Oil change,spring or fall? Why?

Patina488n · Sep 24, 2015

Changed my oil in spring,if I work the old girl in winter it's always at least 2 hours,never had a problem with foam at fill tube,
What's your take on changing oil?spring or fall?

Jim in Ma. · Sep 24, 2015

The small equipment gets it's change in the Spring but my loader tractor gets done in the Fall because I work it more and harder during the
Winter. I don't think it really matters when you change it.

tractorguy2 · Sep 24, 2015

back when I used stright 30. I changed the filter and the oil in the fall. I would put stright 20 in for winter. In the spring I
would drain the 20 back into the jug. Save it for next winter and refill the tractor with 30. I used the same 20 for at least 8
years. Doubt the oil have 4hrs on it. Bet I still have it if I look.

Later I switched to 15-40 and only changed my oil when the hour meter said it was time.

main thing is that you change your oil.

rustred · Sep 24, 2015

one reason to change in fall is if tractor sits all winter you want new oil in it, as the old oil has acids in it.

Tom N MS · Sep 24, 2015

When you decide it is time to change based on hours used and appearance of oil on the
stick(black) and when the engine is good n warm so it will drain good..

Fuddy Duddy · Sep 24, 2015

I like that. Shows how much more conservative people use to be. Tend to be more wasteful these days. Did you change filters each time?

NoNewParts · Sep 24, 2015

your tractor...you know best.
I have a quite a few...normally change engine oil in the spring.
(far North..condensation...and blowing snow gets in everywhere)
But, 2 of my tractors..a NAA and my Kubota have had a [i:aa2fb897b8]very[/i:aa2fb897b8]
hard-working summer. They had their oil changed in the spring, but will get it done again soon. They've earned it.
(strictly by hours, naw, probably not time, but every hour has been tough work)

Dean · Sep 24, 2015

I always service engines (and other routine maintenance) in the fall after last use.

Why allow used engine oil contaminated with combustion by products, etc., to remain in the engine during periods of non use?

Besides, things are nearly always ready for use without maintenance when weather permits in the spring.

Dean

Royse · Sep 24, 2015

Both. Water left over the winter will freeze and crack castings.
Condensation gained over the winter here will contaminate oil
before spring use. So I change them whenever needed.

I know oil is costly but engines, transmissions, hydraulics, etc
are far more expensive and way more work than changing oil.

steve19438 · Sep 25, 2015

usually in the fall. why? cause that's when dad it. gotta keep tradition alive.

Ultradog MN · Sep 25, 2015

I don't have a ritual. I change them when they need it.
It's been a year and a half since I changed engine oil on my main tractor.
That's probably about 75 hours now. Longer than I normally do.
Like you, I run mine summer and winter and run it at least a couple of hours if it gets started at all.
So condensation isn't much of an issue.
I do need to give it some new oil all the way around.
It's been 8 or 9 years since I changed the oil in the transmission and rear end.
Overdue though they are still clear - not milky when I crack a drain plug to check for water.

maxwell99 · Sep 25, 2015

I agree with Dean, you have used the tractor all year, the oil has become contaminated.

Get it out of there in the fall, let the machine set through the winter with clean oil.

If you used the tractor all winter, feeding livestock, etc, then I would change the oil
again in the spring, before long days in the fields.

Oil and filters are cheap compared to rebuilding engines.
Just my two cents:

Ed S. · Sep 26, 2015

All of my "off road" engines get changed in the fall. Partly because of the acid-in-the-oil thing, but partly because I just like to batch and do all the messy oil/grease stuff all at once. All filters get changed, too, and small engines get a tank full of fresh gas with stabilizer, then get run 10 minutes before shutdown. They always start right up in the Spring, and I know everything's ready to put to immediate work as needed.

es

Oil change,spring or fall? Why?

Patina488n

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Jim in Ma.

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tractorguy2

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rustred

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Tom N MS

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Fuddy Duddy

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NoNewParts

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Dean

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Royse

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steve19438

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Ultradog MN

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maxwell99

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Ed S.

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