Most likely that oil change is the only time the fluids would be checked the tire aired etc.
Can’t explain to the elderly that they don’t need an oil change after 8mo/23 miles.
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Anybody here wanna give this guy in the comments a lashing, because the oil just sitting in the pan isn't gonna just go bad, it takes heat, being worked, or a lot of contamination to break down oil and the additive, . Not running the car at all probably causes less problems with condensation than taking a lot of short trips in the winter, because I'd assume the worst condensation wouldn't come from just sitting but rather condensation of blow-by against the cool metal parts in the engine at cold start. So a lot of cold starts and short trips without ever warming the engine up would lead to moisture build up in the oil.
Some people on here would change it 
Define elderly? My 90 y/o father does exactly what I tell him to do with his car.
Wouldn't surprise me if they say the same about my dad's car(or heck it COULD be his for that matter).
He bought a 2019 Lincoln Continental new(never titled, old stock) last May. I'm not sure it's even ticked over 1K miles yet, or if it has only just. My mom drives almost everywhere. I think he just had his 3rd oil change done.
I've mentioned it to him and he says "This is the last car I'm planning on buying. I want to make sure it makes it." I've tried to talk him down to more reasonable amounts-not going where I do on my oil but maybe think about changing it once a year or so-and he won't even consider it. Of course, it only gets Motorcraft 5W-20 Syn-Blend and no other oil, since that's what the manual says. I casually suggested considering a full synthetic and his answer was "absolutely not."
Meanwhile, my 10K+ oil changes stress him out. He drove my car one day when I was about 4K into an oil change and was concerned that the sticker on the window was way past where it said(despite him knowing that I change my own oil and the last change is in the book in the glovebox). He "did me a favor" and ran through Valvoline Quick-Lube. Of course, there went my Mobil 1 5W-30 and my Napa Platinum filter for bulk Valvoline 5W-20(not a bad oil by any means, but also not the weight I run in the car) and an over-tightened generic filter...that lead to a conversation with him finally acknowledging that yes, I do take care of my cars and am very particular about not just doing things on time but how the are done, and to at least ASK me rather than thinking you're doing me a favor by having them worked on.
He bought a 2019 Lincoln Continental new(never titled, old stock) last May. I'm not sure it's even ticked over 1K miles yet, or if it has only just. My mom drives almost everywhere. I think he just had his 3rd oil change done.
I've mentioned it to him and he says "This is the last car I'm planning on buying. I want to make sure it makes it." I've tried to talk him down to more reasonable amounts-not going where I do on my oil but maybe think about changing it once a year or so-and he won't even consider it. Of course, it only gets Motorcraft 5W-20 Syn-Blend and no other oil, since that's what the manual says. I casually suggested considering a full synthetic and his answer was "absolutely not."
Meanwhile, my 10K+ oil changes stress him out. He drove my car one day when I was about 4K into an oil change and was concerned that the sticker on the window was way past where it said(despite him knowing that I change my own oil and the last change is in the book in the glovebox). He "did me a favor" and ran through Valvoline Quick-Lube. Of course, there went my Mobil 1 5W-30 and my Napa Platinum filter for bulk Valvoline 5W-20(not a bad oil by any means, but also not the weight I run in the car) and an over-tightened generic filter...that lead to a conversation with him finally acknowledging that yes, I do take care of my cars and am very particular about not just doing things on time but how the are done, and to at least ASK me rather than thinking you're doing me a favor by having them worked on.
My guiding principle is 'waste not, want not'. Works for oil changes, food, condiments, relationships, time, opportunities, etc. 
When I worked at a dealership we had a guy bring in his Corvette C5 for an oil change before winter storage, he would drive it home 5 miles and park it and 5 months and then bring it right back and have the oil changed again. These were using the factory recommended mobil-1. We told him it likely wasn't necessary and he didn't care, he wanted it done. I captured the "used oil" and used it in my car. He had no problem with this and He seemed happy with the fact it would get reused.
