How Often Do You Change Your Oil?

Location: Washington
Joined: Oct 24, 2004
Points: 960

How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Original Message Feb 12, 2005 1:02 am

How Often Do You Change Your Oil in your OPE?

Many probably want to know what the going rate is or what they should do.

I say do it every year. I do

MissSnowshoveler

If you don't have free speech, what do you have?

Location: NS
Joined: Feb 5, 2005
Points: 706

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #1 Feb 12, 2005 6:41 am

Depending on the equipment, some people change twice a year. Before they start using it and when they are ready to put it away in the fall. Seems like a waste for the oil that has just sit there and done nothing, but the customer is always right.

Unless they have a problem like a needle sticking in the carb and gas pouring into the base. Then it has to be changed mid season.

Sherri

If you don't have free speech, what do you have?

jubol

Location: Dover, De
Joined: Oct 3, 2003
Points: 1558

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #2 Feb 12, 2005 7:00 am

Every 25 hours or the end of the season, which ever comes first !

Fred

This message was modified Feb 12, 2005 by jubol

Husqvarna STE927(11.5HP) snowblower, MTD Pro Series 18/42 Lawnmower, MTD 6.5 HP Self Prop Lawn Mower, Weedeater 1500 Blower, Web Gensis 2000

AZinOH

Those who accept self-deception will perish by it.
Shakespeare said "to thine own self be true".

Joined: Nov 25, 2004
Points: 189

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #3 Feb 12, 2005 7:52 am

For the lawn tractor, in April...when the straight 30 goes in, and October...when the 5w30 goes in. For the Toro snowblower...never.

Snowblower...Toro Power Max 726te 2004

Lawn tractor...AYP w/ 14.5 Briggs-42in 2000

Highwind

Despite the high cost of living, have you noticed how it remains so popular.

Joined: Jan 13, 2004
Points: 985

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #4 Feb 12, 2005 8:34 am

Termy,

I change mine after it has run the number of hours recommended by the engine maker, or at the end of the season. Last year I had one that made it to an oil change based on hours, the rest I did at the end of the season. The way the snow has fallen this past month, I'll be changing it in the snow blower at the end of season. After 2 winters it still hasn't run enough to do its first break-in oil change.

Thanks to FaithfulFrank and his post on WTB about those wireless hour meters, I no longer have to track on paper the run hours.

Honda stable: HS 724 snowblower; HRS216 lawnmower; BF2 UWWW; 5 HP, 2200 psi/2.9 GPM pressure washer.

Electric: BV2500 B&D Leaf Hog/snow duster; old 12" Weedeater.

ChrisS

Appreciate what you have already been blessed with.

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 2793

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #5 Feb 12, 2005 9:04 am

I change it when I can.

Honda 928TA, Ariens 924 STE, Toro single stage S-620, 95 Jeep Wrangler with a 6 foot Fisher Plow, many shovels, one 14 year old boy. Craftsman 01 1000 LTX pimp Gold LT 20hp Briggs OHV V-twin. Tough as it is ugly.

ChrisS

Appreciate what you have already been blessed with.

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 2793

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #7 Feb 12, 2005 9:39 am

LOL....

18Degrees

Joined: Jan 19, 2005
Points: 111

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #8 Feb 12, 2005 1:43 pm

alot - new breakin, then my choke was stuck making the oil dark and the exhaust black. Fixed under warranty :) 18degrees

18 Degree driveway - 928 Honda track drive - Fertilizer spreader for dispensing salt

Dave___in___CT

Deliberate often...
...decide once...

Location: West-Central Connecticut
Joined: Sep 17, 2002
Points: 3159

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #9 Feb 12, 2005 2:02 pm

Hi...

BCS 2-wheel tractor & 21" mower... maybe once a year or two... depending on use...

1980's Gravely garden tractor used for mowing... 25 hours or so... and before winter storage...

Compact utility tractor... at recommended hours event hough I switched to full synthetic...

Dave...

Whether you think you can or you can't... you're right.
Henry Ford

BCS Tractor & snowblower

Marshall

As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 7730

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #10 Feb 12, 2005 2:41 pm

I shoot for 25 hour increments.

Termy

Location: Washington
Joined: Oct 24, 2004
Points: 960

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #11 Feb 12, 2005 4:28 pm

Cool. It seems that most people change their oil every year like I do. Thumbs up to all of you. I have heard of some that change their oil every 2 years. And yes there are those few that don't care, and then it comes back and bites them in the a** later.

ChrisS

Appreciate what you have already been blessed with.

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 2793

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #12 Feb 12, 2005 5:08 pm

In my perfect world I change the oil at the end of the season pending the machine. I run syn right now in everything.

My LT does not get much use really but gets pounded when it is used. My Honda gets a good workout every season, some more than others.

Now reality is I get to it when I can.

