Oil change schedule?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Pittsfield, Ohio
Oil change schedule?
After changing my vette engine oil and filter last night, I noticed it had only been used for just under 1000 miles but its been 13 months since I changed it last.
My gut instinct is to change it every 6 months (Early Rotella HD 15w40 CI) but then I would only accumulate about 500 miles on it and that seems to be a waste. Obviously the car is a sunny day weekend car and only sees about 1 tank of gas per month.
So is the 1 time per year oil change ok?? I usually do the "winterizing" maintenance in Nov before the car is laid up for 3+ months of cold.
My gut instinct is to change it every 6 months (Early Rotella HD 15w40 CI) but then I would only accumulate about 500 miles on it and that seems to be a waste. Obviously the car is a sunny day weekend car and only sees about 1 tank of gas per month.
So is the 1 time per year oil change ok?? I usually do the "winterizing" maintenance in Nov before the car is laid up for 3+ months of cold.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,224
Likes: 1
From: Clarksville Indiana
I have 4 vehicles that hardly get driven. 3 at home, that when driven, get pretty good little cruises and get good and hot and run a while. The 1 I have at my shop just gets pulled in and out of the shop daily and never gets good and hot and run. the 3 at home I feel fine with once a year oil changes but the 1 at work gets to looking like a milkshake down in the valve cover and on the dipstick. It never gets enough running to burn the moister and condensation out of it. I think thats the only worry you should have with yearly changes, that stuff is nasty and hard to get out and makes me worry I got a head gasket leaking. Even running motor flush through it I still had to take the valve cover off and clean that sludge out of it. When I drain the ones at home the oil always looks almost new and no milkshakes..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 2
From: Lima, OH -- 69 L71 427/435hp
I usually only change mine once a year and I drive it about the same as you, also use Rotella the new crap since I missed out on buying up the old stuff. 
My stang is the same way, I do drive it a bit more than the vette, but I haven't changed the oil in it for 2 yrs, but I run Royal Purple synthetic in it.
Daily drivers get it twice a year.
My stang is the same way, I do drive it a bit more than the vette, but I haven't changed the oil in it for 2 yrs, but I run Royal Purple synthetic in it.
Daily drivers get it twice a year.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Pittsfield, Ohio
Thanks guys, I dont feel so bad now. When I do fire it up it get a good workout and I don't think I am getting any moisture (condesation) issues. Oil is dark but never milky or tan.
I here ya on the Rotella zddp reduction issue. I run it in my Cummings and have alot laying around so its convienent. By the time I run out of the old CI formula I'll probably have a full roller set-up in the vette.
I'll just keep treating it like my boat then! Thanks-
I here ya on the Rotella zddp reduction issue. I run it in my Cummings and have alot laying around so its convienent. By the time I run out of the old CI formula I'll probably have a full roller set-up in the vette.
I'll just keep treating it like my boat then! Thanks-
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,545
Likes: 3
From: 406ci SB, AFR 180 Heads - 490 HP @5,600 RPM 529 lb-ft @ 4,100 RPM
Change mine in Oct. when I put them away for the winter months so it's clean while stored away. I also change the antifreeze at the same time, for the extra $15.00 it helps keep my cooling system clean. 
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 8
From: Enid Oklahoma
After changing my vette engine oil and filter last night, I noticed it had only been used for just under 1000 miles but its been 13 months since I changed it last.
My gut instinct is to change it every 6 months (Early Rotella HD 15w40 CI) but then I would only accumulate about 500 miles on it and that seems to be a waste. Obviously the car is a sunny day weekend car and only sees about 1 tank of gas per month.
So is the 1 time per year oil change ok?? I usually do the "winterizing" maintenance in Nov before the car is laid up for 3+ months of cold.
My gut instinct is to change it every 6 months (Early Rotella HD 15w40 CI) but then I would only accumulate about 500 miles on it and that seems to be a waste. Obviously the car is a sunny day weekend car and only sees about 1 tank of gas per month.
So is the 1 time per year oil change ok?? I usually do the "winterizing" maintenance in Nov before the car is laid up for 3+ months of cold.
