Oil Changes on seldom used tractors

TJ in KY · May 5, 2012

How often do you change oil on tractors that get little use. I am talking about 20 to 30 hours a year. Mostly used for bush hogging, snow removal, and hauling firewood. one is diesel one is gas, not exactly trailer queens but working tractors (semi-retired like me)

and kept in barn when not in use.
Just courious?

Zachary Hoyt · May 5, 2012

I put less than 100 hours on the tractors here and figure on
changing oil once a year, just in case.
Zach

Lyndon - AB · May 5, 2012

(quoted from post at 08:37:46 05/05/12) How often do you change oil on tractors that get little use. I am talking about 20 to 30 hours a year. Mostly used for bush hogging, snow removal, and hauling firewood. one is diesel one is gas, not exactly trailer queens but working tractors (semi-retired like me) and kept in barn when not in use.
Just courious?

Hey TJ,

I aim to change engine oil every 2 years on my lower use machines. The quality of today's oils are really good, so you won't be hurting anything in an older tractor by stretching out the oil changes a little. So long as there isn't a lot of condensation in the crankcase.

Or at least, that's my justification. It could also be I'm just too lazy and cheap to change oil every year. :mrgreen:

Ultradog MN · May 5, 2012

One thing you can do is periodically crack the oil drain on the pan and let any water from condensation dribble out. I don't think that oil really breaks down much by sitting in the pan but water in the oil does not help your engine at all. I doubt I put a hundred hours a year on my two tractors combined and really can't see the hurt in using the same oil for a couple of years in one.

jbp · May 5, 2012

TJ, I am also from Ky and have several working tractors that are used 50-60 hours a year. I change the oil in them every two years and that has worked for me. Have a couple that are used for only 5-10 hours a year so change them every 5 years or so. Joe at Hardinsburg

Kirk Grau · May 5, 2012

That"s about how much I get to use mine. I shoot for every Spring, but don"t feel too bad if I skip a year. I let oil filters go 3-4 years.

~Kirk

Fordfarmer · May 5, 2012

I put enough hours on my tractors that they need at
least one oil change every year... but my combine
usually gets 60-70 hours. I've been changing it's
oil every year, and the filter every other year. For
20-30 hours a year, I'd think an oil change every 2-
3 years would be OK, as long as it doesn't get water
in it.

wisbaker · May 5, 2012

Oil is cheap, okay cheaper than parts & labor. If you're using them to get hot enough to burn the
condensate out of them I wouldn't be afraid to stretch it out a bit. I would be more concerned with parking
them with oil that has moisture in it, meaning after a short cycle or light run were you have condensate or
raw fuel contamination. A the golf course it seems we had better luck running them up to operating
temperature hot draining the oil changing the oil & filter and depending on the unit storing with a full
tank of Sta-bil treated fuel or storing dry, either way fogging them or spraying a light oil in the upper
cylinders.

Jerry/MT · May 5, 2012

I"ve never seen any hard data on this but if I was concerned about this question ,I"d pull the valve cover off and see if there was sludge on the valve train components. if there was then I"d think i ought to change the oil more often. If you don"t see any sludge then all is probably well with your oil change schedule. If you want to be certain, have your oil analyzed

RodinNS · May 5, 2012

I'd probably let them go 3-4 years.... provided they get run up to operating temperature periodically through the off season to evaporate the condensation out. That would be the biggest concern.... not the life of the oil.

Rod

Russ from MN · May 5, 2012

I agree! We have an old Farmall C that goes to the parade in town and cuts a little grass around the cabin. It gets warmed up real well mowing and I plan on letting it go 3-4 years. My newer diesel I sometimes skip a year if it is too wet to use it much. We have 630 hrs on it (JD4600) in 11 years.

kyhayman · May 5, 2012

If they get 50 or more hours a year I usually change them when I put them away for the fall. Less than that and I usually change them when they get up to 50 hrs. Stuff that gets used regular I try to change every 100 to 150 hours.

Dean · May 5, 2012

Oil and filter once a year in the fall after last use.

Dean

TJ in KY · May 6, 2012

Thanks for all replies. I think I will probably start doing a change every other year or 50 hours whichever comes first.

Texasmark1 · May 6, 2012

I am in N. Texas and winters aren't severe, hence temp differentials
aren't, hence cold metal and a warmer and more humid atmosphere
making for dripping wet equipment. Other than Sulphuric Acid
from sulphur in the diesel and using a low ash oil which C rated oils
are, I warm mine up good every time I use it and look at the oil.
When it's dirty I change it and the filter. Works for me.

Mark

IndianaRed · May 6, 2012

Grandad said the old Farmalls leaked so much he never changed the oil, just kept adding. I told him that's why they had to rebuild them so often, he just growled at me.

Oil Changes on seldom used tractors

TJ in KY

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Zachary Hoyt

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Lyndon - AB

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Ultradog MN

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jbp

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Kirk Grau

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Fordfarmer

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wisbaker

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Jerry/MT

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RodinNS

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Russ from MN

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kyhayman

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Dean

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TJ in KY

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Texasmark1

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IndianaRed

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