"Eric in North TX" wrote in message
ups.com...

I like to taste it, you can taste the grit and grime and a faint taste
of carbon if it needs changed.

Not that far off- if it is black, smells burnt, and you can feel grit
between your finger tips, it is overdue for changing. But seriously, better
to just change it on a schedule based on run hours, 'X' tanks of gas,
whatever. For typical home owner use where it just sits 11 months a year,
change it at the start of every leaf season. People that use them for a
living probably change it monthly when used, and (more importantly) check
the level at the start of each shift. If a seal goes, or it was upside down
in the truck, it is not hard to smoke the engine and seize it up, which
throws off the schedule for the day running out to buy a replacement.

aem sends...