Old Oil

sorry guys, I'm, a bonehead and have a typical bone-headed question. I trave la lot so I only put about 5K miles on my car each year. Mobil One oil is supposed to be good for 15K miles but I fee like I should change it more often than once every ~ 3 years. Any advice on this - much appreciated, thanks. David

I'd suggest every six months, but that's just me. I'll be curious to see what others have to say.

I change every 5K or 6 months. I am just NOT comfortable with going more than that between changes.

Quotes source post: 6924201

Reading the owners manual the guideline is to if an oil/filter service not triggered on miles traveled to change the oil/filter once a year. Some (me for one) change their engines' oil every 5K miles and I at least can cover 5K miles on one week+ road trip. Not unknown for me to change the oil in one of my cars, take off on a road trip and week after I return change the oil/filter again cause I've racked up 5000+ miles in that time. In your case 5K miles per year suggests infrequent use and short trips with the engine seldom getting up to operating temperature and staying there for a while to boil off the more volatile compounds that get into the oil, mainly water and gasoline. These if allowed to accumulate will thin the oil and lower its abilty to properly protect/lube the engine under high loads and elevated temperatures. Also, water will combine with other contaminates and form acidic compounds that attack the interior of the engine and its internal hardware. Thus 5K miles per year could be interpreted as "severe" usage and therefore warrant even more frequent oil/filter services. Every 5K or once a year though is while probably not ideal is way better than leaving the oil in there over 3 years and 15K miles. If you haven't already done so get a good battery charger/maintainer and use it to keep battery charged up while you're away. Also, research a way to ensure the car doesn't attract a population of mice (or rats) while it sits unused for long periods. Sincerely, Macster.

My routine has been (whichever comes first): For street driven: every 3-5K miles or 1 year, as long as the oil still looks relatively clean on the dipstick. For track or autox driven: every 2-3K, or 6-months, or when the oil no longer looks clean.

IMO (based on what I've read about the water cooled P-motor, the IMS issues, and everyone's input): 5k miles max, and 1yr max. I do 3-5k and 6mo-1yr. If you track it, then change it after each event, or at the very least after 2 events.

I'll weigh in on this one for one post. I currently drive my car about 7500 miles a year. I use Mobile 1. My driving can be anywhere from a commute to work and back (about 12 miles each way) to a road trip or a DE. The owners manual in my car says if you drive less than 15,000 miles per year to do an annual inspection which includes an oil and filter change. And that is what I do. Despite what appears to be low miles and low usage, I drive the car at least twice a week, and ususally more often. And this is my weekend warrior, so it gets half of its miles doing weekend events. In my case. I usually preform the annual service in early June so that I have fresh oil during the hottest months of the year. It does not freeze here so the Winter months are more like other folks Fall and Spring, and thus not particularly hard on the oil. Since I don't change my driving habits for "winter" the car is not sitting for any length of time. If anything, I actually drive it a tiny bit less in the Summer months.

I'm in the same situation as the OP and drive the same annual miles. I drive the car all year, so routine is to change the oil in November (0W-40) for the winter. I change again in May for the spring/summer. I haven't gone to the "heavier" oil for the warmer months yet, but may as the mileage goes up. I just crossed 67,000 miles last week.

Since you only drive ~5k miles/yr think of it as spending time making it up to her... change the oil.... its <$100 for the job if you use Mobil1....and you will feel much happier when she returns the favor

The problem with using oil for many years, even though mileage is not high, is that the oil will get very acidic. Change it every year, regardless of how few miles are on the car. On my Viper, which only had 2,000 miles on it in over two years on the same oil thanks to the previous owner, when I changed it and had it sampled, the TAN (Total Acid Number) was sky high, even though there was plenty of TBN (Total Base Number) was still good. This shows that just beacuse there is enough active additive left in the oil after a few years, it still can't combat the acidity. - Anthony

I do it every 3-5,000 miles or annually. I drive about 4500 per year so.. About onece a year for me.

I change every six months which usually works out to around 4,000 miles. 15-W50 during the warm months and 0-W40 for the cold, but that's just me.

^^^ Very reasonable I think

When I change my oil in December (1 year and about 4,000 miles), I will have it analyzed and then post the results here. A used oil analysis should dictate oil change duration, as then you can see wear, acid, etc. - Anthony

1 x year

I match the frequency of an oil change with the frequency of sex at home. As it works out, I change the oil once per year, which is perfect! Now if I used that same method with my mistress, I certainly could not afford to do that many oil changes per week!

thanks a lot guys, time for a change then! my car isn't idle for more than 2 weeks at a time. I drive her year round, 10 miles to the office when in the country but I travel a lot (about 1/3 to half of the time) much appreciate the feedback (as always)

Just chiming in . . . I go 5K miles before a change (for me about twice a year)