Oil change intervals

[big bubba]

with all the current motor oil improvements & technology, one would think that home test kits would be available. maybe not all the criteria as labs, but an over indication of oil condition. surely it would be a big seller. strange haven't seen anything on that

 

[Bob Rooks]

I believe in owners manuals and common knowledge. You want to trust your engine to a lab analysis, certainly your right to do so. To think it makes you more wise than a man who reads and follows an owners manual, well I won't even say what that sounds like.

I personally like changing oil in my mowers and tractors. Mowers and tractors every year or 70ish hours, which ever comes first.

Putt-putt engines in mowers and the like require no special expertise, you're talking about quarts/year, not gallons. Change at your will. But when you have a substantial investment in your equipment it behooves you to use the best tools available to maintain it. In the engines I was responsible for, an oil and filter change took 400 gallons of CFO oil per engine (X6), so an analysis was performed monthly, as was coolant and hydraulic oil analysis. Yes, I would trust a lubrication engineer's recommendations/knowledge over any glossy brochure. Common knowledge is horribly overrated.

 

[Bob Rooks]

with all the current motor oil improvements & technology, one would think that home test kits would be available. maybe not all the criteria as labs, but an over indication of oil condition. surely it would be a big seller. strange haven't seen anything on that

Analysis tells you of specific metal wear, fuel dilution, and presence of any coolant. Home test kits are available through a myriad of sources. Just Google "Oil analysis kit".

 

[big bubba]

thx on that, will check out

 

[Oaktree]

Lots of truckers are doing 25Kmi+ oil changes. When an oil change is 10+ gallons, a $25 oil analysis is peanuts.

Apples and oranges. For that $25 I can do an oil change on any vehicle I own.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Apples and oranges. For that $25 I can do an oil change on any vehicle I own.

Hahahaha! And you're throwing money away three times as much as you normally would. An oil and filter change on the engines I was responsible for would take 400 gallons each, and ran almost 24/7. We drew samples monthly, as well as coolant and hydraulic oil. NOT apples and oranges. Revenue vs. maintenance expenses directly correlate.

 

[JJT]

I'm not saying to test every oil change, simply use it once or twice to set your oil change interval. I did and went from 3,000 mile oil changes to 10,000 mile oil changes, 20 years ago and over 500,000 miles. It took science to change my 3k habit, look at the money and time saved. I've never had an oil related problem or oil usage more than half a quart in 10,000 miles.

 

[Oaktree]

Hahahaha! And you're throwing money away three times as much as you normally would. An oil and filter change on the engines I was responsible for would take 400 gallons each, and ran almost 24/7. We drew samples monthly, as well as coolant and hydraulic oil. NOT apples and oranges. Revenue vs. maintenance expenses directly correlate.

My "apples and oranges" comment referred to big industrial/commercial engines vs your average car/truck that uses 5 quarts. So you basically made my point. I'm not saving any money doing a $25 oil analysis on a vehicle where I can do an oil/filter change for that money. Could I stretch my intervals another 1000 mi or so by doing that? Maybe, but not really worth the bother.

 

[nyone]

How much do you invest in early oil changes and higher priced synthetics when 10 years go by the the truck or car is rusted out

Fluid film or woolwax. There are plenty of year to year comparison videos of how this stuff helps a ton.

I'm a former rust belt mechanic and have tried POR15, paint and all kinds of "rust converters". None of that crap works. The only thing I have found that works is soft undercoating..or a engine oil leak. The trick is finding a used vehicle in the rust belt that's not alreaty rotted.

 

[ultrarunner]

Neighbor has a 30 hp L series Kubota. Bought it new 20 years ago. I asked if he does his own oil changes. He said he never changed the oil

I have come across this with all types of engines from lawn mowers to heavy equipment.

Tenant asked if I could add oil to her bought new Toyota.... handed me the quart.

I said nothing on the dip stick. She said she adds oil whenever the light goes on.

When I asked when the last time it was changed she I don't change...

43,000 miles and never changed...