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He adds, "I can look at the total fuel usage and determine on a specific machine that 300 hours may be the time to change the engine oil. On another machine, it may be 500 hours. It all depends on the machine and the application. It really doesn't depend on the hours if you want to get the maximum out of everything."

For example, an excavator that runs at a 50% load factor will wear out the oil additive package faster than one that runs at 20%. "It is all related to temperature, pressure and moisture in the oil," Wacaser explains.

Ultimately, oil optimization is a risk some contractors with very good maintenance programs may want to pursue, while others may choose to maintain current intervals. There is no right answer.

"I have worked with customers at both ends of it who have had very good oil analysis programs," Silveira comments. "Some have taken the route of extending oil drains. Others felt that, depending upon their maintenance cycle — which is a big part of this — it is safer to take care of the oil change [when a piece of equipment is in the shop for maintenance] than possibly run into a condition where it has been out there too long."