How long do you guys let ur cars sit before changing the oil?
12-01-2011, 09:22 PM
#1
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How long do you guys let ur cars sit before changing the oil? With college and the DD the car definitely doesnt see the miles between oil changes so im wondering, at what point in time should the oil be changed if its on full synthetic? 4-5 months?
12-02-2011, 05:09 AM
#2
I'd say once a year is fine as long as the oil doesn't look gray. Gray looking oil is a sure sign condensation water has accumulated into the oil. There are a few sources that put water intio the crankcase, oone is combustion (aprox 1 cup of water per gal of fuel burned get past the rings) and when the outside temp drops below dew point the air looses its moisture as condensation and that can cover everything inside the engine. Alot depends on where you live too. Northern climates are much worse because of the constant up and down temps day and night.
12-02-2011, 05:38 AM
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When you say "sit" I take it you mean sitting with little to no movement (winter). I usually change the oil right after/before getting it out for spring. So the 4-5 months would be close. Another thing I have been told to do when the car sits for an extended amount of time is to fill the gas tank to let as little room for condensation as possible.
12-02-2011, 03:24 PM
#5
I drive my car about that much right now, but only in the spring/summer/fall. Probably around 1,500-2,000 miles a year. I change my oil once a year in the late fall right before I put it away for the winter. I'll use that same oil all of the next year.
12-03-2011, 08:49 AM
#6
The easier, better thing to do would be just to drive the car at least once every two weeks. Sure, you're sparing the car undue stress by using a different daily driver car, but the worst thing you can do is just let the car sit for months at a time-that kills cars too...
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12-04-2011, 06:23 AM
#9
I used to be picky about oil but now with 170,000 miles I feel like everything is pretty legit.
To answer your question, I change my oil in the April when I get the car out and again in July. In your situation I would let new oil in a motor sit for 2 years before I would change it.
To answer your question, I change my oil in the April when I get the car out and again in July. In your situation I would let new oil in a motor sit for 2 years before I would change it.
12-04-2011, 09:26 PM
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In your situation I would let new oil in a motor sit for 2 years before I would change it.
12-07-2011, 11:11 AM
#11
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I do two oil changes a year. One when it comes out of storage and one when it goes back into storage. I only put about 3000 km on the car last year. The oil looked fine when it came out.
12-07-2011, 11:34 AM
#12
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i always change mine when i get it out, before i even start it, and then once during the summer. i like to do it when i pull it out so that if there is any moisture in the crankcase it will hopefully drain out with the oil. i always followed the same pattern with my motorcycle too (2007zx6r) and i have never had a problem with either of them. i always use full synthetic in both of course.
12-07-2011, 11:59 AM
#13
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why dont you change it when you get it out and start with fresh oil. let the old oil sit over winter??? just seems logical.
12-07-2011, 12:02 PM
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and why waste perfectly good oil by changing it before storing it only drain out this fresh oil and replace with new in spring????
12-07-2011, 02:23 PM
#15
It probably doesn't matter either way, so I change it right before I put it up for the winter (although I'll run it a few times after the oil change to make sure everything is circulated well).
New(ish) oil over the winter will, at most, collect condensation from the temp changes in my garage. That'll be burned off after the first drive I take in the spring, so it shouldn't really matter.
Haven't blown the engine yet, and it isn't for lack of trying.
12-07-2011, 03:16 PM
#16
I'd say once a year is fine as long as the oil doesn't look gray. Gray looking oil is a sure sign condensation water has accumulated into the oil. There are a few sources that put water intio the crankcase, oone is combustion (aprox 1 cup of water per gal of fuel burned get past the rings) and when the outside temp drops below dew point the air looses its moisture as condensation and that can cover everything inside the engine. Alot depends on where you live too. Northern climates are much worse because of the constant up and down temps day and night.
a whole cup of water is added to the oil for every gallon that is burned...?!?!?!?!? doesnt seem right. does it evaporate or something or am i missing something here?
12-08-2011, 06:19 AM
#18
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The oil has been in there for about 6 months. I use conventional oil, no synthetic here so in 6 months time it is black. What I could do (to ease my mind) is to send the oil out for analysis to see how much life is left still. I've always changed the old oil out before storing and change it out again after storage. It is just two oil changes a year. I know people who still change their oil every 3 months or 5000 km. That is overkill these days.
12-08-2011, 12:13 PM
#19
Yes, when oil is at operating temperature there isn't going to be any liquid water in it. The vapor will get pulled out via the PCV, which is one of the reasons motors with a working system can have longer oil change intervals than those that that don't.
