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Location: Kingsville, MD
Joined: Jan 17, 2005
Points: 19

Should I change oil?
Original Message   Mar 8, 2006 10:58 am
Hello everyone

I have not posted since last winter.  Haven't had any questions, and you folks know more about this stuff than I do, so I don't bother posting.

But now I have a question; I've only used my Ariens 8526 once this season, in mid Feb. when we had a storm.  I did not put gas in until the day before the storm and mixed Sta-bil in.  I changed the oil last spring before I put it away.  So I ran it for about an hour and a half doing my drive and my neighbors in Feb..  It's now March 8.  If we get no further snow, should I bother changing the oil?  Or just run the fuel out of it and put it away?

Thanks for your input.

Ariens 8526LE, Cub Cadet 2185 LT, Troy Bilt 8hp 5550 Watt Generator
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jubol


Location: Dover, De
Joined: Oct 3, 2003
Points: 1558

Re: Should I change oil?
Reply #2   Mar 9, 2006 5:24 pm
John,

AMEN!!!

                              Fred 

Husqvarna STE927(11.5HP) snowblower,  MTD Pro Series 18/42 Lawnmower, MTD 6.5 HP  Self Prop Lawn Mower,  Weedeater 1500 Blower, Web Gensis  2000 
Garandman


Location: South Boston, MA
Joined: Mar 10, 2005
Points: 341

Re: Should I change oil?
Reply #3   Mar 9, 2006 7:03 pm
I ran mine dry after the last storm. I'm leaving the oil in for now. If we get another storm I might change it. Not a big deal either way.
nibbler


Joined: Mar 5, 2004
Points: 751

Re: Should I change oil?
Reply #4   Mar 10, 2006 11:07 am
I haven't seen much discussion about changing oil on OPE that hasn't been used much, however the auto industry recommends oil changes be done either every X thoussand kilometers ( y miles) or every z months, whichever comes first. What they say is that even though the engine may have low mileage the oil is still getting contaminated and degrades.

My engine manual said to change the oil after the first 5 hours of use and then every 25 hours or once a year whichever comes first. I plan to change it every spring when I put it in storage for the summer.
Loudpedal


Husqvarna 8527SBE

Location: Toronto, ON
Joined: Nov 24, 2005
Points: 17

Re: Should I change oil?
Reply #5   Mar 13, 2006 11:20 am
So, after the spring oil change, do most folks change it again in fall before the snow season?  

I've wondered about how good the oil would be after having sat for 8 months or so in a shed.   Granted it would not be contaminated with the by-products of combustion, but...

countryboy


Joined: Feb 7, 2006
Points: 8

Re: Should I change oil?
Reply #6   Mar 13, 2006 12:51 pm
It only need's to be changed once a year, unless your putting more hours on it. There would be no point in changing oil now and then in the fall if you aren't going to use it.

Loudpedal wrote:
So, after the spring oil change, do most folks change it again in fall before the snow season? </p><p>I've wondered about how good the oil would be after having sat for 8 months or so in a shed. Granted it would not be contaminated with the by-products of combustion, but...
JohnEDavies


Joined: Sep 7, 2004
Points: 177

Re: Should I change oil?
Reply #7   Mar 13, 2006 1:21 pm
Loudpedal wrote:
So, after the spring oil change, do most folks change it again in fall before the snow season?  

I've wondered about how good the oil would be after having sat for 8 months or so in a shed.   Granted it would not be contaminated with the by-products of combustion, but...


It wouldn't hurt to put in new oil in the fall, but it really isn't necessary, especially if the machine is stored in a controlled (non-dusty) environment. An exception is if you neglected to drain the fuel, and gas leaked into the crankcase. Then I would change the oil before starting, definitely.  But you know to drain the fuel before storage, right?

One other trick is to pull the starter cord to put the piston on compression - this closes the valves and prevents moist air from entering the cylinder. I do this ever time I shut down a gas powered machine - it is habit after many years.

John Davies
Spokane WA
oakville


Joined: Dec 6, 2005
Points: 92

Re: Should I change oil?
Reply #8   Mar 13, 2006 2:22 pm
JohnEDavies wrote:
One other trick is to pull the starter cord to put the piston on compression - this closes the valves and prevents moist air from entering the cylinder. I do this ever time I shut down a gas powered machine - it is habit after many years.



how do you know when you've pulled enough and not too far?

do you put some oil in the spark plug hole as well?

gary31570


Life is a journey, enjoy the ride.

Joined: Nov 6, 2005
Points: 27

Re: Should I change oil?
Reply #9   Mar 13, 2006 2:23 pm
John,

Thanks for the pull the starter cord for compression trick; I will try to form that habit.

How do you drain the fuel before storage? What about running the engine dry?

Gary

Cleveland,, OH
JohnEDavies


Joined: Sep 7, 2004
Points: 177

Re: Should I change oil?
Reply #10   Mar 14, 2006 12:24 pm
oakville wrote:
how do you know when you've pulled enough and not too far?

do you put some oil in the spark plug hole as well?


Pull the cord slowly until you feel resistance, then stop. That indicates that the piston is meeting compression, because the valves are shut. If you go past that point, the pull will get very easy again. Just go around once more until you feel the resistance start to build. Do this procedure a few times and it becomes second nature.

I don't oil or fog the cylinder at all, even for winter storage, simply because I live in a semi-arid climate and I keep the machine in a heated basement with low humidity. Fogging is a geat idea for final storage if the machine is kept outside, esp in very humid areas like the East Coast of the USA.

John Davies
Spokane WA
JohnEDavies


Joined: Sep 7, 2004
Points: 177

Re: Should I change oil?
Reply #11   Mar 14, 2006 12:29 pm
gary31570 wrote:
How do you drain the fuel before storage? What about running the engine dry?


I tilt the machine slightly to put the gas filler hole near the lowest point and use a syphon hose on my 926DLE, because it is too hard to pick the machine up and turn it over ;)

Then I run the engine at a fast idle until it quits. That usually takes only a minute.

John Davies
Spokane WA
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