PCA Forums

my tractor calling for a oil change after its run for the first 5 hr's.
I'm going to change it but should I change the oil filter .
(the lawn tractor has a hour meter built in )

in its normal maintenance it saids only need to change oil filters after every other oil change of 50 hrs . I do plan on using a new filter after every oil change ! I'm also planning on changing the oil after every 25 hours of use.
you think im going over kill or about right. ( also changing the oil and filter) at the very start of the lawn cutting season. and starting and let it warm up at least once every week or 2 weeks over the winter just to keep it lubed.
im also installing a fuel line shut off so that i can keep the carb from gumming up over the winter . I due use gas Stabilizer year round !

i vote no

also changing to Synthetic oil. at my first oil change so i will change the oil filter to for this reason ! dont think I should mix the blend of oil or would i be ok ?

in that case you should change it.

It doesn't hurt to blend the oils. They are completely compatible. The old oil is just more likely to carbonize, but if you're changing that regularly, it'll never have a chance. I don't own a tractor however. If I did, it would only take 30 seconds to do my lawn.

Might be a bit overkill to use synthetic in the mower. Chances are by the time you get any extra life out of it the hydro or any number of other components will be worn out anyways. Changing at the beginning of the season is a good idea though. Wouldn't bother running it every 2 weeks through the winter or bothering with a shut off. I use fuel stabilizer and keep it on a battery tender and have never had any issue. Ymmv of course.

the shut off is just being swap from the dead mower that had a biggs motor so not a major thing. i also need to buy a 2nd battery tender as the one I own is used all winter for my boat battery.