yellowGS

Starting to think about putting the car away for the winter and wondering if I need an oil change or not. I only put on about 1400 miles this summer and oil life is still showing at 85%. I changed the oil last October before putting it away, so oil is a year old.

change or no change? thoughts?

jwf

Since it's a year, I'd change it, per the owner's manual.

not08crmanymore

why bother if you're putting it away??I put mine away last year with something like 23%.Changed it in spring.Now a 85% and will change it again next spring.I don't see the point of letting new oil sit there and degrade for months when not in use.

whiteboy

With a quality synthetic such as Mobile 1, the oil is not going to degrade. It would be good to warm the engine for about 30 minutes every couple of weeks if you cant drive it.

gofastgirl

You stated that you changed it last year before you put it away...so why change that pattern now. I put it away for the winter with fresh oil...that way with any nice day in early spring that you would like to take it out..its ready to go.

R&L's C6

Don-Vette

Once a year, even if you drove only 5 miles!

ladder13

I'm with the once a year crowd, next month will be time for mine, coincides with my inspection.

FlyerVette

This...

HOXXOH

The only reason to follow the "once a year" oil change when the OLM hasn't indicated otherwise, is to satisfy the requirements of the warranty for those people who have bone stock engines that fear a catastrophic failure.

The OM states once a year to cover GM's butt and has been in OM's for decades before the OLM was invented. It was put there for people who didn't pay attention to mileage (pre-OLM), but could hopefully relate to annual events. Back in the days of no filters, non-detergent oil, loose tolerance engines, and road draft tube ventilation, the norm was 3,000 miles or 3 months for services that included chassis lube and replacing or cleaning spark plugs along with air and fuel filters. We've come a loooooooonnng way since then.

I challenge anyone to find a case of a stock engine failure that was directly traceable to oil changes not being performed on an annual basis on an OLM equipped car.

The OLM is a far more accurate indicator of the still safe time to change oil than any other method previously devised. However, if you're driven by fear, then change oil as often as your fear requires.

purvistechie

Old oil has contamination in it, that's why it looks blacker than when you put it in. I change every fall when I put it away so there is no contamination sitting in my engine over winter. I live in MN so I'm good at storing equipment and have LOT'S of practice. I do the same for everything I own with an engine. None of them have ever let me down.
Many will bock at this but it's what I choose to do. I call it cheap insurance!

I also don't wait for the OLM to tell me that it's time to change oil, it's 3000 miles for me. When I run the vette, I often run it hard (for a little bit anyway), I believe that oil changes are again "cheap insurance".

Frank's C6

Before storage the Vette for the winter change the oil,is better with fresh oil.

Red08

Change the oil & filter, and it will be ready come next spring.

TxLefty

Yep. Little/no moisture to cause corrosion. Why take the chance of messing something up if you can prevent it for the price of an oil change?

Kenny94945

You'll get many opinions.
Send a sample to Blackstone for analysis for facts.
I recall the cost is $25.

Then you can make your decision to change now, after winter and on a yearly or every other year schedule.

AORoads

So, lemme see: if you only used it 15% in one year per the OLM, it's possible the next time you change your oil could be about 5 2/3 years from now (85% divided by 15% used per year). Add that to the Oct., 2013 when you last changed the oil and it would be in there for almost 7 years. Yeah, that sounds fine to me. Just follow the OLM and change it in about 5 years so you'll be BEFORE the OLM hits 0.

Of course, the OM (owner's manual) says once a year, but that conflicts with the OLM, which is just for warranty reasons, and the stated post that synthetic oil doesn't degrade, etc.

And, of course, I'm kidding about the above. Since you asked the question, my take is to follow the instructions, and do it just before it gets put away. And yes, that's just my opinion. Others have their rationale for doing it differently.

Patsgarage

A DIY change will cost you what, $30 to $60 ? On a $60k car why would you NOT do it ?

Gering

Plus this will give you one last chance to look over everything before you place it in storage.

LAYNLOW

Don-Vette

Just got my Mobil 1 5quart jug at Wallyworld for $22.97 and an extra quart for $7.74 I already had a new Purolator pure one filter $6.99(Mobil 1 filter is my other choice $12.99).

A6 GS

Total: $37.70