Oil change frequency with Synthetic oil

[rfc143]

My Kubota manual says change oil every 200 hours. From my understanding of synthetic oils in the automotive world, you can go longer than with conventional oils.
I'm using Rotella T6, changed at 600 hours; Now coming up on 800. Machine is a 5240. Thoughts?

 

[CADplans]

My Kubota manual says change oil every 200 hours. From my understanding of synthetic oils in the automotive world, you can go longer than with conventional oils.
I'm using Rotella T6, changed at 600 hours; Now coming up on 800. Machine is a 5240. Thoughts?

I would change the oil based on the manufacturers recommendation.

Being synthetic does not stop the oil from getting dirty.
It is your engine, and your $,$$$,,,

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I would change the oil based on the manufacturers recommendation.

Being synthetic does not stop the oil from getting dirty.
It is your engine, and your $,$$$,,,

I agree, look at the oil. If it's getting darker / brown, change it. I rum synthetic in all equipment and vehicles. Even it is sooner than the "recommended" interval, I'll change it if it is starting to change color. I've noticed if I am working the tractor hard, the oil gets darker sooner. Same if I'm towing a lot w/ my jeep, it results in a sooner change interval. Had a previous jeep Cherokee that had 400,000 miles on it when I sold it to a friend, he now has over 500k on it. I changed the synthetic oil at 3500 miles no matter what religiously. Still do that on all my vehicles. I think it's cheap maintenance. As stated before, it's your money.

 

[JimRB]

The oil in my VW TDI is black 5 minutes after changing it. That is after I use a MityVac to suck the dirty oil out of the filter housing and a regular on the ramps drain plug pulled. My little JD does not get the oil dirty looking as fast. Dirt is determined by a proper oil analysis, not by look. Take a sample and send it off just for fun. It is not that expensive. I have used Blackstone but there are a number of oil testing labs out there.

 

[newbury]

If it is out of warranty I would change the oil based on two factors:
Knowing when it needs to be changed which really can only be told by a Used Oil Analysis (UOA)
Cost of the process, the UOA's cost about $20.

I've a lawnmower that takes less than 1 quart, my truck takes 15 quarts.

I was advised here that I should change the truck oil (Rotella T6) every 3,000 to 5,000 miles so I started running UOA's about every 5,000 miles and got excellent UOA's for over 13,000 miles until I ran across a dealer special oil/filter change I couldn't turn down.
Since the truck takes 15 quarts I had skipped 2 to 4 oil changes, and each change takes about $60 of oil. So trust but verify.

Now on the lawnmower I just change it every couple of years. It's not worth $20 to see if I can save a quart of oil.

 

[goeduck]

I would stay with the manufacturer’s recommendation, regardless of oil used.

 

[Texasmark]

Mfgr recommendations consider anything, anywhere in the world, any season, any time, any operator any this and any that. You have to decide for yourself. Since most oils are detergent oils, if there are no contaminants to suspend it will stay honey colored. If there are it turns dark. Question is how much and how dark to get worried.

When I see a mfgr. recommendation for this or that I keep that in mind......besides product reputation in the market place.....gotta maintain it.....better to be overkill safe than sorry.....keeps the ambulance chasers off your back.

 

[cat fever]

Changing the oil/filter is the cheapest insurance you can buy for your tractor engine. I don't care how many hours I have on mine at the end of the year, I change the oil/filter and the air filter. Usually I have around a 100 hours per year. I also use Rotella T6. :2cents:

 

[rfc143]

Thanks for all the input. I understand the concept of "cheap insurance", and $100 for an oil change (10 gal T6 plus filter) is not that cheap (but cheaper than a new engine of course). I'm going to find someone who does UOA's. I guess my thinking has been tarnished by my dad, who (many, many moons ago), worked for Mobil Oil on the Mobil One project...He was a "beta tester" with the cars we had at the time, and they did those UOA's periodically...I distinctly remember him talking about going 15,000 miles or more, with the results showing pristine oil properties with the stuff. He said changing it every 3000 miles was pouring money down the drain.

Diesel's are different and T6 is probably way ahead of Mobil One, but the UOA should tell what if anything might be going on.

 

[oosik]

My OP manual recommends oil change at 300 hrs and filter change at 600 hrs OR annually. I change engine oil & filter and air filters annually. I will usually have 80 to 120 hours per year. The oil/filter change interval recommendation makes no allowance for the type of oil/filter used.