Cars always have moisture from short drives, should I change oil often?

[Ang]

I have cars that do a few hundred miles a year, I like to do like 4000 miles or 10 months, but I've been noticing more lately that there's always moisture on the oil caps because they can't burn it all off. I try to do something longer every once and a while but it will never be enough, should I do oil changes significantly more often to prevent excessive wear?

I know supposedly you can just wait 2 years for a low mileage car, but with short drives there will be water and gas in the oil.

 

[D1dad]

What climate? I’m in Ohio and opted to use expensive boutique oil this winter. I ended up with expensive oil that’s been beat up by short trips, lots of idling and fuel contamination. The end result is dumping a sump full of high dollar lube early. Next winter I’ll run something cheaper.

 

[demarpaint]

Take them out for a 20-30 minute ride on the highway once a month. I'd go to a 1 year OCI, take a sample of the oil and send it out for analysis and base the OCI on the data obtained from the report. That will avoid following info based on blanket statements on the web and give you accurate info for your vehicle and usage of it.

 

[LazyDog]

I have a toy car that I drive very little and still change the oil once per year.
The car is timing belt driven and no fancy chains or VVT's. In those cars, I do 6 months old changes regardless of miles.

Check your PCV system too

 

[Ang]

Take them out for a 20-30 minute ride on the highway once a month. I'd go to a 1 year OCI, take a sample of the oil and send it out for analysis and base the OCI on the data obtained from the report. That will avoid following info based on blanket statements on the web and give you accurate info for your vehicle and usage of it.

Not possible, which is why I'm asking about doing an earlier oil change. Unfortunately I just changed the oil after 12 months so I can't do an oil analysis for a while.

 

[Ang]

I have a toy car that I drive very little and still change the oil once per year.
The car is timing belt driven and no fancy chains or VVT's. In those cars, I do 6 months old changes regardless of miles.

Check your PCV system too

There's not much to check. The PCV valve has dirt on it, it's far from brand new. But it still rattles.

 

[D1dad]

Hit the pcv with some brake cleaner. I generally try and do it when I change my air filter and clean the maf

 

[Patman]

How is it “not possible” to take it on a 20-30 minute drive once a month? That would help immensely here.

I often just jump in one of my cars and go for an hour long drive, listen to music and then come right back home.

 

[Ang]

How is it “not possible” to take it on a 20-30 minute drive once a month? That would help immensely here.

I often just jump in one of my cars and go for an hour long drive, listen to music and then come right back home.

some of the cars do get 30+ minute runs, but not on the highway, others don't.

 

[Patman]

some of the cars do get 30+ minute runs, but not on the highway, others don't.

It doesn’t necessarily need to be on the highway though. As long as it’s a long drive anywhere the oil will get hotter than the short trips.

 

[shortyb]

How many cars are we talking here? Unless you really get a chance to burn off the excess moisture from short trips, I'm afraid you will always have this problem. Unless you change the oil after every time you drive them.

 

[demarpaint]

Not possible, which is why I'm asking about doing an earlier oil change. Unfortunately I just changed the oil after 12 months so I can't do an oil analysis for a while.

In that case oil can be extracted via the dipstick for analysis. Or do as I mentioned earlier, drive it 20-30 miles on the highway once a month and change the oil in a year and have it analyzed. Or if you're afraid drop the oil in 6 months and have it analyzed. There's more than one way to skin a cat.

 

[Kira]

One more time: How is it 'not possible' to take it on a 20-30 minute drive once a month?
I have a pal who answers questions like this. It's maddening.

To dermapaint: Statements like, "There's more than one way to skin a cat", really upsets my cat. (ha-ha)

 

[D1dad]

Run cheap oil and change it more. Your habits don’t indicate you need an hpl level of oil. Mine don’t either, I just enjoy watching the wife look at the bank statement.

 

[cmarshall78]

To me, saying it's not possible to take iy for a 20-30 minute drive really means they just don't want to do it.

 

[D1dad]

This thread has sparked my curiosity. Looking at your fleet, they’re all somewhat up there in miles. Is there a garage queen or two I’m not seeing? Your sig autos seem to be driven, or at least were at 1 time. If you have 5 cars and 1 driver I get it.

 

[Kira]

Also, if the OP is up in years and doesn't want to drive on highways, I can see that easily.

 

[demarpaint]

Also, if the OP is up in years and doesn't want to drive on highways, I can see that easily.

Good point, many of us are. In that case he bites the bullet and pays up for a UOA or dumps the oil based on which person posting he believes, or which group of posters he believes. I'd get a UOA.

 

[CKN]

Not possible, which is why I'm asking about doing an earlier oil change. Unfortunately I just changed the oil after 12 months so I can't do an oil analysis for a while.

Then you need to get rid of some vehicles.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I tend to change oil more frequently in my Honda because I only drive about a mile to work. I do use the aftermarket auto start to warm it up for 15 minutes when it's really cold outside which is all the time in the wintertime. I usually leave the filter on and change the oil with my MityVac and refill with 3.8 quarts. I noticed in your signature you have several Honda/Acura vehicles and IMO it's worth changing oil frequently to make them last a long time.