Change 19 month oil with only 3k miles?

Pennzoil motor oil
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Hal9000

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I recently acquired a 1993 Previa (non-supercharged). Records indicate the oil was last changed 19 months and 3,050 miles ago. Records indicate the oil used was Castrol GTX High Mileage 10w30.

I know that most recently, shortly before purchase, the van was driven on a 700 miles trip. So, at least some of those miles weren't just 2 mile jaunts where the engine never heats up.

Question: Is the oil still good? 3k miles seems low to change it. How about 19 months? Does it matter?

I am most interested in science based answers (or guesses
smile.gif
) than the simple "It's cheap insurance.", with no other explanation.

Have people here done longer than one year time interval drains on synthetic blends?
 
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Personally I'd change it.. and have a fresh start and a good baseline on maintenance. Plus it gives you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the vehicles quirks.
 
Originally Posted By: Bud_One
Personally I'd change it.. and have a fresh start and a good baseline on maintenance. Plus it gives you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the vehicles quirks.


Makes perfect sense.

But, do you think the oil is no longer good?
 
Change the oil and filter. Trans oil and diff oil? Coolant? PS fluid? Brake fluid?
 
Originally Posted By: Bud_One
Personally I'd change it.. and have a fresh start and a good baseline on maintenance. Plus it gives you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the vehicles quirks.


+1. The oil is probably still good, but I would agree with Bud_One.
 
Time to change it.

I didn't even know they made supercharged Previa's, that must be hilarious
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On a few occasions I've gone 2 years in my van. I didn't make a habit of it though, and it was with synthetic oil. I'd change it.
 
If it was a new car ro me, I'd call it a flush and as mentioned baseline. If it was my oil fill, absolutely not.
 
Oxidation does become a factor with time usually I wouldn't go past 24 months on conventional or 36 months on synthetic provided your mileage is less than half of the normal service interval or thereabouts in that time period. You may be able to go further but with the cost of a used oil analysis just change it. If you notice it seems overly thick that's a good sign of early oxidation.
 
I would change it personally. The oil is probably still okay but I still would change it. I don't like to go longer than 1 year on oil if the mileage isn't met. But that's just me, I have no scientific proof that it matters.
 
yes i changed at 15months on a car with conv. and it's fine.

BUT once you reach this it's not really about "cheap" insurance, but about fixed costs of ownership. If you wait, what are you saving what are you trying to gain? Remember you're already paying $$ for insurance, registration etc already every year.

If you're not maintaining the car, what happens is when you DO drive it your tires are rotten, the battery is dead, and the brakes are out, and the gas is bad, the shocks are all squeaky and making noise even though they all look brand new.

So you have to keep things in order ahead of time and periodically. So you might as well proactively do the oil too, while you get the brake fluid and all these other things taken care of. Otherwise you have a pristine looking car, that doesn't work or breaks down on you and that does you no good.

Sure, you don't need to do it on the nose when something ticks to 1year, but bundle it for convenience and do it periodically.
 
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Originally Posted By: Hal9000
Originally Posted By: Bud_One
Personally I'd change it.. and have a fresh start and a good baseline on maintenance. Plus it gives you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the vehicles quirks.


Makes perfect sense.

But, do you think the oil is no longer good?


There is a good possibility that it is still good. Only real way to find out is send in a sample for a used oil analysis with the TBN report. But at $30 , it's cheaper to change it for less than $20 and know for a fact that it's good.

And
welcome2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Hal9000
Originally Posted By: Bud_One
Personally I'd change it.. ...


Makes perfect sense.

But, do you think the oil is no longer good?


Opinion: It could still be good.

Facts: The only way to be certain is to get a used oil analysis. There have been numerous posts on here of people going more than two years and the oil was still good. You have no idea of how that vehicle was treated before you got it so cannot be sure the usage was the same as others who kept the oil in a long time.

Conclusion: Agree with Bud_One to change it.



edit: holy smokes I should have read down a bit further....
Originally Posted By: Bud_One


There is a good possibility that it is still good. Only real way to find out is send in a sample for a used oil analysis with the TBN report. But at $30 , it's cheaper to change it for less than $20 and know for a fact that it's good.

And
welcome2.gif
 
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I posted not long ago on a very similar topic, My 5.3 ltr Silverado has 2,900 miles on the Mobil 1 5w30 in the sump with a Napa Gold filter. im at 15 months as of today (ish) , On the advice of other BITOG'ers I haven't changed the oil. and planned to just let it go till summer.. well, I decided to drive the truck a bit last week and noticed the oil pressure reading a little lower than usual.. I decided to leave the oil in and just change the filter.. when I puled the filter off it was clear it was extremely thick in the filter (like a 50w oil) and although I know were not suppose to judge on colour, it was extremely Black oil, like ive not seen come out of this truck on a 6-7k oil changes.. Regardless, I just replaced the filter and the pressure came back up to normal. Im not going to wait for summer after what I seen, even for just piece of mind its getting dumped and replaced this week.. my advice, start a fresh baseline on your car.
 
Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1
I posted not long ago on a very similar topic, My 5.3 ltr Silverado has 2,900 miles on the Mobil 1 5w30 in the sump with a Napa Gold filter. im at 15 months as of today (ish) , On the advice of other BITOG'ers I haven't changed the oil. and planned to just let it go till summer.. well, I decided to drive the truck a bit last week and noticed the oil pressure reading a little lower than usual.. I decided to leave the oil in and just change the filter.. when I puled the filter off it was clear it was extremely thick in the filter (like a 50w oil) and although I know were not suppose to judge on colour, it was extremely Black oil, like ive not seen come out of this truck on a 6-7k oil changes.. Regardless, I just replaced the filter and the pressure came back up to normal. Im not going to wait for summer after what I seen, even for just piece of mind its getting dumped and replaced this week.. my advice, start a fresh baseline on your car.



Is that a vehicle you purchased used? Sounds like the M1 is cleaning it out well....


/hijack
 
For the short brief. It relates to TBN value. Eventhough u only runs a few miles. The additives in ur oil will be decreased.
For the best answer u need to take sample of ur UOA then check it to the lab.
 
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