We also had several elderly folks that had oil changes done that were beyond what was necessary, While the extra work was welcome we were actually not that kind of shop. Some people we were able to talk into extending service intervals and others kept with the same excessive intervals no matter what we told them.
It was scary because a lot of these folks would not hesitate to have recommended services done, and some shops would take probably advantage of that.
It was mentioned previously that in many of these cases the only time fluids and tire pressures get checked out was during an oil change, which is usually the case. We always told our customers that didn't drive much to just swing by anytime and we would check tire pressures, ect.... It actually was nice to see many of them come in and felt good the trust they put into our shop.
We also had several elderly folks that had oil changes done that were beyond what was necessary, While the extra work was welcome we were actually not that kind of shop. Some people we were able to talk into extending service intervals and others kept with the same excessive intervals no matter what we told them.
It was scary because a lot of these folks would not hesitate to have recommended services done, and some shops would take probably advantage of that.
It was mentioned previously that in many of these cases the only time fluids and tire pressures get checked out was during an oil change, which is usually the case. We always told our customers that didn't drive much to just swing by anytime and we would check tire pressures, ect.... It actually was nice to see many of them come in and felt good the trust they put into our shop.
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This thread would be better if we focused on accommodating and meeting the challenges of the elderly vs. whining about the obviously unneeded oil change.
My 86 year old mom wants to be as independent as possible and currently has her own apartment room in an assisted living community. She just bought new hearing aids for a whopping $6,500 with blue tooth and other unneeded amenities. Talk about a ripoff system (hearing aids). I didn't lament too long about her spending my inheritance, LOL. It's her money. The best we can do is attempt to assist them having a purposeful, content life, which will be different for each situation.
My 86 year old mom wants to be as independent as possible and currently has her own apartment room in an assisted living community. She just bought new hearing aids for a whopping $6,500 with blue tooth and other unneeded amenities. Talk about a ripoff system (hearing aids). I didn't lament too long about her spending my inheritance, LOL. It's her money. The best we can do is attempt to assist them having a purposeful, content life, which will be different for each situation.
Watching that video made me want to run out and change the oil in my 7.3. Hard to imagine someone paying how much? $70,000 for a truck and not changing the oil. Wish we knew the rest of the story.
Sounds like we need to get these old folks into used Nissan Leafs that can only manage 50 miles ranges, but are dirt cheap to buy.
But then they'd still insist on changing the oil every 3 months!
But then they'd still insist on changing the oil every 3 months!
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My dad is coming up on 70 and he still changes his own oil. He goes by my advice on the subject so on the Expedition he changes it ~10,000km - 12,000Km w/M1 and a good filter, on his Town Car he changes it by the OLM, also using M1, and the same filter as with the Expedition (FL-820S style).
He goes by mileage, so time in the sump isn't a factor. Sometimes the Lincoln will go ~2 years on an OCI, the Expedition gets driven more so it's typically at least once a year.
Other services are done by a trusty indy who knows dad does his own changes and doesn't ask him about it.
He goes by mileage, so time in the sump isn't a factor. Sometimes the Lincoln will go ~2 years on an OCI, the Expedition gets driven more so it's typically at least once a year.
Other services are done by a trusty indy who knows dad does his own changes and doesn't ask him about it.
I have been a BITOG member since February 2003 and I still change my oil every 3-5K miles.
But, since I have this current Amsoil SS OCI I have decided to leave it in for a year/7.5K miles. And believe me, it's causing me to squirm like a worm on a hook!
But, since I have this current Amsoil SS OCI I have decided to leave it in for a year/7.5K miles. And believe me, it's causing me to squirm like a worm on a hook!
I have another Honda Ridgeline purchased 10 years ago, which as of today has 18,328 miles on the odometer. Oil changed once annually!
Same here. Figured out it was a waste and currently on the process of extending OCIs but i already feel bad past 10 000 km but i will get rid of this old habit i think.
Lifetime engine oil! The boys in marketing will love it.
I change oil too soon on low mileage vehicles.
My mom's Kia Soul is a 6 month interval for warranty. She is at 2,300 miles and 6 months as of tomorrow. I am changing the oil on Monday.
