Thank you folks !
Oil Change ?????
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,125
Likes: 673
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Oil Change ?????
I changed the oil and filter last August, getting the car out from winter storage. Should I get the oil changed, or wait till August. I only have about 750 miles on the old oil ? Thank you !
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Orland Park IL
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,858
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FYI being a new 2001 Convertible owner I asked the same question to Bill (Evil-Twin) who is a retired GM engineer on the C5 platform. The oil appeared fine to me as it only had a few hundred miles on it from the dealership where it was just serviced the year prior. Below you will find Bills response to me;
"The only other variable it this you change the oil by following the OLM or after one year, even if you still have 50 % oil life remaining.. at one years + - a month the oil's PH turns acidic and looses its protection package. "
I even tested Bill by saying it looks fine Bill, at which point I got scolded at. Wink. He reassured me it was the right thing to do. So for $50 I put fresh oil in for the new season. It also made me feel better knowing it was fresh
She's ready to percolate!
"The only other variable it this you change the oil by following the OLM or after one year, even if you still have 50 % oil life remaining.. at one years + - a month the oil's PH turns acidic and looses its protection package. "
I even tested Bill by saying it looks fine Bill, at which point I got scolded at. Wink. He reassured me it was the right thing to do. So for $50 I put fresh oil in for the new season. It also made me feel better knowing it was fresh
She's ready to percolate!
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I'd wait until August or at least until you put a lot more miles on the oil.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
change it and then send in a sample to be tested of the old oil. The last time I spent a year overseas i changed my oil with mobil 1 and left it in storage. i came home midway through and put about 400 miles on it and then went back. 6 months later i came home for good and changed the oil and sent in a sample to blackstone. they reported back that it looked like new oil.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,125
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From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Well, OK !
Thanks everyone. Between being in bed, on to ride to or coming home from hospital's, I sometimes don't remember what is logical. The OLM is a great system, it doesn't need any help from me. Thank you ! 
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
I also vote to wait. I changed my oil last in February 2012 but since I only drove it 3000 miles last year and the oil life monitor was sitting at around 60% I didn't change it before storing it for the winter. My plan is to continue to run the oil until the OLM hits 10% and then I will change it. So even though it's been over a year, I'm sure it will be fine (and I will be getting an oil analysis done as always, so that will confirm my belief that the oil is still in good shape)
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
I also vote to wait. I changed my oil last in February 2012 but since I only drove it 3000 miles last year and the oil life monitor was sitting at around 60% I didn't change it before storing it for the winter. My plan is to continue to run the oil until the OLM hits 10% and then I will change it. So even though it's been over a year, I'm sure it will be fine (and I will be getting an oil analysis done as always, so that will confirm my belief that the oil is still in good shape)
That wouldn't even be a problem if it were regular oil and these cars take synthetic . Changing your oil more often is overkill unless you beat the He## out of your car and in that case you are not taking care of it anyway. 
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
FYI being a new 2001 Convertible owner I asked the same question to Bill (Evil-Twin) who is a retired GM engineer on the C5 platform. The oil appeared fine to me as it only had a few hundred miles on it from the dealership where it was just serviced the year prior. Below you will find Bills response to me;
"The only other variable it this you change the oil by following the OLM or after one year, even if you still have 50 % oil life remaining.. at one years + - a month the oil's PH turns acidic and looses its protection package. "
I even tested Bill by saying it looks fine Bill, at which point I got scolded at. Wink. He reassured me it was the right thing to do. So for $50 I put fresh oil in for the new season. It also made me feel better knowing it was fresh She's ready to percolate!
"The only other variable it this you change the oil by following the OLM or after one year, even if you still have 50 % oil life remaining.. at one years + - a month the oil's PH turns acidic and looses its protection package. "
I even tested Bill by saying it looks fine Bill, at which point I got scolded at. Wink. He reassured me it was the right thing to do. So for $50 I put fresh oil in for the new season. It also made me feel better knowing it was fresh
She's ready to percolate!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
That's out and out BS about the oil's PH turning acidic and losing its protection package at one year +/- a month. Anyone who believes that is a fool. Mileage and how hard the vehicle is driven are much greater factors in determining when to change the oil than time.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
Damn straight, bj1k. There are times when you should think independently rather than just taking someone's word for something, regardless of their claims of being an "expert" on the subject. Lots of times self-claimed "experts" are wrong.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 239
From: Redondo Beach CA
Mobil one has a toll free number for oil advice Ask the toll free information operator for the number, I think it might also be on the container
unusual questions take a day to contact an engineer, I would think this question about the additive life in storage should be an easy question for them
My vinyl record player takes the same mobil 1 oil as my corvette Service is different, but oil change in that situation is recommended at five years for a precision main bearing I would think age of this oil is not a biggie, but then the RPM's are quite different
unusual questions take a day to contact an engineer, I would think this question about the additive life in storage should be an easy question for them
My vinyl record player takes the same mobil 1 oil as my corvette Service is different, but oil change in that situation is recommended at five years for a precision main bearing I would think age of this oil is not a biggie, but then the RPM's are quite different
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 229
Likes: 2
From: Charleston South Carolina
the only caveat I would add is that when a vehicle sits for a long period of time without being driven to full operating temp....the warming and cooling of engine from ambient air temp it is stored can allow condensation to form in engine just like it will in fuel tank...hence recommendation to always fill tank for storage. Also as it cools some impurities may leach back into the oil....
in the end you go with what you are comfortable....I change out my motorcycle oil in spring before riding too much.....i can change oil in early winter...ride once and put it away and in spring the oil will be dark and will have moisture in it...so I have to get it up to temp and let the moisture burn off....
your mileage may vary
in the end you go with what you are comfortable....I change out my motorcycle oil in spring before riding too much.....i can change oil in early winter...ride once and put it away and in spring the oil will be dark and will have moisture in it...so I have to get it up to temp and let the moisture burn off....
your mileage may vary
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
As you probably know by now , I always do my own thinking and it hasn't got me into trouble yet.