Oil Change question?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
It had been sitting in the car exposed for 5 months through multiple temperature and humidity changes. Is that fresh?
Last edited by JR-01; Jan 14, 2014 at 08:20 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,798
Likes: 8
From: It's true money can't buy happiness, but it is more comfortable crying in a Corvette than on a bicyc
St. Jude Donor '13
It is more likely to get more condensation in the oil sitting in the engine during the winter than sitting in sealed containers , but I think it is just stupid to even make it such a big topic. It's not that critical for most of these cars since they are not driven much in the summer anyway and they use synthetic oil .Last edited by Camjamsdad; Jan 14, 2014 at 01:30 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
I'm not a chemist nor a engineer. If I run my car all summer and track it a few times, I will change the oil at the end of the season. A car with new oil will not go bad next Spring. Yes it may have moisture in it but so will a car that sits in the Summer. Let her warm up and all is good.
I welcome a chemical engineer's input.
I welcome a chemical engineer's input.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 242
From: Russell Ontario
St. Jude Donor '09
No difference , I do mine in the spring , but if it's so important I better let all the dealers know about all the cars sitting in their lot for sale all winter, man I'd never buy one of those cars . Oil is changed way too often , but some people love to spend money 
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 118
From: San Gabriel Valley California
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
An old friend of mine was a life long mechanic, and then a service department manager at a large GM dealership for many many years. He said to get the engine/oil up to operating temperature; then drive it (or let it run) for another 20 minutes. That would burn off any moisture or condensation.
He also said today's oils, are much better than that available many years ago when we were young; as are engines.
However, no one can ever argue, with the idea that clean oil is like clean healthy blood; I suppose. Just might be wasteful, now days.
He also said today's oils, are much better than that available many years ago when we were young; as are engines.
However, no one can ever argue, with the idea that clean oil is like clean healthy blood; I suppose. Just might be wasteful, now days.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
An old friend of mine was a life long mechanic, and then a service department manager at a large GM dealership for many many years. He said to get the engine/oil up to operating temperature; then drive it (or let it run) for another 20 minutes. That would burn off any moisture or condensation.
He also said today's oils, are much better than that available many years ago when we were young; as are engines.
However, no one can ever argue, with the idea that clean oil is like clean healthy blood; I suppose. Just might be wasteful, now days.
He also said today's oils, are much better than that available many years ago when we were young; as are engines.
However, no one can ever argue, with the idea that clean oil is like clean healthy blood; I suppose. Just might be wasteful, now days.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 942
Likes: 3
From: Louisville KY
A friend of mine owned a company back when Mobil 1 first came out. He decided to do an experiment on his company car. Filled it with Mobil 1, added oil when needed, changed the filter every 30K miles, but never changed the oil. He never had a problem and after 125K miles he tore down the engine to see what it looked like. It was surprisingly clean.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
Likes: 894
From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
I've been told by a source who wishes to remain anonymous that fresh motor oil has better "coating" qualities than not so fresh oil. For that reason I've chosen to change my oil prior to storing my car. My car is stored in a climate controlled garage, so the temperature doesn't fluctuate.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 1
From: Orlando FL
There is no reason to change the oil before you put it away as long as the down time does not fall after the total time the oil has been in the car since the last change. the oil can not exceed 1 year. The PH starts to creep up after a year and turns the synthetic into an acidic state. The one year is just a rule of thumb you do not want to exceed.. its a benchmark.. I've already had some giant of auto technology argue with me that what I said and what we put into the owners manual reads as if magically after 1 year ( 365 days ) the oil will turn acidic, which is doesn't. With minds sets like this, all I can tell you is to be careful who you listen too on this forum.. Use the Oil Life monitor, it works, you can take it to 0 oil life or 0ne year which ever comes first. At 10 % oil life remaining you will get a message saying 10% oil life remaining, at thi9s time you need to get an appointment or buy oil and a filter so when the oil gets to 0 you can get the oil changed or do it yourself. Don't forget to reset the OLM.
Bill aka ET
Bill aka ET
NO you don't. It would be a waste of hard earned $$
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 1
From: Hercules CA
the way I look at this situation....
pretend you have a can of soda, you open the can of soda and transfer it to sealed bottle.
although you never drank out of the soda and it just went from its original seal to another... would you still want to drink the soda after a week ? No right cause more likely it will be stale... haha idk if that makes sense to anyone else but thats my whole view in this..
