When to do an oil change

[doakster2]

Hi. I just bought an LS S3010 last August. It was used, but barely (300 hours on it). An oil change was done before I bought it, and I've only put about 30 hrs on it so far. The manual gives the intervals for oil changes (I think it is every 300 hrs). Where I don't use it much, should the oil be changed more frequently? I know with cars they say every 6 months if you don't drive enough to meet the mileage limit. What is the recommendation?

 

[pohorsky]

I usually change the oil on my equipment (tractors and small engines) every spring, and that seems to work fine.

 

[Farmall45b]

Generally accepted change interval for any vehicle or equipment that does not get a lot of hours is to change once a year.

 

[Mace Canute]

If you really want to know for certain you'll have to have an oil analysis done.

 

[newbury]

If you really want to know for certain you'll have to have an oil analysis done.

Mace nailed it. A lot depends on your oil quantity AND time AND usage AND if it's under warranty
Example - My Ford F350 7.3 takes about 4 GALLONS of oil and everybody recommended changing between 3,000 and 5,000 miles. I did several Used Oil Analysis (UOA) and it was good for over 18,000 miles and almost 2 years.
If it's not under warranty and it only takes a few quarts change it whether it needs or it not. A UOA costs about $20. If it takes $100 worth of oil and it does not need changing then you are throwing your money away.

 

[doakster2]

Thanks for all the input! Sounds like it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to change the oil once a year. That's kind of what I was leaning toward
toward.

 

[mfreund]

My tractor takes 1 gal of Rotella and the oil filter total is $22. It get changed every spring. This year there was 80 hr on it.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Once a year for small equipment and seldom used vehicles works great.

Chris

 

[Copperhead]

yeah, I am on the once a year gig also. I don't put over 75 hrs on in a year, so it gets oil, filter, fuel filter every spring.

 

[DEWFPO]

I'm in the once every 3-5 year group since I put low hrs on my equipment and when I use it it is run hot and not put away cold.

DEWFPO