slayer_taunu

iTrader: (3)

I drive my Firehawk less than 5k/yr on average. I use GC 0w-30 and a K&N filter. I've been operating under the attitude of changing the oil every 5k or 12mo, whichever comes first.

does synthetic oil really start to break down after 12months, or is that just the oil company's strategy for getting me to change my oil more often than is necessary?

i know the cost of an oil change isn't really that much when you compare it to the cost of an engine... it's just kinda the principle.

how do you guys with infrequently driven cars handle your oil changes?

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

Oil has a time limit after its been used. Ain't no way its gonna last anywhere near 12 months and still be able to offer proper protection. Change it every 3,000 miles or 3 months...thats it.

.

TXZ28LS1

iTrader: (5)

i change my oil every 4k miles. but i rarely ever drive my car. i maybe drive it like once every 2 weeks if that. at one point, it took me around 7-8 months to even hit 3,000 miles.

SOMFormula

iTrader: (9)

I change mine (full synthetic) every year.

I drive my car MAYBE 3-5 weekends a year. I go by Amsoil's recomendation of 12months for an oil change. 5w30 here!

I'm thinking an oil change is cheaper then a motor, ahahhahahaha.
I also use Fogging oil everytime after I'm done driving it, before its going to sit in the garage for a while.

fleetmgr

An oil analysis is the only way to say if your oil is any good or not. There are too many variables to say it will last a year, 3 months or one week without being driven.

eseibel67

iTrader: (10)

Correct. A running engine contamintaes the oil with fuel and soot. Combined with water from condensation, it turns acidic. Wether you drive it much or not.

nascarnut08

With AMSOIL Synthetic, you can go 12 months. Oil Analysis is definitely recommended. Also depends on your climate. AMSOIL has additives to help with condensation, rust, acid and so on.

1 FMF

iTrader: (1)

somebody find a poor TBN number in the thousands of oil analysis' posted at bobistheoilguy.
I've never really seen a bad one,
I highly doubt oil in normal service for 1 year is enough to deplete the TBN to where the oil is actually bad, you would have to have a really bad running engine with blowby and/or significant fuel contamination.

i've done oil analysis on my boat engines, and i know that sees tremendous condensation because the entire engine externally will be covered in water droplets under certain weather conditions, and that oil sits in it for a year, from november when it's changed then winterized and for the following season, and I've never had a poor TBN number. And this is on carbureted engines.

I've said a few times that oil + combustion byproducts + water = acid, and that is certainly true but don't take it out of context.

pillarpod

i run valvoline full synthetic 10w30 and i change my every 3,000 miles or every 3 months what ever comes first. I don't care what kind of oil you have 3,000 miles or every 3 months

NDFORSPD

I usually change the oil at the start of the season, and at the end, running the new oil throught the engine for at least 3mi/10 mins before storing for winter. I figure after the winter, the ambient temperature has changed almost 40 degrees celcius(whatever it is in fahr) and moisture has more than likely accumulated in the oil. I also use GC 0W30 and it drains fairly well without being warm.

I usually put about 500mi a year on that particular car, this can be seen as overkill, but seems like the most practical thing to keep the engine in good cond

NC01TA

I have always changed my oil at the 10 month to one year mark whether I put just 1,000 miles or 3,000 miles per year on my current 18,000 mile '01 T/A. No issues. I drove my '96 Formula an average of 4,500 miles per year for 9 years and changed it every 6 months, and again, no issues. I know the following two examples ('02 BMW and '95 911) are different animals but the owner's manuals in each one recommend oil changes once a year if driven low miles. You probably are fine especially if your car is garage kept which will cut down on the condensation issues. My neighbor is a car collector with all different types of cars (12 total) and it is a once a year change for him as well with not one of his cars seeing 1,000 miles of driving per year. No problems.

87gnx

iTrader: (3)

Thats a myth; the 3000 miles oil change interval netted the big oil companies OVER 2 Billion dollars in profit last year!!. "think with your dipstick, Jimmy"lolz.

slayer_taunu

iTrader: (3)

yeah i've seen UOA's of people on bobistheoilguy who changed their oil after 3000 with regular dino oils like castrol GTX and basically getting told to put it back in cuz its like new.

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

It also nets a better protected engine and longer lasting bearings.

.

87gnx

iTrader: (3)

^^^^^ NO IT DOESN'T. Read on ANY of the MFGR'S websites, You and many others are throwing money away.Since you are obvoiusly well versed in the petroleum industry, and everyone else is wrong, I guess that YOUR right.

nascarnut08

It is hard for people to get out of the thought pattern of 3000miles/3months. It is what most people have been brought up with since they were kids. The only way to change that is to show proof or get them to try it once.

eseibel67

iTrader: (10)

If the car isn't driven at all, it can sit for more than 3 months without changing the oil.

I understand the new engines and oils are better and can go for longer intervals between changes and still be o.k.

But everytime you start it cold, you are diluting it with fuel. When you shut it down and it cools, the oil will attract moisture. If the car is driven occasionally, I would change the oil after 3 months, even if the mileage is low.

Although this thinking may be outdated, this is the way I was trained. I'm also going to brush my teeth before bed.

nascarnut08

^^^Too funny!! I was not trying to insult anyone. I was raised that way too. Try to tell someone they can go 7500 miles on synthetic oil and they freak out. Most won't even entertain the idea. The fact that there is an oil that can last 25,000 miles totally fries their brain. So, I do apologize if I insulted you!

cambirdracing

iTrader: (4)

I believe the 25,000 miles on Amzoil. Have a friend who is a rep and he had a Powerstorke with the dual Amzoil filter system and would go 25,000 every time on a change, but would change the filters at 12,500. He gave me some 0w30 for my racecar and i ran it for 3 years before I built a better engine for it. When I tore it down, it looked as if it had about 20 runs on it. It had over 300 runs on it.

The less you drive your car, the more you should change it. This is with regular petro based oil. I drive 110 miles everyday. 55 to work and 55 home. I change mine every 5000. I use the Valvoline high mileage stuff, I have 257,000 on my 94 3.4 Bird. Doesn't use any oil.

nascarnut08

Cool. Thanks for the info. I am always looking for feedback on AMSOIL, good or bad. I learn more that way. I have a 95 Firebird with 210,000K. I use AMSOIL in it and have had good luck with it. I also have a fleet of vehicles that I service that are going 15,000K per oil change on gas engines running AMSOIL 100% Synthetic 5W-30. They are using about a quart in 15K. But they are high mileage worn out and on the road all day long. Thanks again cambirdracing.