Question about fluid changes
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 324
Likes: 57
From: South Dallas Tx
Question about fluid changes
I just got my 2916 recently still new on the lot, but it was built in Feb of 2016. I see a lot of posts about changing fluids out at certain time intervals. Oil once a year, Brakes every three years, etc. My question is, do I start the time clock from the moment the car was built, or the moment I bought it. (car had less than 10 miles when I bought it).
Thanks
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,785
Likes: 1,417
Rule of thumb.
Oil: at least yearly or as testing shows its needed
Brake fluid: at least every other year
Coolant: 5 years, or as testing shows it's needed
trans and diff: 3 years 30,000 miles.
Hoses and belts: 5 years
all from the date of build.
That's what I would do. You are free to do as you like.
Oil: at least yearly or as testing shows its needed
Brake fluid: at least every other year
Coolant: 5 years, or as testing shows it's needed
trans and diff: 3 years 30,000 miles.
Hoses and belts: 5 years
all from the date of build.
That's what I would do. You are free to do as you like.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
Rule of thumb.
Oil: at least yearly or as testing shows its needed
Brake fluid: at least every other year
Coolant: 5 years, or as testing shows it's needed
trans and diff: 3 years 30,000 miles.
Hoses and belts: 5 years
all from the date of build.
That's what I would do. You are free to do as you like.
Oil: at least yearly or as testing shows its needed
Brake fluid: at least every other year
Coolant: 5 years, or as testing shows it's needed
trans and diff: 3 years 30,000 miles.
Hoses and belts: 5 years
all from the date of build.
That's what I would do. You are free to do as you like.
Also, belts and hoses last a lot longer than they used to. When I sold my 2004 Z06 is still had the original belts and hoses, and they looked fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,442
Likes: 2,535
From: New Jersey
I gotta think that fluids age the same whether it sits in your drive or the dealer's drive. If it were me I would start with Feb. 2016. I would think the oil life computer has no idea when the car was sold.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
^^ I agree with the above. I once bought a brand new 1995 Trans Am in January of 1996 but the build date on the car was September 1994. So I treated it as such and changed the oil as soon as I got the car, especially since the car had 250 miles on it, so there were a lot of short trips/test drives that were done on it.
That being said, I don't think any of the fluids on your 2016 need to be changed any time soon, except for the oil (and even then it's probably fine but I would do it just to avoid a warranty problem if it arises). Don't even worry about the coolant, brake fluid, diff fluid, trans fluid, for a few years time.
That being said, I don't think any of the fluids on your 2016 need to be changed any time soon, except for the oil (and even then it's probably fine but I would do it just to avoid a warranty problem if it arises). Don't even worry about the coolant, brake fluid, diff fluid, trans fluid, for a few years time.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 324
Likes: 57
From: South Dallas Tx
Oil life monitor says that it has 97% left. I'm not sure if the dealer just reset the monitor, or actually did a change prior to pick up. It would seem that if Oil has a shelf life of five years, it could also sit in a car the same amount of time without having to be changed yearly. What am I missing?
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
Oil in a sealed bottle does have about a 5 year shelf life, but once you put it in an engine and start it, you introduce contamination into it, so that shelf life is now a lot shorter. I'd be most worried that a dealer would periodically start the engine, move the car a few feet, and then shut it down, and repeat this procedure many times over.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
Oil in a sealed bottle does have about a 5 year shelf life, but once you put it in an engine and start it, you introduce contamination into it, so that shelf life is now a lot shorter. I'd be most worried that a dealer would periodically start the engine, move the car a few feet, and then shut it down, and repeat this procedure many times over.
That's why transmission and differential fluid last longer... They are not exposed to contamination from combustion and outside sources like dirt.
Last edited by TEXHAWK0; Jun 18, 2017 at 06:19 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 435
Likes: 15
Rule of thumb.
Oil: at least yearly or as testing shows its needed
Brake fluid: at least every other year
Coolant: 5 years, or as testing shows it's needed
trans and diff: 3 years 30,000 miles.
Hoses and belts: 5 years
all from the date of build.
That's what I would do. You are free to do as you like.
Oil: at least yearly or as testing shows its needed
Brake fluid: at least every other year
Coolant: 5 years, or as testing shows it's needed
trans and diff: 3 years 30,000 miles.
Hoses and belts: 5 years
all from the date of build.
That's what I would do. You are free to do as you like.