ARGO Maintenance Advice

[efahrns]

I have a 2005 Avenger with the Koehler engine. I am going to do its first engine oil change soon. Is there anything unusual or odd in a oil change?

[GREASEMONKEY]

I have a 2005 Avenger with the Koehler engine. I am going to do its first engine oil change soon. Is there anything unusual or odd in a oil change?

UM>>> I'm gonna save your motor!

I recomend changing oil every 6 monthes, or yearly at the minimum. No matter the time usage on the machine, just do it!

Conventional oil will lose it's lubricating properties over time. I know for a fact that the cheap oils will start to break down, and fail, around the 1 yr mark. It will happen even on engines that have a few hrs of use in a year!

Synthetic oils will last a little longer, but eventually do the same thing!

[xrover]

Greasemonkey speaks with authority. I have it changed every 6 months as well. Beginning of summer, beginning of winter like clockwork.

As for doing home oil changes on them, the body of the argo does not bode well for making this easy. I would recommend an hand operated oil pump (low cost item to acquire) and run the tube down the filler neck and suck the oil out from there. A slightly warmed engine will make the oil run easier. And of course please dispose of your old oil in an enviromently safe way.

Someone should make a quick connect drain plug so a hose can easily be attached. Maybe there already is on out there.

[mark m.]

xrover. They do. I have one on my motor and a half inch hose connects to it for ease (I say this loosely) of draining. I believe you can get them at most places that sell mowers/tractors.

[GREASEMONKEY]

Those things are bad news! They still have one major flaw. They relyon a single thin O-ring to make the seal. Even with good O-rings, the engine heat & hars condition we expose oure machines to will cause them to leak, and fail over a short period of time!

I have done a few skid unit fire trucks at work with 18HP B&S engines. I get a 1/4" hydraulic hose with the correct size fitting on the end's. I route them out the bottom of the truck beds at work, but they could easily be routed to a location for a vacum pump to connect! Worst part is the mess you will make when installing it!