change oil because of mileage or time?

[hamhorn]

I bought a new 2007 Impala in November of 2006 with a view to keep it for at least ten years, maybe 15. My problem, if it is one, is that I don't drive it much. I changed the oil with Castrol 5W-30 in February '07 at 1300 miles, in July '07 at 3200 miles, and three days after last Christmas at 5000 miles. Last week I turned over 6000 miles.

It's coming up to six months since the last change but I only have about 1100 miles on that oil, which I've been told and read on here is a lot different than 10W-40 oils that I used to change every 3000 miles thirty years ago.

Is it time for a change?

 

[Bulli]

change it 6 months no matter whats the milage.
Alot of acid build up from what i have heard, fuel ect..

 

[Hermann]

+1 Especially if lots of short trips.

 

[Merkava_4]

I change mine every 4 months regardless of mileage.

 

[Cutehumor]

what does your OLM say? GM says to follow OLM, if OLM doesn't go off in one year, change it out.

 

[Jeffdc5]

I change the oil in my Acura every 4 months, in the Mitsu i follow the maintenance minder, the Toyota every 6 months but all these cars get driven differently.

 

[Merkava_4]

I just changed mine tonight; it had been 4 months. OLM said 55% remaining.

 

[Dale_Knight]

+2, also consider changing the other fluids, diff, trans, rad fluid on a time schedule rather than by mileage.

.

 

[hamhorn]

The OLM says 80%.

 

[lazaro]

Originally Posted By: hamhorn
I bought a new 2007 Impala in November of 2006 with a view to keep it for at least ten years, maybe 15. My problem, if it is one, is that I don't drive it much. I changed the oil with Castrol 5W-30 in February '07 at 1300 miles, in July '07 at 3200 miles, and three days after last Christmas at 5000 miles. Last week I turned over 6000 miles.

It's coming up to six months since the last change but I only have about 1100 miles on that oil, which I've been told and read on here is a lot different than 10W-40 oils that I used to change every 3000 miles thirty years ago.

Is it time for a change?


ya it is time for a change, buy a oil sample kit and find out how long you can actually go. it is alot cheaper at the end of the year...

 

[Drivebelt]

Quote:
It's coming up to six months since the last change but I only have about 1100 miles on that oil, which I've been told and read on here is a lot different than 10W-40 oils that I used to change every 3000 miles thirty years ago.

Is it time for a change?


Not even close. I would run the oil at least a year.

Since you have an OLM. Go by that or once a year.

 

[JohnBrowning]

I do time since most synthetic oils handle milage with out much concern but time tends to cause more wear issues I think from moisture and corrision. In fact my millage can vary +- 7000 miles. I might have 10,000 or more mile in one 6 month period and barley 3000 the next. So I change every 6 months! Considering I would be changeing 3 times a year with dino oil if I followed the OEM recomendations and 4 times a year if I did it like I did years ago every 3 months or 3000 miles. So every 6 months is not a bad OCI. I wouldnot feel comfortable with once a year oil changes unless I was doing UOA every 3-4 months to prove it was doing well and that would outweight the cost saveings from not doing the oil change. It is different if you are paying $8 or less for UOA and or have your own UOA lab on site etc.....

 

[lazaro]

Originally Posted By: JohnBrowning
I do time since most synthetic oils handle milage with out much concern but time tends to cause more wear issues I think from moisture and corrision. In fact my millage can vary +- 7000 miles. I might have 10,000 or more mile in one 6 month period and barley 3000 the next. So I change every 6 months! Considering I would be changeing 3 times a year with dino oil if I followed the OEM recomendations and 4 times a year if I did it like I did years ago every 3 months or 3000 miles. So every 6 months is not a bad OCI. I wouldnot feel comfortable with once a year oil changes unless I was doing UOA every 3-4 months to prove it was doing well and that would outweight the cost saveings from not doing the oil change. It is different if you are paying $8 or less for UOA and or have your own UOA lab on site etc.....

well that may be true if your UOA came back "change lube & filter if not already done"
my Taurus SHO has over 9 months and 7000 miles and my sample came back "good for continued use" what am I supposed to feel?
I was ready to swap in some 0w30 I have on the shelf. glad I waited and did the sample.

 

[02vette]

You all might call me stupid but...... I change my oil when it starts to get dirty. I check it once a week and go by the color of the oil on a white paper towel.

 

[Waterboy]

Oil Life Monitor (OLM) is an algorithmic software program.
There is no "sensor" in the oil pan that checks for the oil's life.
The OLM has no actual clue what the condition of the oil is.
Yes, it has lots of engineering data behind the program.
I wish that some people would not treat the OLM as some kind of god.
As a guide? Yes.

My 3¢USD (0.03033¢CAD)

 

[Ken2]

OLM or 1-year.

It all depends on the type of driving. If you drive like my mother-in-law with a couple of one or two mile trips daily, 3000 mile ODI isn't a bad idea. If you make one long drive then park the car for a couple of weeks...or a couple of days...follow the OLM. The oil life monitor keeps track of the length of the drive and the warmth of the engine, as well as the load on the engine. It accounts for short cool trips and expires faster in those conditions. In fact, follow the OLM, not a 3000 mile plan.

Oil ages extremely slowly when not used. We have one truck in the family fleet that sometimes goes a month or more without a drive, and when it's driven gets a 20+ mile drive. I change that oil every 2 years with excellent cleanliness and excellent operation.