Re: What is significance of hours on a diesel?

Posted by Burrhead on October 16, 1999 at 12:02:03 from (12.74.17.90):

In Reply to: What is significance of hours on a diesel? posted by Need Help on October 13, 1999 at 15:47:35:

Any piece of equipment is prone to break down at any given time for no reason at all or from neglect or abuse.
Through the years I have found that with proper maintenance and good luck a diesel of any kind will last for up to 8000 to 10000 hrs if you treat with care and follow service recommendations. Not just oil and lube, but the whole enchilada. Fuel pump, fuel injectors service and recalibrate them, valve adjustments, air cleaners, differentials change oil and service.
However I have also found that most people do not follow a complete service guideline, and the tractor is usually tired by about 4500 hrs, but will make it til about 6500 to 7000 hrs with TLC, then it starts failing in one area then another.
These salesman and farmers too will tell you how simple and cheap something is to fix that does'nt work when you're looking. It usually isn't either cheap or easy.
On these lease options and flex finance we're all using today the proof meter is usually the first thing to unhook on a new tractor so the hours don't add up on your lease, or depreciate the tractor at trade in.
The best way I have found to check out a tractor is to take an oil sample and send it in for analysis, the oil test will tell the overall condition of the engine. You can form and educated guess to the overall condition of the tractor by what shape the engine is in.

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