Oil Change

dmccarty · Jan 29, 2004

Dave,

I use http://www.blackstone-labs.com/.

The guys on the www.thedieselstop.com used 'em and
liked em so I have been using them as well. You might be able
to find a local company as well.

You really need to do the analysis frequently enough to see
trends on the engine. The "bad" thing about checking my
tractor oil is that they don't seem to have other samples
on the engine so they can't tell me if it is good or bad. Now on
my F350 they have a large database and can give me hints as
to how my engine is doing compared to others. They can't do
that on the JD since I think I'm the only one that sent in a
sample. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But you can still see what is happening with your oil so I think
its a good thing to do for equipment that I plan on keeping for
decades....

Later,
Dan McCarty

Dave___in___CT · Jan 29, 2004

Thanks guys...

I'll check 'em out...

Dave...

Junkman · Jan 29, 2004

For the cost of an oil sample program on a tractor, wouldn't it be money better spent doing more frequent oil changes????? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

dmccarty · Jan 30, 2004

Yes and no. The oil analysis will tell you if you have fuel or
anti freeze in you oil. Well before you might notice it other wise
which gives you a chance to catch the problem before you
loose an engine. It also can tell you if you have problems with
your air filter not to mention just how the engine is wearing.

Now one does not really need to do this but for a few bucks
every year for the tractor and truck its worth it to me. Not so
much on the tractor but certainly on the truck. I just changed
my F350's oil/filter with roughly 5,500 miles on the oil. Its
supposed to get changed at 5,000 miles. But the last test I had
said the oil was still in great shape. Run it to 6,000 miles and
retest according to the report.

I'm not into extended drain times but its nice to know that I can
go to 6,000 miles and be safe. And I have a test the proves
it and not an opinion.

Now I did change to Rotella T 5w-40 synthetic just for grins and
giggles. Mainly to see if it would help the cold starting which
seems to be the case and to see if there is a milage increase.
The milage has to be proven. But the truck sure likes the
new oil when starting on these cold mornings.

Long winded way of saying its worth a couple bucks once a
year to just make sure that things are ok and to establish a
base line on the engine. Especially considering how much
money I have on these two engines..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later,
Dan

frank_f15 · Jan 30, 2004

got to agree with u on this one, junkman. i love my tractor and treat it kindly, change oil, and filters regular, same as my road vehicles. never had an oil analysis done on them.

fractal · Feb 8, 2004

My manual specifies two criterion for changing oil. Running hours and calendar days. I change the oil in my bota once a year which works out to be every 50 to 60 hours. I change the oil in my lawn mower once a year which works out to be about the same.