Questions #18  
Like this one!!???!!

Northern_Tool_1756__.jpg

at Nice Seat !!

AAA_smiley__.jpg
, but no Power Trac logo on the back!!


/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
   / Newbie Questions #19  
<font color="red"> (Very brave and agile, but do you have the PT-425 with the insulated muffler like pajoube and I have?? The oil stream is NOT the problem!! It is getting the filter out and in, cleaning up any spillage inside the frame, and, before I redirected the hex oil plug, reaching the plug from the top or side!!) </font>

Then how about being a little clearer in your posts and skipping the sarcasm. If your particular configuration of PT-425, and there are many, doesn't allow for immediate access to the filter, etc., then it is reasonable to wait until it is cool enough to do so. That doesn't necessarily mean waiting overnight though. External parts should cool much more rapidly than oil inside the engine. Simply waiting until items can be worked on with getting burned seems like the appropriate recommendation.

<font color="red"> (That is why I suggested "Just allow a little extra drain time"!!) </font>

I think you will find the thicker film of the cold oil coating the engine's parts will prevent the "little extra drain time" from making up for not draining the oil when it is hot..

<font color="red"> (In the old days before small engine oil filters that was a valid reason, but in a modern filtered engine large contaminants are removed by the filter, and any contaminants too small to be filtered out are too small to settle out overnight!!) </font>

Can you provide any substantiation for that? Cars, for example, have had modern filters for many years, yet all authorities that I am aware continue to preach the "drain it when it is hot" philosophy. Can you cite any authoritative source that says otherwise? If so, please do so.
 
   / Newbie Questions #20  
Drain it while it is hot... cars...

Maybe that's so they can make their 10 minute oil change feasable! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Just kidding.

From everything I've ever read or done, it is recommended to drain the oil while it is still warm OR drain it before running the engine after it has been sitting for a long time(as in several hours). The main concern that was always instilled by mechanics to me was never run the engine for just a few minutes, then drain the oil, as the oil would be stuck up in the top end of the engine. The purpose of draining it hot was so that it flowed out more freely from the top end of the engine, not the crank case. If you let it sit overnight, all the oil has pooled into the crank case and it will all come out the drain plug, only slower.

With that said, I like to wait until I can touch the engine without burning my hands before I drain the oil. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

No science to back it up, though.
 

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