When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
How often do you change oil if car is driven 1k per year?
I’ve read various opinions on the time element (not mileage) regarding oil changes. They range from 6m to 1yr to never based on time alone. I’ve been religious about doing it every 6m on cars that get less than a 1,000 miles a year.
A lot of old cars have totally maladjusted carbs, dump fuel like mad, they never get driven and run up to operating temp, etc. All that behavior contaminates oil with fuel in a hurry. But if your car is in good tune and repair, and you put 1,000 miles a year on it, seems like a sin to change it annually.
Usually every 2 years, but once a year if I feel energetic.
But really, once a year for a car that's driven only 1K miles is probably a waste of time and money, unless you think the oil is dirty, viscosity obviously is not a factor.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
Once a year on the 2 old Vettes 61, 65. I drive them each about 3,000 miles a year. If you're only driving 1K a year you could probably get away with every other year. With a lift in the garage and buying my oil at WallyWorld, it's just cheap insurance. All the grease fittings need to be done anyway.
Every 3,000 miles or 2 years if the car is stored inside at temperatures > 40 degrees F.
If stored in an unheated environment in the frigid areas of the world (like IL) subject to thermal cycling, once a year in the spring to remove any possible condensation.
IF testing facilities are available, I would test the oil and run to the limit, putting additives in to extend the life and changing the filter based on mileage.
IF testing facilities are available, I would test the oil and run to the limit, putting additives in to extend the life and changing the filter based on mileage.
This is where the smart money is. takes the guess work and needless expense out of the game. Detergent oil by design is supposed to look a little dirty after a little use. Some things are also wrong with the oil you can't see. Especially if you are using oil not designed for a street application.
Very subjective question. IF the car has a properly functioning PCV system, is tight with little blowby, has a properly calibrated carb that does not provide an excessively rich mixture either during cold start, warm up, and fully warm, and IF when driven the engine reaches operating temperature for at least 30 minutes and it is stored inside in a non-condensing humidity environment, then every two years at 1K miles per year is perfectly acceptable.
Engines with road draft tubes should probably change the oil more frequently because the old road draft tubes offer poor ventilation and more rapid buildup of blowby contaminants in the crankcase.
If the car is stored during the year and a change is due prior to the end of storage, the oil should be changed before the car goes into storage. The clock doesn't run on fresh oil in the crankcase as long as the car is stored inside in a non-condensing humidity environment.
Every 3 to 6 years, depending on when i feel like it.
Related: When i got that free '33 Chev Roadster last year, the oil was changed and the car parked in 1999 with about 5 miles on the oil.
Last year, new tires, new gas, and a fuel pump rebuild and I started it and drove it, so far about 5oo miles (on new tires).
Some of the people on the antique car board had a fit.
"Oh my God, you can't drive that car on 20 year old oil!"
Me: Why not, it had 5 miles on the oil change, teh oil is 200 million years old, i doubt another 20 years will hurt.
"Oh My God!, the oil is BAD by now, what about the additives?"
Me: Additives don't evaporate, they degrade with use, the ZDDP,a nd manganese, and SBR rubber used for viscosity control don't go bad just sitting there.
"Oh, My God, you are going to ruin your engine if you don't change it, you probably already have!"
I just ignored it at that point. Still Haven't changed it. I think on that car, about once a year or 1000 miles is probably about right, due to its non PCV road draft tube.
Doug
On-Star is yelling at me right now because its been 12 months on my last oil change of the C7 (which has 1500 mi since last change) so I guess I'll go in and get rid of that nasty 12mo old Mobil 1. At least this change is free.
Agree with Duke.. For cars doing less than 5K/year, it all about the condition of the motor (blowby, over-rich) and the environment the car sits/operates in (humidity, dust, etc.).
I'm usually doing something to my car at start of driving season so I change it once a year. I do about a 1000 a year this year was less it rained every week end.
12-11-2018, 11:55 AM
How often do you change oil if car is driven 1k per year?
Dennis