The oil is saved for top off oil in other vehicles.
My Santa Fe is between regular (3,750 miles) and severe (7,500 miles) service per Hyundai's recommendations, but also has a 6 month warranty limit, so I am sticking with a 5,000 mile interval, which is about every 5 months.
My brother in laws F150, I was doing 6 month intervals (3,000-4,000 miles) because his engine is shedding metal like crazy and he won't get rid of it, but in the past 7 months, he has put < 300 miles on it, so it will sit in there for a few more months at least.
As for the OP, I am more inclined to say they don't need a vehicle.
We are working on this with my mother in law, she has driven her 2020 Chevy Trax 450 miles since she bought it 9 months ago. She is not supposed to be driving now for some short term medical issues (that are really long term, but she will hear none of that). I need to go and get the vehicle and drive it around for a bit, and ill probably do an initial service on it.
She has used uber a few times now when family was not around to bring her where she needed to be (a Dr appointment, and hair appointment), and has food delivered to her door.
My mom's Kia Soul is a 6 month interval for warranty. She is at 2,300 miles and 6 months as of tomorrow. I am changing the oil on Monday.
The oil is saved for top off oil in other vehicles.
My Santa Fe is between regular (3,750 miles) and severe (7,500 miles) service per Hyundai's recommendations, but also has a 6 month warranty limit, so I am sticking with a 5,000 mile interval, which is about every 5 months.
My brother in laws F150, I was doing 6 month intervals (3,000-4,000 miles) because his engine is shedding metal like crazy and he won't get rid of it, but in the past 7 months, he has put < 300 miles on it, so it will sit in there for a few more months at least.
As for the OP, I am more inclined to say they don't need a vehicle.
We are working on this with my mother in law, she has driven her 2020 Chevy Trax 450 miles since she bought it 9 months ago. She is not supposed to be driving now for some short term medical issues (that are really long term, but she will hear none of that). I need to go and get the vehicle and drive it around for a bit, and ill probably do an initial service on it.
She has used uber a few times now when family was not around to bring her where she needed to be (a Dr appointment, and hair appointment), and has food delivered to her door.
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Ok now this is a situation where I might leave it for another few months and miles before changing it. 23 miles is a little too soon for that especially since oil at least for me has been hard to get lately since Walmart doesn’t carry my preferred oil anymore and the other places are sold out usually. I probably would of took this one to a year and more miles at least I go a couple hundred in between changes. After talking with some more mechanics over the last few days it is ok to go a year with the same oil if you don’t drive a whole lot. Which I am going to experiment with in my truck I was going to change it but I think I’ll leave it for a little while it’s only got 657 miles on the oil right now.
For what it's worth, Pennzoil (if I recall correctly) used to have an occasional Q & A ad in Popular Science or Popular Mechanics back in the day.
One time someone wrote in about their, or an elderly relative's, car, I think an air-cooled Beetle, that only did about 125 miles quarterly.
Q: "Is it still recommended that I change the oil every three months, even with so few miles on the oil?"
A: "Absolutely! Those are likely short trips, the engine doesn't warm up, condensation, blah blah blah ..."
It seems to me that better advice might have been to take the car out for a good long highway run every month or so, and change the oil annually.
But in fairness, some of those Beetles had no oil filter, and it was the era of leaded gas.
One time someone wrote in about their, or an elderly relative's, car, I think an air-cooled Beetle, that only did about 125 miles quarterly.
Q: "Is it still recommended that I change the oil every three months, even with so few miles on the oil?"
A: "Absolutely! Those are likely short trips, the engine doesn't warm up, condensation, blah blah blah ..."
It seems to me that better advice might have been to take the car out for a good long highway run every month or so, and change the oil annually.
But in fairness, some of those Beetles had no oil filter, and it was the era of leaded gas.
AutoMechanic
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Yes that is one car where oil changes are very important because the engines are sensitive and easy to destroy. That is why it’s important you don’t run them low on oil either. Back then though they just used whatever oil they could get or had at shops anyway so sooner changes was important.
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