Oil Change - Spring or Fall?

[woodlandfarms]

Christmas. How we did it on the farm. Time when you least needed all the equipment and could afford down time. Just has become habit.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Typically spring time for me. I sharpen my RFM blades and perform all yearly maintenance at that time also.

 

[Wagtail]

I go by hours according to the manual's schedule. But there again I'm using my rigs year-round and my harshest Winter morning is a wee frost at -1C.

Which is what I've seen here on this thread (yep, I paid attention!). Most of the North N.A. are changing by date, more Autumn than Spring 'cause the rig will be sitting unused and they want to eliminate as much crap as they can instead of having it slowly settle into the nooks, cranny's or deepest, darkest bowels of their machines.

And we all like to have clean bowels, right? :yes:

 

[dragoneggs]

Christmas. How we did it on the farm. Time when you least needed all the equipment and could afford down time. Just has become habit.

Yep... during shed time here too. Although I am not religious with schedules, Xmas is the time when I think about maintenance and repair. But I have a day job, so when I am not working my day job and weather is decent or better, I surely don't want to be changing oil. I do enjoy firing up the machine and draining the oil warm in the cool weather.

 

[The Deerslayer]

Have always done oil changes in the fall, even if the equipment received minimal use (e.g. garden tiller, generator, etc...) Like others, never was comfortable with dirty oil sitting in there. I also find when spring hits, I'm eager to just jump on the lawn tractor or other equipment to get to work as I know it is ready to go vs. having to wait and complete an oil change. The temptation to "put it off another week" may be too great.

 

[2ndhalf]

I'm pretty inconsistant about the time of year, doesn't matter to me. If I have time in the fall I'll do it (Which I did this year). I sometimes do some in spring and some in fall. I am pretty consistent about not going over the hours that I recommend for my equipment (since that is variable for everyone on here). Thats another subject though

I find I do not like to change oil after it gets below 50 degrees outside.. Just don't enjoy it as much.

 

[ovrszd]

I change according to hrs and/or date. I use all of my equipment, except the power washer, year around.

If I had an engine that sat half the year, I'd probably change it before parking. Concern would be the contaminants in the oil settling out and sludging in the bottom of the engine. Then they would be revived as I began to use it with it's "fresh" oil change.....

I think another consideration is weather conditions and/or whether the equipment is stored in a climate controlled environment. For example, my JD is used year around and has never spent a night in a cold, damp machine shed. So it's changed by hr/date.

 

[2ndhalf]

If I had an engine that sat half the year, I'd probably change it before parking. Concern would be the contaminants in the oil settling out and sludging in the bottom of the engine. Then they would be revived as I began to use it with it's "fresh" oil change.....

Probably the best case I've heard for changing at end of season. I may start changing both tractor and mower in the fall.

 

[ovrszd]

Probably the best case I've heard for changing at end of season. I may start changing both tractor and mower in the fall.

Only my speculation and uneducated ideas.

It's the same philosophy that applies to warming the engine before draining the oil. Suspends the contaminates in the oil so they are drained. Especially any water caught in casting ponds.

 

[Sodo]

Something to be said fo changing the oil "when you have the time". I can see right now; a situation where, in the springtime, a job becomes "important" and "I'll change the oil right after that."

In the winter is a good time to get things done. Especially before putting an item in storage where you CANT get to it until its needed (immediately).