Old Oil --- is this a Problem?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 22
From: Norwalk CT and Boynton Beach FL
Old Oil --- is this a Problem?
I have been looking for a low milage C5 convertible. I have located a 2003 C5 with Just 1,700 miles on it. The owner claims he starts the car every few weeks and takes is for a short spin when the weather permits. When I asked him when the oil was last changed, he said the oil was never changed ---- all fluids are the original and the only service the car has ever seen is a new battery.
I'm concerned about the old oil with all the engine "break in" metal filings sloshing around. Am I over-doing it and should I just be happy that I found a low milage car that has never seen rain?
What's your opinion
Thanks
I'm concerned about the old oil with all the engine "break in" metal filings sloshing around. Am I over-doing it and should I just be happy that I found a low milage car that has never seen rain?
What's your opinion
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 1
From: Collinsville MS
St. Jude Donor '08
some oils have a tendency to break down with age. Even on my hanger queens I change the oil every year. I wouldnt be too worried about it though, the car hasnt seen enough driving to be hurt. First stop would be an oil change though... my .02!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Hmmm. Interesting observation. If all C5's did get synthetic oil, I would have to agree with that assessment. But if the original oil was organic, I would want to get a small sample of the circulating oil to look at carefully for metalic particles and early wear concerns. Most engine wear happens at start-ups/warm up cycle; if [organic] oil was shot, who knows what damage could have been done?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
Corvette started using Syn Oil in the C4's and continued from there. What is the first recomended oil change? I'm sure it must be more miles than 1,700 before the first recomended oil change. I have a BMW and with the recomended changes it has only had 2 oil changes in 50K. The Synthetic oils run much longer than the organics and are better on ware for break in and continued use.
The car will be fine, I'm sure
The car will be fine, I'm sure
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
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From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Corvette started using Syn Oil in the C4's and continued from there. What is the first recomended oil change? I'm sure it must be more miles than 1,700 before the first recomended oil change. I have a BMW and with the recomended changes it has only had 2 oil changes in 50K. The Synthetic oils run much longer than the organics and are better on ware for break in and continued use.
The car will be fine, I'm sure
The car will be fine, I'm sure
CF Community Team
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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He should have changed it annualy but it shouldn't be a problem. As long as he didn't "short trip" it too much when he started it and drove it, there should not be too much thinning of the oil due to water condensation. Sounds like a nice car. Good luck with it
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Sounds like a very nice car. This is the thing with corvettes, guys buy the cars and put them away in the garage and don't drive them. To find any vehicle from 2003 with only 1700 miles is a pretty good find in my book. I would not let it worry me if I wanted to buy the car. Like everyone has said, if this is the car for you, buy it, bring it home and change the oil along with any other fluids you think you should change.
I recently picked up an 02 Z06 with on 12125 miles on it when I first drove it. The outside of the car has plenty of garage scratches on it but the inside is perfect in everyway. These are great cars and I have been driving it everyday. Enjoy the car and drive the wheels off of it.
I recently picked up an 02 Z06 with on 12125 miles on it when I first drove it. The outside of the car has plenty of garage scratches on it but the inside is perfect in everyway. These are great cars and I have been driving it everyday. Enjoy the car and drive the wheels off of it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
I have an '85 Corvette, Z-51 with 4+3, that I purchased new. At about the 2000 mile point I switched it to Mobil 1. With 5000 miles on it, I received orders overseas and needed to put it in storage for the tour. One thing led to another and 9 years later I was taking it out of storage. Beyond a new battery, new fuel pump and rebuilding the clutch slave cylinder, the car was perfect. Of course I did change all of the fluids shortly after taking it out of storage.
It now has 8000 miles on it, had a couple more oil changes, and it is everything I expected it to be when I purchased it. At times I'm amazed at just how well these cars were built and how they still perform. I have since replaced the original Gatorbacks with a set of GS-D3's (awesome tire by the way!), as the originals were very hard and would spin with too little effort.
