oil break down
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 10,249
Likes: 96
From: not far enough from Chicago
oil break down
Hi guys,
I have a 98 C5 with only 20K miles.
I use stabil and a battery tender over the course of the winter when I don’t drive it. My wife starts it 1x per month for me now and gets it to full operating temp. I was injured this spring and it hasn’t been driven since October of last year. The oil is Synthetic which I change only 1x per year in the spring when I start driving it again. Will the oil break down like fuel?
Thanks for any input,
Steve
I have a 98 C5 with only 20K miles.
I use stabil and a battery tender over the course of the winter when I don’t drive it. My wife starts it 1x per month for me now and gets it to full operating temp. I was injured this spring and it hasn’t been driven since October of last year. The oil is Synthetic which I change only 1x per year in the spring when I start driving it again. Will the oil break down like fuel?
Thanks for any input,
Steve
Last edited by StevieB; Jun 19, 2015 at 02:25 AM. Reason: add sig
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 142
From: Lynn MA
In my opinion no, and your wife started if for you so that's better. My car sat for 8 full months without starting but had stabil and a battery tender.
I pulled the cover off put the key in and started it up. No valve clatter or any noises or smoke. I've done this with both of my cars for many years and it's all been good. Don't worry about it.
I pulled the cover off put the key in and started it up. No valve clatter or any noises or smoke. I've done this with both of my cars for many years and it's all been good. Don't worry about it.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,415
Likes: 24,798
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
The Owner's Manual says to change oil either according to the oil life monitor or once a year if you don't put many miles on the car. What you are doing is fine, although I change the oil in my car when I put the car in storage so it has fresh stuff in the engine over the winter.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
These cars are Chevys, not Lexuses, so things go wrong.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 704
Likes: 101
From: Duluth MN
The Owner's Manual says to change oil either according to the oil life monitor or once a year if you don't put many miles on the car. What you are doing is fine, although I change the oil in my car when I put the car in storage so it has fresh stuff in the engine over the winter.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
The issue is not oil life per se, rather the annual change is recommended to get rid of any condensation that may have accumulated over time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,855
Likes: 78
From: Sammamish WA
WA Events Coordinator
Just bringing it to temp may not be long enough, you want to have the engine running for at least 20-30 minutes to burn off any condensation, otherwise it slowly can eat up bearings and things in the motor.....
You don't change oil to remove condensation, it gets burned off when driving.
You don't change oil to remove condensation, it gets burned off when driving.