ForConstructionPros.com

There are some applications where extending oil drains isn't even an option. "Part of deciding if you can even do an extended oil drain program is looking at where your fleet is right now," says Nycz. "Your baseline has to show some potential."

For instance, engines operating at high altitude run hotter, generate more soot and are harder on engine oil. "So if you have a fleet of machines on a mountain top and the oil doesn't look great at standard drains, then you certainly don't want to start extending oil drains on that fleet," Nycz states.

You may even determine that a shorter drain interval is more appropriate. "You might find out that you need to reduce intervals of oil changes, but you will save money on replacing components damaged by contaminated or poor performing oil," says Navarro.

Eliminate guesswork
Technology may actually take some of the guesswork out of extending oil drain intervals. The advent of GPS equipment tracking is going to allow some significant changes.

"You can get the fuel usage off any of the new machines," says Wacaser. "I no longer have to rely solely on hours. I can look at load. The load on the engine in a diesel will determine exactly how many gallons of fuel are going through it."