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Oil Change Intervals - Low Use Tractors

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Bill VA

Well-known Member
Some of our tractors, my brothers included, may not see very many hours in a year. If on the disabled list, maybe zero hours.

I have always changed oil at minimum yearly - but in light of higher oil and filter prices and considering the low hours, I am thinking about putting some sort of hours of actual use vs years before changing oil.

Low to no use tractors, how often do you change oil and filters?

Thanks!
Bill
 
As long as I see no signs of water I will go two years for the 10 hours my big tractor will get
 
Just watched a guy on YouTube that tested oil after 17 months and 2500 miles. Lab results were good and his home tests proved the oil was good for many more months
 
I am guilty of not changing it often enough in some stuff that sits a lot but I dont feel bad about not changing the filter. Usually I will leave the filter for an oil change or two on the tractors that dont see many hours.
 
I guess I'll get beat up, but I just go by color. If it's not black and not milky it stays in the tractor. I try to find a way to get them good and hot once in a while. All of mine are gassers.
 
Good comments by others! I go by hour meter if it has one, otherwise color, better to do it in the fall than the spring. Our Farmall C doesn't get a lot of hours, might go 3-4 years, JD 4600 I try to do every 100 hours, that's about every 2 years. They are both always kept inside. When I start them, I try to use them until they're warmed up, I would never start a tractor just to circulate the oil or charge the battery. Starting a tractor occasionally in the winter is a bad thing to do if you're not going to use it.
 
I change the oil on my Farmall C in the spring before I start mowing. Each spring a little condensation comes out when I open the drain plug. Farmall isn't used in winter.
I'm guessing the farmall might get 50 hours a year on it mowing lawn.
Oil is cheap. Engine doesn't use a drop of oil.
 
Sulphuric Acid used to be the number one killer and since everything is low sulphur these days they have to find another scape goat. I have new neighbors staying up nights because their 50 hour fluid/filer change interval is coming up.

Just a few days ago I told one that the engine has combustion byproducts that has to be considered. Other fluid areas don't. Continued with tractors are built to go 10,000 hours without a major overhaul, being operated anywhere in the world, under any kind of atmospheric condition by any person, sane or unsane, capable or an absolute moron.

I change when I get ready. Had my own engines since late 1950's and never lost one yet. Don't imagine I ever will.
 
My opinion is to replace engine oil every other year in low use tractors. Yearly max is preferred. But I agree on the cost of the service vs use.
 
Have a White 2-135 with the hercules engine. I average about 25 hours a year and do annual oil analysis. That tractor went 10 years before the analysis advised changing. Try to use hourmeter and change at 100 hours on gassers. This can be 3-4 years between changes. Have not had any engine failures, or early overhauls. Steve.
 
I change all our lawn mowers in spring, the 2 diesels in spring and the gassers about every 2 years. The diesels keep the dirty thinner oil thru the winter.
 
Waste of money to change oil in low-use engines every year. As long as the engine occasionally gets up to operating temperature long enough to cook out any moisture in the engine, it should be fine.

Probably a bigger concern is the transmission/differential/hydraulic fluid. UTF has a tendency to absorb moisture, and the transmission reservoir doesn't get hot enough in typical use to drive out moisture. If your fluid starts looking like a butterscotch milkshake, it needs to be changed.
 
Great insights. I have been struggling with this issue also, feeling guilty because I am about 18 months on my three real tractors. I do change the JD lawn mower every 25 hours or so, but its only 2 quarts and a small filter. Will stop worrying about this and wait for it to warm up before considering changes. Its -12F here right now.

Thanks,

Tim
 
I have several tractors that see little to no use. They are kept in a heated building. Been many years since any of them had oil changes or even been ran. On ones that get used I try and go by the hours even if it runs into years. Tractors just sitting had oil changed before or not long before leaving set. Oil in them still looked like new.
 
(quoted from post at 19:57:57 01/26/22) [b:e14222c6b3]When I start them, I try to use them until they're warmed up, I would never start a tractor just to circulate the oil or charge the battery. Starting a tractor occasionally in the winter is a bad thing to do if you're not going to use it.[/b:e14222c6b3]
Click to expand...

Good to see at least one person agrees with me on that point.





This post was edited by Carlmac 369 on 01/27/2022 at 05:06 am.
 
I see "feeling guilty" being mentioned. Why? Because the oil companies have manipulated you into feeling guilty!

There is SOME truth to oil change intervals, but don't kid yourself. They're also driven by pressure from the oil companies to sell more product.

I watch a lot of revival videos on youtube and when the engine is closed up, they pull the valve covers off and it is CLEAN, even if it's been sitting for decades. Sure there are some train wrecks but those engines have been sitting open out in the weather.

To me this whole notion of the oil going "sour" just from sitting there is mostly manipulation from people with a vested interest in selling you something. The oil sat in the ground for millions of years. Sitting in an engine for a few months is not going to make it go bad.
 
(quoted from post at 17:39:11 01/26/22) Some of our tractors, my brothers included, may not see very many hours in a year. If on the disabled list, maybe zero hours.

I have always changed oil at minimum yearly - but in light of higher oil and filter prices and considering the low hours, I am thinking about putting some sort of hours of actual use vs years before changing oil.

Low to no use tractors, how often do you change oil and filters?

Thanks!
Bill
Click to expand...

My opinion;
Unless you have a moisture/condensation issue is there really any difference between oil sitting in a jug on the shelf versus oil sitting in the engine of a vehicle stored out of the elements?

Bought a low mileage truck last year that had been stored inside a garage.

The sticker on the windshield indicated it still had 3000 miles to go before the next oil change, the sticker was dated 2014.

Oil was as clean as new, only reason I changed it was I wanted synthetic in it.
 


You don't specify and I think you are asking about motor oil, but the way UTF absorbs water the hydraulic oil is just as likely to cause big problems if not changed. It doesn't make a lick of difference if it is kept under cover either. The UTF is still sucking the moisture in and changing into a coffee shake, if it doesn't get worked until the oil is hot.
 
100 hours was every week years ago and they were lucky to get changed in spring and fall if not only once a year and never any problems fron the oil.
 
Some of our tractors don't get oil changes every year. The Stiegers don't get enough use in a year to change it. I change them every other year along with the fuel filters. Hydraulic oil and filters get done as needed maybe each year and maybe not more not than done. I do try to change the filter each year on the Smaller tractors even if the oil is not changed On the hydraulic. Engines are done as needed. Like the H,574,and 806and 856 get done each year and sometimes more if during hay and planting. H is the go to tractor cutting wood all winter and dad's go to tractor for putter jibs. Loader is the hay loading tractor and wood in the winter as well. 806and 856 are Mowing ,baling, and raking tractors in summer. Bigger tractors just plant and run grain cart in fall. All but a couple tractors run and in use during the year.
 
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