Can I hold off?

[NewC6]

I have two "play" cars that have only accumulated about 1000 miles each in the last year due to the pandemic. I have been driving them at least once a week to get them to normal oil operating temperatures which has been ~200℉ give or take.

It seems to be that with so little miles and assuring I have achieved full operating temps that I can hold off changing the oils at the one year point.

Thoughts?

 

[jagdriver727]

It would be a waste to dump that oil now. Wait another year or until you get some significant mileage on it.

 

[spasm3]

To me, it would matter how far you drove them once a week, and are they direct injection?.

If you drove them only until the coolant temp got up, then I would consider that short trips. The oil takes longer to get up to temp than the coolant. And if they are DI, there is more fuel in the oil.

If you drove a good 12 miles or so each time, you may be fine.
A uoa after your typical drive, should give you an idea.

 

[40w8]

Anytime I drove any car, I drove at least 10 minutes or more. I have an RX8 that Mobil 1 0w40 stayed in 7 years and 7700 miles. A few of those 1000 miles I drove to road course for one hour of track day. Tested oil, and not that dirty, just thickened slightly. I think 5 years and 5 k miles could be done for most people if the car isn't a known sludge monster. Draining by one year is way over kill.

 

[NewC6]

To me, it would matter how far you drove them once a week, and are they direct injection?.

If you drove them only until the coolant temp got up, then I would consider that short trips. The oil takes longer to get up to temp than the coolant. And if they are DI, there is more fuel in the oil.

If you drove a good 12 miles or so each time, you may be fine.
A uoa after your typical drive, should give you an idea.

Thanks for the thoughts. I edited my OP to indicate I get the oil up to ~200℉ and both cars have oil temperature gauges. Also, neither one is GDI.

 

[Zee09]

I wouldn't even worry about it.

 

[nascarnation]

My Camaro 250 inliner runs about 1500 miles a year and I change every 3rd year. This year it got Shell Rotella Gas Truck so it thinks it's a 292 now.

 

[DGXR]

Assuming you are running a quality oil, you're probably fine... go another 6 months or more. Keep in mind, your oil is not yet hot when your engine reaches full operating temperature. So it's important to stay at full temperature for at least 10-15 minutes so that the oil can get hot too. That is what burns off the condensation, fuel dilution (if you have any) and generally "purifies" the oil. Do this regularly and you can go much longer than 1 year if your mileage is low.

 

[Randy_R]

Carburetor or fuel injection? Got a cam in it? If the oil still looks new, leave it.