DJ- Miles vs Hours

[Kenneth Brown]

You said- "However, for those of you that do not have them, use this rule. One hour of idle time equals 33 miles. That is an auto industry standard. The same applies to Med/Heavy trucks that idle or run a PTO.

Changing oil, by miles, is a fallacy for many vehicles that "work" for a living."

I agree that this sounda about right. My tractor (5500 Mahindra 54 hp)
is just like all other tractors in that it uses a hour meter. Would you care to estimate what the equivlent hours would be to miles? I will change it way too soon just because I "feel" like it needs it. The reccomended change interval is after first 250 hours and then every 500 thereafter. I din't agree with that so at 50 it got changed and I'll probably do it around every 150-175 which means about once a year. Whadaya think?

 

[Bondo]

Re: DJ- Miles vs Hours

I din't agree with that so at 50 it got changed and I'll probably do it around every 150-175 which means about once a year. Whadaya think?

Hi Ken,..... I'm not DJ,....
But,......
If you do this,.... Your tractor motor should last Forever........

 

[JB]

Re: DJ- Miles vs Hours

Yup. I put about 100 hours a year on Big Orange (Kubota B2150 HST) and change oil and filter annually.

 

[QC]

Re: DJ- Miles vs Hours

FWIW, Caterpillar decided a few years back that fuel usage was the best maintenance indicator compromise . . . For example, a before failure overhaul at 100,000 Gallons for a 10 - 14 liter truck engine. This helps mediate the whole hours/miles discussion arefuse truck with a 2MPG average would be OH at 200,000 miles, while an on-highway tractor at 6 MPG would be overhauled at 600,000 miles and a generator set that used 20 gallons an hour would be OH at 5000 hours.

 

[DJ]

Re: DJ- Miles vs Hours

FWIW, Caterpillar decided a few years back that fuel usage was the best maintenance indicator compromise . . . For example, a before failure overhaul at 100,000 Gallons for a 10 - 14 liter truck engine. This helps mediate the whole hours/miles discussion arefuse truck with a 2MPG average would be OH at 200,000 miles, while an on-highway tractor at 6 MPG would be overhauled at 600,000 miles and a generator set that used 20 gallons an hour would be OH at 5000 hours.

QC, I'm very familiar with the "fuel used" calculations. You are right, that is the most accurate because fuel used dictates the amount of work the engine has done.

Unfortuneately, the average Joe has a hard time with miles. Hours is somewhat comprehendable but fuel used would be a nightmare, to most.

 

[QC]

Re: DJ- Miles vs Hours

Agree^^^^

Ya know what blows my mind, if these same knuckleheads were shopping for a used car they would completely understand buying a car with "highway miles". However, if they are trying to figure out maintenance intervals it's "huh?".

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: DJ- Miles vs Hours

QC, very good point about the gallons of fuel used. My boat club friend that works at Mossville has been quoting "gallons of fuel burned as engine life" to me for 4 years now.
Under Ken's formula, I can't imagine how many miles my 04 Impala has on it! It's got 101500 on the odometer, but it has at least another 48000 in idling on it. (based on 1 hour per day average idling times 1460 days old!) Yikes. Wonder how long it will last?!