Car suspended from usage - oil change dilemma

[wing0]

Situation:
My mom's car, 2010 Forester 2.5NA with 31k km is currently stored and not used due to her illness since July. The likelihood of her driving depends if she will recover, even then, it'll be a long road ahead.

Her next oil change is 32k km, we just never got to that.
OCI is required every 8000 km according to manual, but no more warranty from Subaru anyways.

At 16k km, I switched her to Pennzoil Platinum 5w30, so this is the second time the engine has PP inside.

Car was driven to and from work around, 7km one way + other errands.

Dilemma:

Car is just stored inside garage and will 99% not be driven during the entire winter season.

Should I quickly throw fresh oil and filter?
I assume the current oil is a bit acidic and not good for long storage?

If I should change the oil, in my stash, I still have:
Synthetic
Pennzoil Platinum 5w30
Motomaster F1 5w30

Conventional
Pennzoil Conventional 5w30

Which one would be more ideal for this situation?

Possible outcome for car:
1. My mom can continue to drive if she recovers
2. I take over the vehicle in the future
3. I trade it in for a more suitable vehicle for my needs

I want to make a decision before it gets uncomfortable to work in the garage. Thanks.

 

[bluestream]

Change it

 

[CKN]

My wife and I traveled around the country with our travel trailer and truck about three years ago. She had a 2012 Subaru Legacy purchased new with about 20,000 miles on it at the time.

To store the car over the winter and through 7 months of storage I did quite a bit of research. Here is what I did-

1) Changed oil and filter
2) Filled up gas tank and put a can of "Seafoam" in the gas tank and drove it about 10 miles
3) Aired up tires to maximum inflation
4) Put Carpet Squares under all the tires
5) Disconnected the battery
6) Put it in our garage with a cheap nylon cover on it

Upon our return I connected the battery-and after a couple of cranks it started right up and was put back in to service with no ill effects whatsoever.

That's what worked for me.

 

[robo339]

I'd throw in the Pennzoil conventional it's a good oil and cheap why use the synthetic if you have no certainty that you'll even keep the car

 

[SavagePatch]

Change it for the Pennzoil conventional. If your Mom is still at home it'll give you a reason to visit and spend the afternoon there. The oil probaby isn't too acid but you're a bitog guy so I'm sure it'd give you piece of mind and I assume you enjoy doing OC's.

Sometimes parents don't like accept help from their children but when it's done they truly appreciate it. Meals, yard work, and house cleaning are also good relatively cheap excuses to visit.

I pray that she recovers and gets to drive it again!

 

[Rolla07]

Put in Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 and drive it...whats not handy bout Subaru AWD in Ontario winters?

 

[Merkava_4]

Wing Zero, I hope your Mom gets better. I know how it is, I worry about my Mom constantly.

 

[camrydriver111]

I'd change it for convenience. When you roll out the car again it has fresh oil and you don't have to worry about it.

 

[wing0]

Originally Posted By: CKN
My wife and I traveled around the country with our travel trailer and truck about three years ago. She had a 2012 Subaru Legacy purchased new with about 20,000 miles on it at the time.

To store the car over the winter and through 7 months of storage I did quite a bit of research. Here is what I did-

1) Changed oil and filter
2) Filled up gas tank and put a can of "Seafoam" in the gas tank and drove it about 10 miles
3) Aired up tires to maximum inflation
4) Put Carpet Squares under all the tires
5) Disconnected the battery
6) Put it in our garage with a cheap nylon cover on it

Upon our return I connected the battery-and after a couple of cranks it started right up and was put back in to service with no ill effects whatsoever.

That's what worked for me.


Thanks for the list. So far, I've only done #3 and #5. I don't think #6 will be that necessary as it doesn't get that dusty and it's single car garage.
Is there any reason to fill up the gas tank to full though?
I assume the carpet squares are to reduce the stress on the tread blocks that's touching the ground on the tires?

Originally Posted By: robo339
I'd throw in the Pennzoil conventional it's a good oil and cheap why use the synthetic if you have no certainty that you'll even keep the car


This is actually my thought too and even if I want to dump the oil out and go back to syn, I only lose the oil, but keep the filter on.

