Bill D 1,907 #1 Posted September 15, 2020 Which is better, changing the oil in the spring or fall? My tractors are used mainly for mowing. Am I better off changing the oil before I store them for winter or in the spring? I question the wisdom of leaving an engine sitting with dirty oil in it for months. Thoughts. Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,277 #2 Posted September 15, 2020 I can see the point of not wanting to leave dirty oil for a long period. I agree with the logic. Fact is, it needs to be changed at a certain interval. Usually 25 hours or so for splash lube and 50+ for pressure lube. Ours gets done 2 or 3 times a year on the 2 main workers. 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,490 #3 Posted September 15, 2020 46 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: I can see the point of not wanting to leave dirty oil for a long period. I agree with the logic. Fact is, it needs to be changed at a certain interval. Usually 25 hours or so for splash lube and 50+ for pressure lube. Ours gets done 2 or 3 times a year on the 2 main workers. I do mine in Spring and Fall. Never get to 25 hours but for 15 minutes and $10 it’s great insurance... I also drain the old oil when it’s very hot... 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,077 #4 Posted September 15, 2020 Always drain the oil right after cutting the grass so any contaminants are in suspension in the oil. I also lubricate everything that has a fitting at the time of the oil change. I tend to change oil in the 310-8 that I mow with about the first of August and again at the end of mowing/leaf collection season. After the final run I also tend to the blades and belts as well as washing and waxing the prior to tucking in the blanket for winter storage. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,580 #5 Posted September 15, 2020 when does your oil start turning dark color ? that's when i change my oil ,also agree with 953 on HOT OIL CHANGES, they are the most beneficial. I would not let it sit over winter with filthy oil in it, but then again i plow or blow snow , so i have changed over to a lighter oil for colder use. pete Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bottjernat1 2,190 #6 Posted September 15, 2020 I change the oil in my machines every 2 years or once a year depending on how much i use them. I also use sae 30 in everything except my 2010 John Deere X540 in it i use Valvoline max life 10w30 because 10w30 is what the book calls for. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZXT 2,401 #7 Posted September 15, 2020 When do I change mine? Sometimes.. I don't follow any schedule as far as seasons go. Oil doesn't care if it sits. It sat in the ground forever. I certainly wouldn't go to the trouble of changing it before it sits for the winter. If it isn't thin and it isn't nasty, chances are it doesn't need changed. If you put lots of hours on your machine, like 25+, I'd change it once a year if it were me. I alternate between which tractors I use and as a result they don't rack up more than 4-5 hours a year each. Changing the oil more than once every couple of years would be a waste of money and oil. I do like changing the oil when it is hot for the reasons mentioned above. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tom2p 2,394 #8 Posted September 16, 2020 (edited) 22 hours ago, Bill D said: Which is better, changing the oil in the spring or fall? My tractors are used mainly for mowing. Am I better off changing the oil before I store them for winter or in the spring? I question the wisdom of leaving an engine sitting with dirty oil in it for months. Thoughts. Bill many variables at work including condition of engine - type / length of use - type of motor oil etc etc etc I prefer not to sit an engine for months with well used ('dirty') motor oil because combustion byproducts, heat (thermal breakdown), contaminants (dirt, metal particles) can degrade the oil Edited September 16, 2020 by tom2p Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tom2p 2,394 #9 Posted September 16, 2020 I'm probably one of the few that changes oil when it is cold better to change oil when it is warm (with contaminants suspended in the oil) - but I typically cut grass for around 3 hours and when finished either don't have the time to change the oil or don't want to lol ... and I don't like to get near a hot engine or oil however - most times I pour a bit of fresh oil in the engine before I replace the drain plug to attempt to flush out some of the contaminants that might remain in the bottom of the engine Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edgro 677 #10 Posted September 16, 2020 I use mobil1 in everything, and change it when it starts to get dark for tractors with little use. Others with lots of use once a year or more as needed 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