FWIW oil changes are not too hard to do and it doesnt cost much to do. in the end its up to you what you want to do.. just make sure to warm up oil to operating temp if its been sitting for a while
pretend you have a can of soda, you open the can of soda and transfer it to sealed bottle.
although you never drank out of the soda and it just went from its original seal to another... would you still want to drink the soda after a week ? No right cause more likely it will be stale... haha idk if that makes sense to anyone else but thats my whole view in this..
FWIW oil changes are not too hard to do and it doesnt cost much to do. in the end its up to you what you want to do.. just make sure to warm up oil to operating temp if its been sitting for a while
Last edited by Kreeess; Jan 14, 2014 at 05:11 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
No, the filter holds about a pint. The rest of the oil is in the pan. You ever change your oil?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
Likes: 894
From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
the way I look at this situation....
pretend you have a can of soda, you open the can of soda and transfer it to sealed bottle.
although you never drank out of the soda and it just went from its original seal to another... would you still want to drink the soda after a week ? No right cause more likely it will be stale...
pretend you have a can of soda, you open the can of soda and transfer it to sealed bottle.
although you never drank out of the soda and it just went from its original seal to another... would you still want to drink the soda after a week ? No right cause more likely it will be stale...
and dont forget to document everything 
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: North Port Florida
The crankcase of newer cars has been sealed for a long time, there is not a draft tube anymore. I have always changed my oil in the fall even on my boat. Supposedly it is more acidic from being dirty. But I know a lot of people that change there boat oil in the spring and there motors are ok. There probably is not a correct answer but I will change mine when I put them away.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 901
Likes: 2
From: Palm City Fl
[QUOTE=thisMSGgood4me;1585913868]But there's NO internal combustion occurring if the vehicle is tucked away for the winter, now is there? There would be virtually NO difference in the "shelf life" between fresh oil sitting in a crankcase of an engine that's not being run and fresh oil in plastic jugs sitting on a shelf. So I call BS on your comment, ET. And I take back what I said before about not wanting to **** someone in particular off.[/QUOTE
If you have fresh oil or not, it is, IMO, a very bad idea to park your car for the winter and not start it and let it get to normal operating temperature at least once a month. Personally,I would start it once a week, just to keep everything lubricated. So, I would change my oil in the spring, due to possible moisture build up. Just my $0.02
If you have fresh oil or not, it is, IMO, a very bad idea to park your car for the winter and not start it and let it get to normal operating temperature at least once a month. Personally,I would start it once a week, just to keep everything lubricated. So, I would change my oil in the spring, due to possible moisture build up. Just my $0.02
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 579
Likes: 130
From: Chaska Minnesota
the difference is in the hydro carbon atoms that are part of the internal combustion . This is why the shelf life " In the jug " is much longer than the oil in the crank case. IN reality people, tend to over think things. either way works, but the secret is consistency. Do it in the spring or do it in the fall, and do not deviate.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
http://www.mobilindustrial.com/ind/e...mendations.pdf
Short” and “Normal” Shelf Life Products
Normal Shelf Life: In general, the recommended shelf life for
oils and greases is typically fi ve years when stored properly in
the original sealed containers.
Industrial and automotive oils may show deterioration by one
or more of the following:
• Cloudy appearance or strong odor. Engine oils stored
in UNSEALED containers for a prolonged period of time
will absorb moisture from the air and may develop a hazy
appearance.
• Signifi cant sediment buildup. Slight sedimentation may
occur for some oils over time and generally does not have
an adverse impact on performance.
Normal Shelf Life: In general, the recommended shelf life for
oils and greases is typically fi ve years when stored properly in
the original sealed containers.
Industrial and automotive oils may show deterioration by one
or more of the following:
• Cloudy appearance or strong odor. Engine oils stored
in UNSEALED containers for a prolonged period of time
will absorb moisture from the air and may develop a hazy
appearance.
• Signifi cant sediment buildup. Slight sedimentation may
occur for some oils over time and generally does not have
an adverse impact on performance.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
I love science. To definitely answer your question take a sample and send it out for an oil analysis after it sits over the winter. Before a year long deployment I took a sample of my mobil 1 that was in the crankcase and sent it in then a year later when i came back sent in another sample and it came back with the same results. All of the numbers were the same. Disclaimer. The files are on a long lost hard drive so believe my claim or not.
I'll end this post by saying, thank you very much for your service, baxsom.