Originally Posted By: SavagePatch
Change it for the Pennzoil conventional. If your Mom is still at home it'll give you a reason to visit and spend the afternoon there. The oil probaby isn't too acid but you're a bitog guy so I'm sure it'd give you piece of mind and I assume you enjoy doing OC's.

Sometimes parents don't like accept help from their children but when it's done they truly appreciate it. Meals, yard work, and house cleaning are also good relatively cheap excuses to visit.

I pray that she recovers and gets to drive it again!


I do the OC for all the cars in the family

I love the feeling of pouring new oil into the engine.
Also, I'm living with parents to help them out through this difficult time so no excuses needed to visit.

Originally Posted By: Rolla07
Put in Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 and drive it...whats not handy bout Subaru AWD in Ontario winters?


I would have to suspend my car to take over her car. Besides, anything happen will affect her insurance so I'd rather not give her any more stress. I just want to keep it well maintained while it's stored.


Last note:
The PP inside the engine has been there for 1yr, 7k km.

 

[wing0]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Wing Zero, I hope your Mom gets better. I know how it is, I worry about my Mom constantly.


Thank you. I also constantly hope for the best result.

Originally Posted By: camrydriver111
I'd change it for convenience. When you roll out the car again it has fresh oil and you don't have to worry about it.


Yes, that's also my thinking too. I'm not so uptight about the cost of the oil since I only add to my stash when it's good deal.

 

[Branson304]

I would change the oil with the Pennzoil conventional before storage.

Hope your mom gets over her illness, I will be praying!

 

[Yup]

I'd take the battery out and keep at my home or charge at hers once in a while if you visit. Dealing with collectors cars, batteries die, cells go bad, etc if you let them sit. My experience, you'll be buyin a battery every 1-3 years cause they don't like to be discharged.

 

[3800Series]

Change it, when you go to get it out remove the spark plugs and the fuse for the fuel pump turn it over 4-5 times at 3 second intervals.

Don't forget to disconnect the battery.

 

[Superflop]

First i wish you and your mother well.
I would change the oil with whatever you normally would. Run it up to circulate. Then when you visit or every month or so take it for a ride if you can or just start and idle it till warm.

 

[hpb]

Originally Posted By: 3800Series
Change it, when you go to get it out remove the spark plugs and the fuse for the fuel pump turn it over 4-5 times at 3 second interval.


I'm guessing you've never done spark plugs on a Subaru

 

[KrisZ]

For one winter storage there is really not a whole lot needed. To be honest if nothing was done and the car was left as is, it would be perfectly fine and maybe only the battery would need to be charged before starting.
I would change the oil because as was mentioned before, it would be one less thing to worry about once the car is back on the road and either disconnect the battery or put it on a trickle charger. That's it.

All other things like overinflating the tires, putting mats underneath, putting the whole car on the jack stands, waxing, using special products, etc. are IMO nothing but superstitious/voodoo rituals. Some of those practices, like jacking up the whole car, are actually detrimental to the suspension, but try explaining that to those stuck in their rituals.

 

[The_Jeff]

Change it and have it as turn key as you can. Maybe throw a HF float charger on it.

When my grandparents were 90-something years old they had home health aides driving them around in grandpa's car. You want it ship-shape if this spontaneously happens.

 

[bigt61]

Leave the oil alone, it's fine for the winter. Disconnect the battery and pump up the tires - that's it. Deal with it in the spring. Take care of your Mom, I hope she gets better.

 

[riggaz]

7 months? On a 2010 car?

Do nothing, the oil and it's additives are still there and will be for the next 20 or so years.

Honestly, leave the car, disconnect the battery if no one is going to use it as the control units on the car will drain it eventually.

 

[Kira]

Hey KrisZ: Why is lifting a car up (to decompress the springs) a voodoo ritual?
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for avoiding silliness.
In this case could simply driving the car once every three weeks be enough?
Should the fuel tank be emptied to avoid the separation which is said to occur?
Would occasional driving over the storage period be enough to mix it?

MAYBE observing how Subarus that age sell will help you optimize moving the car out as opposed to trading it in to a car dealer who won't give you your moneys worth?