Best time of year to start one year OCI?

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Cooper

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I have different Amsoil products in my vehicles. I want to make sure that I have the appropriate time set aside to change the oil on a 1 year basis. What is the best time of year to change the oil? When it is just getting warm outside, or when it is cold?

I am thinking when it is just getting warm, as to not get all the winter cold oil left in all summer.

Any thoughts?
 
Good question! Factored into this is also the different driving styles during the year - our van sees many short trips per day during the school year, and then the summer has the camping, vacation, family reunion, etc long trips - so the oil is probably in it's best shape at the end of summer - even though it'll see some brutal temps and lots of hills on these various summer trips. I've done 9 to 10 month OCIs on the van, but no 1 yr (I would do a 1 yr if it wasn't a known sludger - '98 Sienna). If I were doing 1 yr OCIs, I would feel most comfortable with a late spring OC.
 
Late fall. Contaminants mixed with moisture forms sludge, so you want the lowest contaminant levels during the time of year when moisture buildup is worst.
 
I'm doing a 1 yr. OCI using Amsoil ASM 0w20 on my Mazda, and in my case it wouldn't make too much of a difference, being that it's hot here in Fl most of the yr.
 
Yup spring because you will have fresh oil for the hot moths, by winter it will shear to a lighter brew, then its time to dump it again.
 
Fresh oil has better cold flow properties than used oil. So if you experience very cold winters and lots of winter morning start ups, change oil in late fall.
 
What's your annual mileage? I'm just curious. 6 month OCI's (or semi-annually) are easy. You just bias to one side or the other in where you perceive the most insult in a 4 season climate. One year is also not such a big leap. I've done 13 months, twice, in mostly short trip usage (9k+/- for each) and the UOA's weren't pretty ..but they weren't lousy either. If it was a frequent flier, it would have done much better.
 
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
What's your annual mileage? I'm just curious.


I run about 15k a year. Probaby 60% highway, 40% city driving.
 
Originally Posted By: oilyriser
Late fall. Contaminants mixed with moisture forms sludge, so you want the lowest contaminant levels during the time of year when moisture buildup is worst.


+1
 
Originally Posted By: Cooper
I have different Amsoil products in my vehicles. I want to make sure that I have the appropriate time set aside to change the oil on a 1 year basis. What is the best time of year to change the oil? When it is just getting warm outside, or when it is cold?

I am thinking when it is just getting warm, as to not get all the winter cold oil left in all summer.

Any thoughts?


You never mentioned your expected mileage length of OCI.
 
I would want the fresh oil in for winter when it's cold properties are at their best. Start the OCI in Oct or Nov. If any topping up is needed, you can top with thicker oil in spring and summer for added protection.
 
Originally Posted By: Triple_Se7en
You never mentioned your expected mileage length of OCI.

Originally Posted By: Cooper
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
What's your annual mileage? I'm just curious.


I run about 15k a year. Probaby 60% highway, 40% city driving.
 
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