I'm reluctant to change oil

[JosephHarmon]

I have a MTD/Intek 22hp riding mower with 30 hours on the last OCI. This engine has a total of about 70 hours on it since new.

The oil appears so clean I am reluctant to change it and run it another season.

I run Rotella 10/30. This mower gets light use as it takes only 45 minutes to do the lawn.

How religious do we really need to be with the change oil every year guideline?

 

[SuperDave456]

I've noticed that the machines that I use that are splash lubricated (that have no filter). That after they run and cool down the oil is much more "clean" than when they have been warmed up for 10-15 minutes.

For instance, My Toro recycler that is now 3 years old and has had 5 oil changes. If I take a look at the oil after 1 season when the machine is cold the oil is clear. It looks new.
However, if I let the Toro run for 10 minutes and check, it has a slight silver tinge on the dipstick. When I choose to dump the oil while it is warm it will come out looking like grey/silver paint.
This is after 5 oil changes.

I'd recommend that you run your machine for 10-15 minutes to get all the crud at the bottom of the oil pan in suspension, then dump it while it is hot.
If the oil comes out just fine and looking like new, then you know you can go more than 1 season on an oil change.

BTW, I have run Rotella 5w40 for the past few seasons and have Mobile 1 High Mileage 5w40 in there right now.

 

[AandPDan]

It looks clean but it contains unburned fuel, water, acids, and microscopic dirt and metallic particles just from being used.

These items can accumulate in the sump.

Change it or run an oil analysis on it and see how good it really is.

 

[JosephHarmon]

I ran it 15 minutes 1/2 throttle to charge the battery.

 

[gathermewool]

Just my opinion, but I'd say leave it. Fuel and water will evaporate, and acids will be neutralized by the oil's additive package.

FWIW, I know people who NEVER change the oil is small-engine equipment. They never seem to have any problems. Skipping a season when the oil looks good probably won't cause ANY issues. However, it probably doesn't take a whole lot of oil, so why not just replace it annually and NEVER worry about it at all? Most every one here who overly maintains their equipment does so for their own sake, not the equipments'.

 

[Cutehumor]

my dad hardly ever changed the oil in his craftsman lawn mower. he just topped the oil off when it got low.

 

[JosephHarmon]

This engine has a spin on filter that was changed at the start of last season.

There is a spin-on filter & iron cyl. liners.
This [censored]/Intek 22hp has an oil pump but believe that mainly lubes the OHV and still is largely a splash lube design.

 

[tommygunn]

Go ahead it is only a quart or so of oil.

 

[JosephHarmon]

The oil capacity is closer to 3 qt with the larger capaity oil filter.

 

[amm95]

U r fine without changing the oil...manf recommends change oil every 100 hrs and filter every 200 hrs.... I myself change both every other yr..usually have about 60 to 70 or so hrs on it in 2 yrs...with the filter it is stayn clean ..if older with no filter prob would change every yr. As alot have said and I know pleanty that never change just keep adding oil..they get by for 10 to 15 yrd seems or most do...I wont try it...lol

 

[JosephHarmon]

Originally Posted By: amm95
U r fine without changing the oil...manf recommends change oil every 100 hrs and filter every 200 hrs.... I myself change both every other yr..usually have about 60 to 70 or so hrs on it in 2 yrs...with the filter it is stayn clean ..if older with no filter prob would change every yr. As alot have said and I know pleanty that never change just keep adding oil..they get by for 10 to 15 yrd seems or most do...I wont try it...lol
I like this better. 30 hours just seems like such a waste. I will let it go the season.

 

[yeehaw1960]

It's not a big deal. It's like raw pork...you can't see bacteria, so it must be safe to eat...yum yum.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: JosephHarmon
The oil capacity is closer to 3 qt with the larger capaity oil filter.


Unless they increased the capacity of the sump, even with a HUGE oil filter on it, the capacity should be more like ~2qts.

Joel