Termy

Location: Washington
Joined: Oct 24, 2004
Points: 960

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #13 Feb 13, 2005 3:15 am

To those of you who don't know, (which is only a few) if you don't change your oil, eventually you will either have a engine seisure, or you will have a broken rod, or worse, all of that and a cracked cylinder! Please change your oil at least once per year. Glad to see that most of us are doing the right thing!

Jonathan

I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house. -Zsa Zsa

Location: Near Albany NY
Joined: Sep 12, 2004
Points: 320

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #14 Feb 13, 2005 8:51 am

I change mine at the intervals prescribed in the manual and at the end of the season even if this means changing the oil only after a few hours use. I don't want used oil sitting in the engine.

2004 Ariens 11528LE, Troybilt Horse "Big Red" Tiller (original), Troybilt Tuffy Tiller (original), Sears LT1000 mower, Lawn Boy 7073 21" mower, Stihl FS55 RC trimmer, Poulan Countervibe 3400 chainsaw

Ben07

The more you know about something, the more you find there is to know.

Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Joined: Feb 26, 2004
Points: 178

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #15 Feb 13, 2005 10:58 am

End of season. I empty and usually don't refill till next season. ( tag them, mark them, fool proof them from starting to help ensure someone don forget to put new oil in next season). Is that a good practice, yes if yor are gonna fog and store it for a couple of years, r in the case of a lawnmower, then you can store a couple with the handles off standing on their side, but for yearly storage, your probable just the same refilling it right away).

Ben07

Ariens 8524LE, Toro CCR2000, Jacobsen S-B S-blowers, Generac 10hp Gen-convt. to N.G., 5 L-boys(D's F's &Dura( 74,77,80,88,00), Antiq. 1960 AYP 20 in. mag w 3.5 Tech mower. Ryan/Ryobi gas Trim. AYP 205 gas blwr. Mac c-saw,Toro E-blwr, 2 Weed-E e. stg. trims. outboards, boats, util trail, 2 Jeeps

Dave___in___CT

Deliberate often...
...decide once...

Location: West-Central Connecticut
Joined: Sep 17, 2002
Points: 3159

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #16 Feb 13, 2005 5:17 pm

Small OPE engine invemtion...

Wouldn't it be nice if there was an easily removable oil cartridge that unscewed and discarded with most of the old oil in it... and a new one filled with oil put back on... ?

EZ off... EZ on...

Dave...

Whether you think you can or you can't... you're right.
Henry Ford

BCS Tractor & snowblower

Marshall

As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 7730

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #17 Feb 13, 2005 5:59 pm

LOL, that would be cool!

How about an engine that didn't need oil, it used super lube impregnated steel. A steel so slick that it lubed itself even as it wears.

OK, you're cartridge idea might be easier.

robmints

Joined: May 13, 2003
Points: 4691

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #18 Feb 13, 2005 7:20 pm

Ben07 wrote:

Ben07

Ben07,
I do something like this with my outboard. I just leave the bowl drains out so I don't forget. All I need to think about in the spring is the spider that might like to nest in the bowl. Not much of a concern.

This message was modified Feb 13, 2005 by robmints

Le_Quebecois

The best thing to keep an engine in good shape is to starting it once a week all year long.

Location: St-Hubert, Canada
Joined: Feb 12, 2005
Points: 120

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #19 Feb 14, 2005 3:54 pm

I change my oil when it's getting a little dark and when it smell like metal but it's important to clean the engine after the drain pour some fresh oil crank the engine without starting it re-drained so you will be sure that all contaminant are going to be out ,

I love my wife

snowshoveler

tides in dirts out surfs up

Location: bridgewater nova scotia...aka the swamp
Joined: Jan 3, 2003
Points: 1261

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #20 Feb 14, 2005 5:28 pm

every time i replace the rod i change the oil.

just kidding ,i change it after last snow of season and after first snow of season.

gives me fresh oil all the time.

later chris

craftsman 10/28 snowblower with tracks husky 372xpg chainsaw sachs dolmar bc212 bushsaw mondo trimmer monster tractor with trailer cheep wheelbarro and couple shovels and a partridge in a pear tree

millwright

MIllwrights keep the world running

Location: Cape Breton Nova Scotia
Joined: Jan 14, 2003
Points: 188

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #22 Feb 14, 2005 8:46 pm

What does a liter of oil cost $3.00 after 2 uses pour old stuff on fire when out on rink with the kids.

millwright

Termy

Location: Washington
Joined: Oct 24, 2004
Points: 960

Re: How Often Do You Change Your Oil?
Reply #23 Apr 22, 2005 3:55 am

Ayone remember this thread? ...haha...

anyway, with many people out there bringing there mowers out for mowing, mabie they should take a look at this old thread. And if anybody wants to add there opinion, please do...

Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions