Should I bother changing the oil on the old farm hilux?

[Simon]

One of my vehicles is a 1984 Hilux flat deck (2 litre 3Y petrol motor). This vehicle is deregistered and will never return to the road. It is missing the sort of unnecessary bits that get knocked off in the hard life, has knackered front springs and so forth. It lives in a shed on a property of mine and gets used as a work horse for a couple of days a month (probably only does 10 km a month up and down the same tracks and paddocks, typically in low 2 and 3 at 5 - 20 kmph).

The engine is sound although it does need to get an oil top up now and then. It has lived this life for ten years. It is worth very little: one day something will happen to it and it will be much more sensible to replace the whole vehicle for a few grand than fix the problem only to have something else die. In the meantime I have to say the vehicle has impressed me with its loyal service.

It has had maybe one oil change in ten years, and that would be probably seven years ago. It has probably never had any other fluids replaced (transfer case/ gear box/ diffs). I have greesed it as suggested once or twice but not for maybe six years! I don't know how well it was cared for prior to 1994, but I don't recall "bringing it up to date" service wise when we got it even then...

Now, although contrary to accepted wisdom/ common sense, the proposition I seek comment on is that I should not bother changing the oil/ filter or other fluids on this vehicle. [BTW it doesn't get its axels submerged - shouldn't be water contamination issues].

The reason for this is that the load and running profile is not likely to lead to a catstrophic failure from wear arising from poor lubrication...it will take years and years to make any difference and something else will have died/ rusted out etc way before that AND in a more superstitious sense it ain't broke....don't tempt fate?

Also it costs money and takes time and a bit of organising (albeit not much) when the vehicle is worth so little...

Comments on this line of thinking please

Cheers - Simon

[rev]

I would've had that oil changed quicker than it'd take me to write all that!
Go on...give it a birthday

[DJ]

repco oil and filter pac ........$24.95
1 hours labour ....................$20.00
total $44.95
cost of replacement ...........$2000 (appox) vehical
yep makes sense????????????????
second thoughts dont change, the oil sell me the dead hilux. Has to be cheap after all its had regular sevicing, once every 7 years wiether it needs it or not.

[Simon]

Yeah, thanks guys, I can't really argue with you....anyone want to argue the affirmative, ie. although it sounds horrendous, nothing is actually going to break from using old oil, so leave it.

[in the back of my mind I can see stripping filler plug, pukerooing the seal on the filter, having a surge in pressure from clean filter and oil force leaks elsewhere, who knows - could just leave well alone]

I know this is not a major, but it is an interesting line of thought: :what will go wrong if I do nothing?"

[DJ]

wondering ??? what servising are your other vechicals getting.??