I guess I am the lone dissenter, but I would rather not have oil with moisture and acid sitting in my engine. If it would sit like my bike does in the winter, I would change it when it gets stored and that way it is flushed with clean oil before winter, and again as needed. My bike gets many since it is ridden about 15-20K per year, the car should be about 5-8K per year. Again just my 2 cents, oil is the cheapest insurance you will ever buy (unless you run Royal Purple) :O)
Last edited by 81pilot; Jan 25, 2010 at 04:48 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
I usually change it twice a year once in the spring and once in the fall whether it needs it or not it's ( not so cheap anymore since I'm running racing oil ) insurance.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Pittsfield, Ohio
I realize every six month is probably best to play it safe but its not the only vehicle in the garage thats in this situation.
I have 5 bikes, the vette, and a boat that are in the same situation: low miles or hrs per year.
I like getting others opinions (especially from the knowledge pool here).
I have 5 bikes, the vette, and a boat that are in the same situation: low miles or hrs per year.
I like getting others opinions (especially from the knowledge pool here).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
I too change mine once a year, right at the end of the year. While mine doesn't get put away for the winter, I manange to get it out every once in a while over the winter. I put about 2000 on mine in the last year.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 34
From: Working on the car NY
I usually only change mine once a year and I drive it about the same as you, also use Rotella the new crap since I missed out on buying up the old stuff.
My stang is the same way, I do drive it a bit more than the vette, but I haven't changed the oil in it for 2 yrs, but I run Royal Purple synthetic in it.
Daily drivers get it twice a year.
My stang is the same way, I do drive it a bit more than the vette, but I haven't changed the oil in it for 2 yrs, but I run Royal Purple synthetic in it.
Daily drivers get it twice a year.
'cept I may move my daily drivers to every 5 months from every 6. I use Penzoil Platium in both - once sees 6K miles/yr and I drive it daily and the other sees a bit more, and it's driven every other day. I'd love to be able to put more miles on the Corvettes and change them 2X/yr. I have a HD Superglide that I only put a few thousand miles on/yr and change that at end of season with M1 V-twin. I use to go crazy with frequent oil changes but with oil prices being what they are and with more than a few vehicles, I think it's a waste of resources - and I don't think the vehicles notice much difference.
Last edited by TWINRAY; Jan 26, 2010 at 10:53 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,224
Likes: 1
From: Clarksville Indiana
When its gets bad enough you will see it. I thought it was a head gasket at first but that checked out as not a issue. It was my guys starting it in the morning backing out of the shop 50 feet and at the end of the day pulling it back in 50 feet, never letting it run any time at all for many months.. One I got it all cleaned out and started running it to the store and little trips around town here and there it never did it again. I have had many old ladies in the shop over the years with milky crap on the bottom of the oil cap and rusty dipsticks and I look at thier service history and they drove 200 miles in the last year..
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 74
From: New Carlisle IN
I am another one who only changes my oil in the vettes once a year in the spring. I use conventional valvoline 10W30 and have never had an issue. My 73 gets heavy autocross duty, but no street driving. My 76 is the weekend cruiser and occasional autocross. I don't keep track of how many miles I put on the cars a year, especially the 73 since it doesn't have a speedo cable hooked up. Basically they get put away at the begining of November and don't come out to play until April.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Pittsfield, Ohio
I am another one who only changes my oil in the vettes once a year in the spring. I use conventional valvoline 10W30 and have never had an issue. My 73 gets heavy autocross duty, but no street driving. My 76 is the weekend cruiser and occasional autocross. I don't keep track of how many miles I put on the cars a year, especially the 73 since it doesn't have a speedo cable hooked up. Basically they get put away at the begining of November and don't come out to play until April.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 23
From: Kansas
Yes Sir; Amsoil 10W--40 Synthetic Premium Phosphorus level 1265 Zinc level 1378 This is the best oil for Flat Tappet Cams. One year or 15000 miles they say, with their filter. I do it once a year, approx. 2000 miles. LOL Have a great one. Gene