The age old dilemma with internal combustion engines…when to change the crankcase oil.

After many years of working with compression ignition engines and spark ignition engines, I’ve developed the following technique that quickly alerts me to the condition of the oil.

Pull the dipstick from a cold engine and place your thumb and first finger on the stick directly above the full oil level mark on either side. Draw the stick through your finger and thumb in the finger-print area while gradually increasing pressure with finger and thumb once the stick and fingers are free from one another. Rub oil between finger and thumb, and when it feels abrasive like bathtub cleaner (Soft Scrub), it’s too late.

Repeat this procedure in between oil changes to determine the oil change intervals for your engines.

If you have any persistent problems that others are unable to fix, feel free to call me at 239-601-1769.