Engine oil longevity

[Noobie]

Got a simple question for you guys.

Currently i live in a tropical country with high humidity, the problem is that i don't drive my car everyday, usually i drive it twice or once a week for prolonged periods (With prolonged periods i mean driving for more than 1 hour, usually between 1:30 to 2:00 hours everytime i take it out with 95% stop & go city driving) and there are weeks that i only take it out once but i turn on my car once every week for 20mins to 30mins to warm it up and do a mix of idle and constant revs between 1000RPM - 2000RPM.

Do you think i need to change my oil earlier than usual since i don't drive it that much and humidity/condensation can build up?
My current OCI is not based on mileage but on time, i change it once every 12 months with Mobil 1 or Shell Helix Ultra.

If you're wondering what car i have it's a 2010 BMW with an N52K engine. (3.0 Inline 6 with 272PS)

 

[KevGuy]

Originally Posted By: Noobie
Got a simple question for you guys.

Currently i live in a tropical country with high humidity, the problem is that i don't drive my car everyday, usually i drive it twice or once a week for prolonged periods (With prolonged periods i mean driving for more than 1 hour, usually between 1:30 to 2:00 hours everytime i take it out with 95% stop & go city driving) and there are weeks that i only take it out once but i turn on my car once every week for 20mins to 30mins to warm it up and do a mix of idle and constant revs between 1000RPM - 2000RPM.

Do you think i need to change my oil earlier than usual since i don't drive it that much and humidity/condensation can build up?
My current OCI is not based on mileage but on time, i change it once every 12 months with Mobil 1 or Shell Helix Ultra.

If you're wondering what car i have it's a 2010 BMW with an N52K engine. (3.0 Inline 6 with 272PS)


I think that your once a year change with synthetic is fine. Make sure you are using a FRAM filter.

 

[Noobie]

Originally Posted By: KevGuy
I think that your once a year change with synthetic is fine. Make sure you are using a FRAM filter.

I've heard bad things about FRAM, i use MANN (OEM) or Mahle (OEM).

Any other opinions regarding my situation?

 

[gathermewool]

Stop turning your car on just to run it. You're wasting fuel and possibly degrading the oil a lot quicker than if you left it sitting.

 

[Noobie]

There are many reasons why i turn on the car, one is because i need to move the car to wash it (Yes, i wash it once every week), the other reason is to recharge the battery a bit (These german cars are full of electronics and when the battery dies i always end up with a huge hole in my pocket) and third to warm it up, since i already turned on the car to move it i prefer to warm it up a bit.

Still, i'm worried about the Oil/Engine longevity and i want to keep the engine as good as possible.

 

[gathermewool]

Those electronics will not drain your battery in 1/2 to 1 week. Why not move and wash your car on the days you use it?

How many miles do you put on 'er in a year?

 

[Noobie]

I put around 7500KM to 10000KM a year which is considered the average driving distance where i live, keep in mind that at least 95% of those kilometers are PURE CITY DRIVING (Average speed is around 15km/h) + HOT CLIMATE.

I'm too lazy to wash the car on the days i use it, usually i wash it the day before so it's ready for the next day hahahaha
I take around 1:30 to wash it.

 

[KevGuy]

Originally Posted By: Noobie
Originally Posted By: KevGuy
I think that your once a year change with synthetic is fine. Make sure you are using a FRAM filter.

I've heard bad things about FRAM, i use MANN (OEM) or Mahle (OEM).

Any other opinions regarding my situation?


Use the FRAM Synthetic or Ultra Filters. They are top tier.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Noobie
I've heard bad things about FRAM, i use MANN (OEM) or Mahle (OEM).

Any other opinions regarding my situation?


Considering you're running a German car, do what you're doing with the oil filters. Ignore the Fram nonsense - in this case, that's what it is, nonsense. You are never, ever going to get a Fram, even the cheapest orange can, for the same low price you'll get the original Mann and Mahle filters. For my Audi, I was getting Mahle and Mann and German Bosch for under $5. Nothing else is going to compete with that. Anything with similar quality construction cost me double, including my beloved Wix. People say all kinds of things about cost of ownership of German cars. Filter costs are absolutely negligible.

If you're worried about the battery (and I know where you're coming from), don't be shy about getting a permanent mount charger or a CTEK or something like that. That will avoid having to run it for the sake of charging things, and you can save your gas for driving.

 

[Noobie]

So, there is no problem at all with the engine if i only use it once or twice a week.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: Noobie
So, there is no problem at all with the engine if i only use it once or twice a week.

No problem, especially if you are getting it fully warmed up most of the time...

 

[mechtech2]

Like mentioned, stop starting the car and warming it up. It's wasteful, and you are ADDING harm.

If there are no indications of moisture, you are doing OK. Being humid out is not where the moisture comes from. It comes from gasoline burning, which produces water. Blowby past the rings gets it in the oil.

 

[Noobie]

Okay guys understood.