How often to change oil?

[merc_man]

Just wonder what others opinion is on changing oil on equipment that dont get used too often. So stuff like my wood chipper or rototiller i dont even hrdly run a tank or two a year. I usually try to do it once a year but it always looks new and seems like a waist.
Between generators(3 of them), tiller, chipper, 2 snowblowers, seems like im waisting my money on oil.

How often you people changing oil in stuff that dont get many hours?

 

[Dustin4185]

After sending off oil samples on my tiller, water pump, skid sprayer and generator, I change mine every other year. All stored inside and ran adequately to get warmed up/used. The analysis showed zero issues with the oil even after two years. All three have Honda GX engines. I use my BCS two wheel tractor more than any of the others and it shows fine.

 

[Joe Kidd]

Me too. Amsoil small engine oil every 2-3 years. I know, it's expensive but I'm anal about my GXs' too.
Air cooled gets hot, so any condensate in the crankcase gets burned off fast.

 

[Steve]

After sending off oil samples on my tiller, water pump, skid sprayer and generator, I change mine every other year. All stored inside and ran adequately to get warmed up/used. The analysis showed zero issues with the oil even after two years. All three have Honda GX engines. I use my BCS two wheel tractor more than any of the others and it shows fine.

Way to bring hard fact science into an oil thread!

 

[OnlyStihl]

>40 years ago in shop class, the teacher told us that the quality of oil keeps increasing, and the tolerances of parts is increasing such that oil changes are becoming less and less a priority. My 20+yo house generator gets used for an hour or two a year, and I did my first oil change last spring. Oil looked fine, and I'll never change it again. Log splitter is now 5+ years old, and I'll probably change it next spring (or not) for the first time. The Toyota, I change it the oil every 8k to 10k. ATV every 100 hours, or once every 4 to 5 years, and the oil filter every other oil change.

I just replaced the battery in the 2008 Toyota. Original battery, 16 years. Wow! It had been going south slowly for 3 or so years. In the winter I don't travel much, and in deep deep cold it was hard to start. Now it cranks like a race horse on steroids.

I see people doing stupid sheit with their vehicles all the time. Engine don't crank, change the spark plugs. OMG! No idea at all on how an engine works. My brother once had a Honda Prius regularly losing power. His fix was to pull over, take the cover off the air filter, look at the filter for a few seconds, then put it back. Car would run fine. It finally happened with me in the car, and he pulled over, stopped the engine and was about to get out and do his "Fix". I said stop, just sit for a minute, then I said okay lets go. Car ran fine. It wasn't the air filter afterall. Who could have known.

 

[stretch5881]

Todays oils are much better quality. If it looks clean, it is clean.

 

[Joe Kidd]

Yep, even near dirty oils often have plenty of add pack left.

 

[Jscb1b]

Oil and grease are cheaper than hard parts.

 

[OnlyStihl]

Oil and grease are cheaper than hard parts.

Yes, make sure your engine et alia has oil and grease in the appropriate places. Good Tip!

 

[Jscb1b]

At work, we see alot of neglect. Just plan laziness. And our customers wonder why stuff wears out or breaks. I should be thankful because it means I have a job. But damn!

 

[Squareground3691]

All my small engine applications,

 

[RCBS]

50 hours on small engines. 10w30, whatevers on sale or at hand. Those I've dealt with will chrome the cylinder walls long before they ever have crank troubles.

 

[EFSM]

Honda Prius

Hmm...any idea where I could find one?

 

[Woodslasher]

Hmm...any idea where I could find one?

Go to your local gay bar, some guy will be happy to show you his.

 

[EFSM]

Go to your local gay bar, some guy will be happy to show you his.

I was trying to point out the brand error.

It's too bad that the Prius has that stigma; they are actually a fairly practical vehicle, and the new ones are seriously powerful.

 

[Woodslasher]

I know, I work in auto parts. The number of "2010 Honda's", "07 GL320's", and other cars without manufacturers, models, etc, come in are astounding. Engines are a whole nother problem. "The smaller one" or "the bigger one" when there's 8 different options is fun. "Is that Vtec or non-Vtec?" "I dunno, it doesn't make a difference!" Phones are an even greater joy. E, t, p, d, g, z, c, and b all sound alike with a crappy connection and people refuse to believe that's an issue. "Was that G like George or D like Dog?" "I said, '(something with an E sound)'!!"

 

[Woodwackr]

I check my splitter every now and then. If I can’t see through it…
Or, 2x a year…

 

[Coupe]

I personally think changing it every year is a bit much. I had a mate that spent
a bit of time in Japan and he said with new vehicles at the first service the
oil go changed and from then on they just drove them and never bothed again.
I was also told that oil never breaks down it is only the additives that break down
that is why they recycle it which takes thee additives out. I can remember my father
telling me during the war years they put it through a cream separator and clean
oil came out or the cream spout and the condensation and additives out the skim milk spout
and they just ran it again.
Of course the oil companies want you to change it as much as possible cause
they don't want to go out of business.

 

[OnlyStihl]

I personally think changing it every year is a bit much. I had a mate that spent
a bit of time in Japan and he said with new vehicles at the first service the
oil go changed and from then on they just drove them and never bothed again.
I was also told that oil never breaks down it is only the additives that break down
that is why they recycle it which takes thee additives out. I can remember my father
telling me during the war years they put it through a cream separator and clean
oil came out or the cream spout and the condensation and additives out the skim milk spout
and they just ran it again.
Of course the oil companies want you to change it as much as possible cause
they don't want to go oyt of business.

One of the "well known" ways to get the most (worry free) use out of your oil is let the car/vehicle warm up. Driving to your neighbor's house that is a 5-minute walk will allow condensation to develop in the oil, which is where problems begin. When I need to wash the Toyota, I push it out of the garage rather than drive it for 10 seconds.

 

[jblnut]

I top off all small engines in my fleet and do not do oil changes. Most will burn a bit of oil and usually need more so I figure it’ll all be new again in due time. I have a Honda GX motor on a pressure washer that gets use roughly 12hrs a week and is almost 6yrs old. That’s 3,744hrs. That’s nuts for what it is. Never had a complete oil change or any service but a few air filters and a couple spark plugs.

If I do an oil change on a piece of machinery for some reason early and the oil looks good I put it in a “clean used oil” barrel and use it in the minivan, ford ranger and farm truck. Minivan and ranger don’t get formal oil changes, just top offs and filters around 10k miles. It’s a hodgepodge of mostly 15w40 but there is some 5w30 in there as well. All Dino, no synthetic.