Oil change?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,509
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From: Western New York
I put low mileage on my car each year and I change the oil at the end of October just before putting car in storage for winter. My thoughts are I would rather have car sitting for a while with fresh oil ,Then in spring I'm good to go. I been doing this sense I got my corvette five years ago. My car sits from Nov to middle end of April.
Last edited by Borntorun04/17; Apr 14, 2015 at 08:07 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
Owners's manual says change oil when the DIC tells you to, but no more than a year between changes. On a low mileage car, I would change it before it goes into storage personally, so it goes in clean, as it were. I don't store mine, as I drive it to some extent all year around, but it gets less use in the winter - too many snow days.
I just pick an "oil change" day in late Fall and get all three vehicles done. The Subie turbo also gets a spring change - just as insurance, even though it probably will only have done 4k or so, I just am risk averse with turbo units, plus it has a stupidly small oil filter. Synthetic 5-30 for all of them, usually M1 high mileage; the Generac, the mowers, etc. get the same. Buy it when one of the parts chains has it on sale, or from Wallies.
I just pick an "oil change" day in late Fall and get all three vehicles done. The Subie turbo also gets a spring change - just as insurance, even though it probably will only have done 4k or so, I just am risk averse with turbo units, plus it has a stupidly small oil filter. Synthetic 5-30 for all of them, usually M1 high mileage; the Generac, the mowers, etc. get the same. Buy it when one of the parts chains has it on sale, or from Wallies.
Last edited by jackthelad; Apr 14, 2015 at 07:49 PM.
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Safety Car
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From: Rocky Mountains
Agreed, from what I've read on bitog, good synthetic oil with 500 miles on it isn't going bad just because it's been in use for a year. They have additives to specifically address that. But as they say, the manual recommends every year at least. I'm super obsessive and would follow the manual. But like I said, from reading stuff on bitog forum, the oil is fine to go another year.
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You can do as you please, but I follow the recommendation in the owner's manual. I do not put many miles on my car each year (perhaps 1-3K miles at most) but I still change mine each year before putting the car into storage.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 483
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From: Bridgewater NJ
In my opinion, anyone who changes their oil after only 500 miles, even if it's been a year since the last oil change, is nuts. And wasteful. That oil is still perfectly fine.
My only complaint is that you're not driving it enough, if you've put only 500 miles on it in the last year. If that's the case, you might as well sell it and let someone else enjoy driving it.
My only complaint is that you're not driving it enough, if you've put only 500 miles on it in the last year. If that's the case, you might as well sell it and let someone else enjoy driving it.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Redondo Beach CA
In my humble understanding, the owners manual has a time limit because once you run the oil, acids are promoted. Acids eat engine seals. Engine seals eat money. Oil change better than seal change.
I tend to follow the manufacturer's operators manual over internet advice.
I can't learn every machine I own, and certainly can't out engineer the recommendations of the original designers. I have worked with highly skilled engineers , and they always followed the books, or in rare cases, amended them , then followed the new instructions, to the letter. I don't see much advantage to winging it when you have instructions. Granted, owners manuals for cars are written for a low mechanical understanding, but they do ok.
I tend to follow the manufacturer's operators manual over internet advice.
I can't learn every machine I own, and certainly can't out engineer the recommendations of the original designers. I have worked with highly skilled engineers , and they always followed the books, or in rare cases, amended them , then followed the new instructions, to the letter. I don't see much advantage to winging it when you have instructions. Granted, owners manuals for cars are written for a low mechanical understanding, but they do ok.
Melting Slicks
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From: East Windsor NJ
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From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
I put low mileage on my car each year and I change the oil at the end of October just before putting car in storage for winter. My thoughts are I would rather have car sitting for a while with fresh oil ,Then in spring I'm good to go. I been doing this sense I got my corvette five years ago. My car sits from Nov to middle end of April.
Same here. 
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I put low mileage on my car each year and I change the oil at the end of October just before putting car in storage for winter. My thoughts are I would rather have car sitting for a while with fresh oil ,Then in spring I'm good to go. I been doing this sense I got my corvette five years ago. My car sits from Nov to middle end of April.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: West Seneca NY
I only put about 600-800 a summer on mine & change it every 2 yrs, I give the oil to guys at work & they use it in their lawnmowers.
I think my DIC said 73% after these last 2 summers which was 1270 miles.
I think my DIC said 73% after these last 2 summers which was 1270 miles.
Last edited by 6speedsteve; Apr 16, 2015 at 12:51 AM.
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Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Redondo Beach CA
Just how much acid do you think there is in the oil after having driven for only 500 miles? You don't think the additive packages in modern synthetic oils are up to handling it?
Maybe I should start changing my oil after every long-distance weekend trip I come back from.
Maybe I should start changing my oil after every long-distance weekend trip I come back from.
I saw your point as I posted, but considered that a guy storing the car he hardly drives would probably be best served with fresh oil before storage. That way you wouldn't have to leave it to an almost new additive package. I figured a guy with a heated storage for a corvette driven infrequently wouldn't mind springing for new oil .
THis topic was covered By the late Mr. Bill, much more effectively. I couldn't remember if the acidity increases on its own after contamination or of it is mostly the amount of use. I seem to remember the contaminates overcame the additive package over time with even slight use, but did not want to post erroneous facts.