Changing min. once every 12 months really needed?

[lairdwd]

For my 2000 accord, owners manual says change every 7500 or 12 months, whichever comes first. Oil is still honey brown after 4000 (using the shell oil that everyone raved about prior to reformulation). However, 12 months is soon approaching.

Does anyone have any thoughts about letting it go longer than 12 months, say 18 months or 24 months? What are the risks? I'm in New England. I know the purists will say to change it, but am interested in opinions pro and con.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[demarpaint]

Many people have gone 24 months w/o changing oil, but they've opted for a UOA report. Get a UOA report and base your decision on that. Truth is the cost of an oil change and the cost of a UOA report is about the same, [depends on where you shop]. The UOA report will give guidance going forward, and might just pay for itself. JMO

 

[FZ1]

Change it.

 

[bodeh6]

Dino oil for 1 year? Change it. Cheap insurance.

 

[oilboy123]

If you run Amsoil or a good long drain oil Maybe? Otherwise no

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: lairdwd
What are the risks? I'm in New England. I know the purists will say to change it, but am interested in opinions pro and con.

Thanks,
Bill


Here are some pics of dino @ a regular 12-16 months of use on a Honda, engine is at 60K. Some say "looks good", I was a little less enthusiastic. The varnish was a little heavy for my taste. You're in a lot more harsh weather, as well. The oil also looked decent on the dipstick.

Personally, I'd change it. Given the low miles, I'd guess you're seeing a fair number of short trips on the car? Compound that and the age of the oil, I don't think you'd be doing yourself any favors keeping it in there.

The paper element in the filter could start to degrade as well if left in their for 2 years.

 

[daves87rs]

I"d change it.


I'm about due in my car @ 8 months....

 

[Boss302fan]

I would go one year with conventional/syn if you keep it under 6000 miles.

 

[tinmanSC]

The reason for time-based changes is that additives in engine oil that are not related to operation wear do expire and out. Rust and corrosion prevention additives are suicidal, that is, they become ineffective over time because they are working. They are still in the oil, a VOA will still show them, but they are no longer effective. Moisture contamination is also a problem with oil that sits for a long period. When the oil is in the bottle, sitting for years is not a problem, but sitting in the crank case for years can be. Also remember that the oil is not the only part of an oil change. The oil filter can also degrade over time. While synthetic media has less of a tenancy to do this, standard paper media can degrade when sitting in oil for a year.

 

[Bluestream]

Originally Posted By: tinmanSC
The oil filter can also degrade over time. While synthetic media has less of a tenancy to do this, standard paper media can degrade when sitting in oil for a year.


Do you have any proof of this, or is it opinion?

I worked at a Marina as a tech many years ago, and occasionally a customer would bring a boat in for service and ask for an oil change to go with it. Often they could not recall when the filter was last changed, and some were up to seven years old as best we could determine from our work orders. (also the style and paint scheme of filter) I cut a few open and the paper was like new as far as integrity goes. The paper used in filters is designed to be in oil for extended periods..

 

[Jim Allen]

Seems to be a lot of "chicken-little" going on here

Oxidation for oil in a non-op engine is much slower than people surmise and as far as I can tell, the time recommendations are to cover poor operational or storage situations. Unless the vehicle gets its miles all in short hops or is stored in poor conditions, oil doesn't mark the passage of time very quickly. I have done one, two and now three year OCIs of vehicles and equipment. There are others on the board that have done similar experiments with universally good results. The three year (on a farm tractor) will be going in for UOA. My two everyday vehicles (Honda Accord & F-150) are now on milage only OCIs, which are usually reached in about 18 months (8K & 10K miles). One tractor is on two year and the other is on three year OCIs and the time has been gradually increased on all and verified with OCIs. For the most part, the oils are conventional or a hone blend of Gp II & Gp III. In one case, its a full conventional. Search for my UOAs isn the gas and diesel section to see for yourself.

IMO, based on solid research, a year is no sweat and ditto for 18 months. Main Caveat: no short hopping. The engine should be fully warmed up most of the time it's run.

 

[SteveSRT8]

In my experience and from advice I have heard there is little benefit to worrying about this as long as you aren't a "start it up and run it for a few minutes" guy.

A LARGE fleet owner once taught me if a car sits don't just start it, drive it for at least twenty minutes.

Hopefully Mr. Allen agrees that short hopping is anytime the oil does not achieve sufficient temperature.

 

[tinmanSC]

Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Originally Posted By: tinmanSC
The oil filter can also degrade over time. While synthetic media has less of a tenancy to do this, standard paper media can degrade when sitting in oil for a year.


Do you have any proof of this, or is it opinion?


Hrm, sadly, no. I cannot site a source. I'm willing to entertain the notion that is incorrect. I have heard this some more than one person, but perhaps this belongs in the urban myth category?

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: tinmanSC
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Originally Posted By: tinmanSC
The oil filter can also degrade over time. While synthetic media has less of a tenancy to do this, standard paper media can degrade when sitting in oil for a year.


Do you have any proof of this, or is it opinion?


Hrm, sadly, no. I cannot site a source. I'm willing to entertain the notion that is incorrect. I have heard this some more than one person, but perhaps this belongs in the urban myth category?


Just to reinforce what Jim (and others) is saying, most of the recommendations are compiled for daily drivers. A garage or seasonal use engine, that's operated "as a daily driver would be under favorable conditions" (full warm up - ample duration), time sorta stands still.

Now (again as was said) drive it 5 miles back and forth 5 days a week ..or even every Sunday ...you've got fuel dilution and moisture saturation. Together, you can foul your filter. In my observations, the filter appeared to have a glaze/emulsification coating it.

 

[Bluestream]

Originally Posted By: tinmanSC
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Originally Posted By: tinmanSC
The oil filter can also degrade over time. While synthetic media has less of a tenancy to do this, standard paper media can degrade when sitting in oil for a year.


Do you have any proof of this, or is it opinion?


Hrm, sadly, no. I cannot site a source. I'm willing to entertain the notion that is incorrect. I have heard this some more than one person, but perhaps this belongs in the urban myth category?


Maybe from back when toilet paper rolls were used as oil filters???

 

[webfors]

Change every 12 months, regardless of low mileage.

 

[tinmanSC]

Quote:
Maybe from back when toilet paper rolls were used as oil filters???


Perhaps. I heard this in reference to filters that were just plain paper. That they swell over time. Maybe I'll put a filter in a plastic bag, add oil, let it sit in the garage, and take photos if it in a year.

 

[Bluestream]

I believe it is a fiberglass impregnated type of paper

 

[mva]

I was just looking through my father's Honda accord manual. Honda recommends 1 year max on oil and 2 years max on filters for non-severe service.

I don't think the Honda filters are anything special, in fact it has been reported on this site that they are made by Fram.

They also recommend changing the filter every second oil change.

 

[sangyup81]

Originally Posted By: lairdwd
For my 2000 accord, owners manual says change every 7500 or 12 months, whichever comes first. Oil is still honey brown after 4000 (using the shell oil that everyone raved about prior to reformulation). However, 12 months is soon approaching.

Does anyone have any thoughts about letting it go longer than 12 months, say 18 months or 24 months? What are the risks? I'm in New England. I know the purists will say to change it, but am interested in opinions pro and con.

Thanks,
Bill

Is this car parked outdoors or in a heated garage? Boston winters are a concern. I used to say 2 years on a syn and 1 year on a dino if miles are not gone over but with the improvements in dino, maybe it's ok to go longer.