The manufacturing tolerances that these cars are being built with and the lubricants used are superb. When maintained with a modicum of effort, they will last a very long time and give years of service. Oh and after 28 years, I have yet to touch the brakes... it is however on my list of winter projects as a preventative measure...
Good luck and do not be afraid of low mileage Corvettes... I'm not!!!
GUSTO
It now has 8000 miles on it, had a couple more oil changes, and it is everything I expected it to be when I purchased it. At times I'm amazed at just how well these cars were built and how they still perform. I have since replaced the original Gatorbacks with a set of GS-D3's (awesome tire by the way!), as the originals were very hard and would spin with too little effort.
The manufacturing tolerances that these cars are being built with and the lubricants used are superb. When maintained with a modicum of effort, they will last a very long time and give years of service. Oh and after 28 years, I have yet to touch the brakes... it is however on my list of winter projects as a preventative measure...
Good luck and do not be afraid of low mileage Corvettes... I'm not!!!
GUSTO
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
I have an '85 Corvette, Z-51 with 4+3, that I purchased new. At about the 2000 mile point I switched it to Mobil 1. With 5000 miles on it, I received orders overseas and needed to put it in storage for the tour. One thing led to another and 9 years later I was taking it out of storage. Beyond a new battery, new fuel pump and rebuilding the clutch slave cylinder, the car was perfect. Of course I did change all of the fluids shortly after taking it out of storage.
It now has 8000 miles on it, had a couple more oil changes, and it is everything I expected it to be when I purchased it. At times I'm amazed at just how well these cars were built and how they still perform. I have since replaced the original Gatorbacks with a set of GS-D3's (awesome tire by the way!), as the originals were very hard and would spin with too little effort.
The manufacturing tolerances that these cars are being built with and the lubricants used are superb. When maintained with a modicum of effort, they will last a very long time and give years of service. Oh and after 28 years, I have yet to touch the brakes... it is however on my list of winter projects as a preventative measure...
Good luck and do not be afraid of low mileage Corvettes... I'm not!!!
GUSTO
It now has 8000 miles on it, had a couple more oil changes, and it is everything I expected it to be when I purchased it. At times I'm amazed at just how well these cars were built and how they still perform. I have since replaced the original Gatorbacks with a set of GS-D3's (awesome tire by the way!), as the originals were very hard and would spin with too little effort.
The manufacturing tolerances that these cars are being built with and the lubricants used are superb. When maintained with a modicum of effort, they will last a very long time and give years of service. Oh and after 28 years, I have yet to touch the brakes... it is however on my list of winter projects as a preventative measure...
Good luck and do not be afraid of low mileage Corvettes... I'm not!!!
GUSTO
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 3
Oil starts to deteriorate after it has seen one warm up cycle. So regardless of the low mileage, the oil has almost definitely gone bad. Although since it's synthetic oil in there, I wouldn't worry. Just pull out the dipstick, look at the oil and make sure that it's not thick and black.
I remember reading that C5s are filled from the factory with Mobil 1. If organic oil is used during break in, it is probably changed before it leaves the factory. That would be my assumption.
I remember reading that C5s are filled from the factory with Mobil 1. If organic oil is used during break in, it is probably changed before it leaves the factory. That would be my assumption.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Synthetic oils don't oxidize like organics do. That's the main reason I use them in my '71. It sees about 2000 miles per year, so I can change the oil every year [or so]. But even if it sits for months at a time, the oil hasn't lost any "life" during that period of time. Others who let their C3's sit for significant periods of time should consider doing the same.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 952
Likes: 0
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury Maryland
Pull the car out of your garage. Drive it to my house. Give me the keys. Let me change the oil. Say the alphabet backwards 3 times and tell me I can have it for $100 bucks cash.
Just change the oil! You can do it yourself with synthetic for that $20.
LOL
