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Base C5 oil change

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Old Oct 11, 2018 | 07:03 PM
  #1  
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Default Base C5 oil change

i am looking for input on on whether to change oil before i put the car away for the winter, [november-april] or wait until i bring it out of storage? the computer says i have 46% of oil life left, and i have driven approx. 3500 miles since the last oil change. i use mobil 1 5w30 full synthetic oil. as always, any input is greatly appreciated !
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Old Oct 11, 2018 | 07:33 PM
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Personally, I'd recommend keeping your current oil in there while you store it over winter.

Also, this is the C7 forum.
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Old Oct 11, 2018 | 09:48 PM
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You'll probably get a more technical answer over at bobistheoilguy.com

I think you'll be fine either way, but I like to do it at the beginning of the driving season, that way I don't have oil exposed to the air over 6 months that could [potentially] break down slightly from not being in the sealed oil jug. Oil breaking down with time versus mileage is much less of an issue with synthetics compared to dino oil though.

Last edited by ArmchairArchitect; Oct 11, 2018 at 09:49 PM.
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Old Oct 11, 2018 | 09:54 PM
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The oil change algorithm in the C5 accounts for mileage, startups and time. If it were me, I would wait until it told me to change the oil. Ymmv
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Old Oct 11, 2018 | 10:26 PM
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I would change the oil right before storage, so the moisture and contaminants are gone.
Shoe on the other foot: leave dirty, acidic, moist oil in the car for months of storage.

Last edited by howie2092; Oct 11, 2018 at 10:43 PM.
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Old Oct 11, 2018 | 10:35 PM
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The C5 does not take time into consideration on the oil life monitor but the manual does say change it at a minimum once a year if you do not drive enough for the OLM to get down to a point where it should be changed based on mileage, etc. The C7 on the other hand, does take into consideration a time factor and the oil life % will decrease over time even if you do not drive the car.

I always change mine when I put the car in storage, especially if I have used more than 50% of my OLM reading. That way I have fresh oil when it comes time to take the car out of storage and I have taken out the contaminated oil before the car sits for 4 months or so. However, it is up to you what you want to do.
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Old Oct 11, 2018 | 10:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
The C5 does not take time into consideration on the oil life monitor but the manual does say change it at a minimum once a year if you do not drive enough for the OLM to get down to a point where it should be changed based on mileage, etc. The C7 on the other hand, does take into consideration a time factor and the oil life % will decrease over time even if you do not drive the car.

I always change mine when I put the car in storage, especially if I have used more than 50% of my OLM reading. That way I have fresh oil when it comes time to take the car out of storage and I have taken out the contaminated oil before the car sits for 4 months or so. However, it is up to you what you want to do.
I thought I recalled evil twin saying that time was also in there. If no, I stand corrected.
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Old Oct 12, 2018 | 03:56 PM
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In my opinion it doesn't matter. I have done it both ways. If the car was going to sit for a long period of time i would say yes before storage, but over the winter months only i have not seen a difference.
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